Dabbing concentrates has quickly become a popular method of cannabis consumption. What’s not to love? You get quick, potent results with just a small amount of concentrate. The thing is, there are various types of concentrates on the market. So, how do you know which one to use? Here, we’ll take a closer look at dabbing live resin versus distillate to help you figure out which concentrates are right for you.
What’s a Concentrate?
First things first, what’s concentrate? The term refers to concentrated cannabis products. These are products that undergo a process to extract and concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant. As a result, they’re much more potent than the original flower, often substantially more. Cannabis flowers have THC potencies of up to around 30%. Concentrates, however, can have THC concentrations of up to 90% or more.
Live Resin
Live resin is one of many types of cannabis concentrates. What sets this particular concentrate apart from others is that the buds are flash frozen after being picked. Freezing fresh buds preserves more of the plant’s natural cannabinoids and terpenes, which can otherwise degrade during the drying and curing processes.
Another difference between live resin and other concentrates is that extractors use a cold, pressurized solvent rather than a heated one to extract the valuable compounds from the plant. A gentle heat helps to off-gas the solvent at the end of the extraction process, leaving a terpene-rich, full-spectrum concentrate. Due to the abundance of terpenes, live resin products are incredibly flavorful.
Distillate
Distillate is another unique concentrate. Where live resin involves freezing cannabis buds and using cold butane to extract delicate compounds, distillates use high heat extraction. The goal is to leave only one cannabinoid in the final product. In most cases, that cannabinoid is THC. There are no other cannabinoids or terpenes remaining. As a result, distillates are flavorless. Compared to live resin, which prioritizes terpenes, these products focus on potency. They’re some of the strongest products on the market.
Dabbing Live Resin Or Distillate – Which Is Better?
Now comes the question of which is better for dabbing. The answer depends on what you want to achieve. If you’re looking for a flavorful experience with a stronger hit of THC than you would get from smoking ground buds, live resin is the way to go. The high concentrations of terpenes left in these products offer unique aromas and tastes.
On the other hand, those looking for a purely potent experience might choose a distillate. You might select these products if you’re looking for something flavorless and odorless. Or, you might choose a distillate if you’re in search of fast-acting THC benefits.
With so many concentrates on the market, it can be challenging to decide which ones are best for dabbing. The truth is, one isn’t inherently better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference. Consider your goals when choosing between live resin and distillate. You can always try both, and experiment with other concentrates, to find which ones you like best.