What is Live Rosin? Ultimate Guide To Rosin

Live rosin is one of the hottest and most flavorful extracts on the market. It’s no wonder it’s taken the solvent-less extraction game by storm. What's the difference between rosin and live rosin or resin?

Made from flower, hash, or kief, live rosin undergoes a solvent-less extraction process using only heat and pressure to squeeze out the plant’s active compounds and produce a refined product ready for consumption.

What is Rosin?

Before we get too into the weeds (pun intended), let’s talk about live rosin’s less refined counterpart, Rosin. Rosin is a type of weed extract derived from flower, hash, or kief.

Unlike solvent-based techniques that use harsh solvents like ethanol, CO2, or butane, rosin can be made at home by applying heat and pressure.

What is Live Rosin?

Live rosin is produced using the same method as traditional rosin, with one key distinction: instead of dried and cured buds, processors use fresh frozen cannabis.

Cryogenically freezing cannabis immediately after harvest, preserving its natural compounds, resulting in higher cannabinoid and terpene retention. This leads to a more potent high and richer flavor.

In contrast, the traditional drying and curing process for rosin is designed to reduce moisture and chlorophyll levels in the buds before extraction. However, this process also causes the loss of volatile terpenes, which can dilute the final product’s flavor and effects.

Live rosin, by skipping the drying phase, retains these minor compounds, enhancing the plant’s natural entourage effect for a more robust experience.

Appearance

Live rosin typically has a light, opaque golden hue, though its color can vary depending on the strain, extraction process, and batch. Shades range from creamy tan to vibrant yellow.

Its solid consistency varies between a sappy butter and a buttery crumble. It's easy to break apart with a dabber.

Live Rosin vs Live Resin

Live rosin sounds a lot like live resin, doesn’t it? Live resin refers to concentrates made using fresh frozen buds and a solvent-based extraction process.

Most resin makers use butane hash oil (BHO) production to create flavorful, pungent, and potent live resin extract.

Live rosin, on the other hand, doesn’t use any solvents, but uses the same starting material, hence, the “live” designation.

Both have their advantages depending on whether you prioritize purity and flavor (Live Rosin) or high potency and availability (Live Resin).

How is Live Rosin Made?

Rosin is made using an industrial rosin press which applies enough force and heat on the hash to remove its resin.

Before applying pressure to frozen hash, processors must first transform the frozen buds into ice wax. Pressing live flower buds directly can cause excess water to evaporate too quickly, potentially ruining the product.

Rosin producers place their frozen buds inside a set of five or more micron filter bubble bags. They're layered in a large container such as a plastic garbage can. The micron filter bags are arranged in increasingly smaller micron sizes for optimum hash separation.

Inside, makers place ice and water and agitate the buds to remove the frozen trichomes. The resin falls down to the bottom of each bag. 

After the agitation process, the producers end up with a decent collection of resin that must be freeze-dried before being pressed.

The resin is placed in a small micron bag and gradually pressed at high temperatures (up to 210º F). The end result is one of the best concentrates on the market.

How to Consume Live Rosin

Live rosin can be consumed just like any other weed concentrate, although, some delivery methods are better than others. Here’s how you can enjoy your rosin:

Dabbing

Dabbing is one of the best ways to reap the psychoactive effects and flavor from your live rosin extract. Using a dab rig (glass or electronic), a blow torch, a dabber, and your rosin, you can light up the nail, place your dab inside, and inhale just like you would from a water pipe/bong.

Start off by heating your dab rig using your blow torch or your e-nail to your desired temperature. Low temperatures between 500 and 600º Fahrenheit are best to retain the product’s full flavor.

Vaping

Vaping is another fun way to enjoy your live rosin. It is similar to dabbing in that you are heating and inhaling the active compounds, but vaping can be consumed with a disposable vape cartridge, a vape pen, or even an e-nectar collector which requires no loading the rosin into the heating chamber.

Smoking

Smoking rosin can give you the added high you’ve been looking for when paired with your favorite dry herb strain. Unfortunately, combusting the extract using the high and direct heat of a lighter can degrade much of the extract’s aromatic and flavorful terpenes.

How to Store Live Rosin

Like most wee products, rosin should be stored in an airtight container in a dark, dry, and cool space. Ideally, you’ll want to store your rosin in an opaque container to protect its cannabinoids and terpenes from heat and light exposure.

Live rosin is the new frontier of solventless-based extracts. In a world where consumers are looking for healthier and flavorful alternatives to the solvent-based concentrates, live rosin meets the demands of novice and seasoned consumers.

Make sure to enroll at CTU, the undisputed leader in cannabis extraction training and education, and learn how to make your own cannabis extractions.

Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.