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Live Resin vs. Distillate: What’s the Difference?
In the cannabis world, concentrates come in a wide variety of shapes and styles: wax, crumble, shatter, budder – the list goes on and on. In a sea of terminology, understanding what different concentrates look like and what they have to offer can be tricky. This is especially true when looking at the difference between extracts and concentrates made with live resin vs distillate.
Trying to compare live resin and distillate is not unlike comparing apples and oranges. Most cannabis users will have a preference, as they each produce very different effects. From the way they’re made to how they’re enjoyed, we’ll break down everything you need to know about live resin and distillate so you can decide which one best suits your needs. Let’s get started!
What is Live Resin?
Live resin is a form of cannabis concentrate, usually rich yellow or golden in color. It’s made by freezing freshly picked cannabis—stems, leaves, flowers, and all. This helps preserve the flavor, aroma, terpenes, and cannabinoids, making for a well-rounded finished product.
As far as concentrates and extracts go, live resin is one of the purest, most potent, flavor-forward varieties out there.
Because of the way it’s processed, it retains more of the natural cannabis elements that are removed during the distillation process used to make other kinds of extracts. Terpenes have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.
What are live resin vapes?
Live resin vapes are precisely what they sound like: vapes that contain live resin. The vapor has a richer, more robust flavor and more terpenes than your standard cartridges.
The stronger terpene profile also enhances the effects of other compounds, like CBD and THC, for a more potent vaping experience.
Featured Example: Torch Pulse Live Resin THCa Vape Pens
This disposable vape comes in a variety of strains and boasts a sleek digital display for real-time updates. Resin lovers will enjoy a smoother smoking experience thanks to the handy preheat function. With ten strains to choose from, you might be hard-pressed to pick a favorite.
What is Distillate?
As the name implies, distillate is made through a distillation process. Through distillation, specific cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, can be isolated from other compounds, resulting in a pure, potent concentrate.
The resulting liquid is very strong, sometimes more than 90% THC or CBD. Oftentimes, terpenes and flavonoids are added back for some pleasant flavor and aroma.
What are distillate vapes?
Distillate can be found in edibles, vapes, and vape cartridges. Vapes and vape cartridges contain distilled cannabis extracts infused with a carrier oil. They come in a variety of specific concentrates: THC, CBD, or a ratio of both.
Featured Example: ghost Shadow Blend THC Disposable Vape Pens
Enjoy a long-lasting high with an exclusive blend of Delta 6, THCa, and Liquid Diamonds in your pocket. Available in both sativa and indica, choose from six unique strains and find your perfect fit.
Live Resin vs. Distillate: What’s the Difference?
Distillate and live resin are both concentrated forms of cannabis that can be consumed in various ways, including vapes. When comparing live resin vs distillate, the key difference lies in how the extract is made.
The distillation process results in a nearly pure isolate of a single cannabis element. Live resin, on the other hand, is preserved immediately after harvest and contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in the plant.
Resin is more flavorful, true-to-strain, and known for its exceptional potency. The complex balance of natural compounds found in cannabis creates what’s known as the “entourage effect.” This refers to the ways in which these compounds enhance each other’s effects, creating a more impactful product.
Distillate is more refined, and while there may be terpenes and flavonoids added later in the process, it lacks the complexity of live resin. That’s not to say it’s an inferior product. Both live resin and distillate have their strong suits, and the one you pick depends on the experience you’re after.
Live Resin vs. Distillate Vape Carts: Which One Is For Me?
Both live resin and distillate are widely available in various forms, so which one should you choose?
Distillate vapes are especially strong, and the vapors don’t carry the same telltale aroma that live resin vapes might. The flavor is also more subtle than live resin.
Meanwhile, live resin smells and tastes more like the real deal and includes more of the natural compounds.
Distillate is perfect for cannabis consumers who are looking for a specific, isolated compound, whereas live resin offers a more complete profile. Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the benefits and drawbacks of each of these options.
Live Resin Vapes
Live resin vapes are a convenient way to consume these powerful concentrates, but there are a few things to consider. Here’s a quick look at some of the pros and cons:
Distillate Vapes
Distillate vapes are some of the most common kinds you’ll find on dispensary shelves. They’re popular for a reason, but that doesn’t mean they’re without some drawbacks:
In the end, it all comes down to the experience you’re looking for. If you’re someone who enjoys the rich flavor and aromas of a bud, then live resin is the way to go. It’s best for those looking for full-spectrum effects and may offer more health benefits than the alternatives.
Distillate is great for those who want a singular experience, be it CBD, THC, or the perfect ratio of the two. It’s perfect for the cannabis enthusiast who knows exactly what they want and what they don’t.
Shop Live Resin & Distillate Vapes from Top Brands at Green Dragon
Live resin and distillate both have something to offer cannabis lovers, whether you’re looking for something to help you treat symptoms, ease your mind, or just enjoy all that life has to offer.
While live resin is great for cannabis fans looking for an experience as similar to consuming the actual plant as possible, distillate is ideal for those looking to ingest specific cannabinoids or choose a budget-friendly option.
No matter what kind of experience you’re after, Green Dragon has you covered. Shop our wide array of live resin products or explore our collection of distillate vapes to discover your new go-to.
We know—it’s a lot to take in! That’s why we’re here to help. Contact our team for a free consultation, and we’ll give you the expert advice you need to find the product that best suits your needs.
Live resin vapes are usually stronger, more flavorful, and more aromatic than distillate vapes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re “better.” Distillate vape pens may be more potent than live resin vapes, and since they don’t have as many terpenes, they might be better for those who prefer a milder high. It all depends on your preferences and what you want to get out of your product. If you’re looking for the most “authentic” cannabis experience, a live resin vape pen might be for you.
Live resin is created with fresh or flash-frozen plant material, which means its extraction process is pretty straightforward. Manufacturers follow each of these steps to obtain and use live resin in their vape products:
- Harvest the plant. When buds reach peak maturity, they’re removed from the plant and promptly flash-frozen to preserve their terpene and cannabinoid profiles.
- Break down the plant. These frozen buds are then broken down into small pieces to increase their surface area and make extraction more efficient.
- Load the plant material into an extraction device. In most cases, the ground-up frozen plant matter is added to an extraction column of a closed-loop system, which is designed to recycle solvents throughout the process.
- Add the solvents. A butane or butane/propane mix solvent is added to the system. It’s then passed through the plant material so that it can dissolve the terpenes, cannabinoids, and other organic compounds inside.
- Collect the solvent mixture. Once extraction is complete, the liquid mixture is collected and then purged with a vacuum oven to remove any residual solvent.
- Store the live resin. The freshly prepared live resin is now ready to be stored in an airtight container or added to your favorite products!
Live resin vape carts aren’t necessarily “better” than distillate – whether they’re the best choice comes down to your preferences.
If you want a more authentic and well-rounded cannabis experience, you’ll probably prefer live resin vapes. But if you’re a fan of palatable flavors and cannabinoid isolates or want to access more options, distillate carts are still a fine choice.
Live resin is a type of cannabis concentrate that’s created using fresh or flash-frozen plant material instead of dried, cured buds. The extraction method used to make live resin retains terpenes and cannabinoids, which leads to a more flavorful, aromatic, and potent vape product.
Usually, cannabis goes through several stages of processing before it becomes the products you know and love. Trimming, curing, drying, and extraction slowly chip away at the terpenes and other compounds found in the plant material. By the time the process is finished, the result might only have about half of the terpenes it did originally.
Live resin avoids this because it comes from fresh plant matter. It’s essentially as close to vaping straight-up flower as you can get!
