Do you feel overwhelmed deciding between live resin and shatter for your next cannabis session? You’re in luck. Live resin and shatter may seem similar, but they are actually quite different.
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between live resin and shatter, from their visual differences to their potency. We’ll also provide an overview of how each is made. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the information you need to choose the right product for your next cannabis session!
Live Resin Overview
Live resin is a type of cannabis extract made by flash-freezing the cannabis plant before it is extracted. It’s one of the most sought after cannabis extracts due to its strong flavour, high potency and versatility. Live resin is often made using fresh, undried cannabis plants that are frozen within a few hours of harvest—meaning users are getting the most out of their cannabis experience.
The process of flash-freezing the plant ensures that delicate terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids (THC and CBD) are captured in all their glory, giving you a product that is as close to the live cannabis plant as it gets. Live resin is great for dabbing and vaping, and can also be added to edibles, topicals, and more.
How is Live Resin Made?
Live Resin is an innovative concentrates extraction method that involves flash-freezing the cannabis plant material before it is extracted. This process helps preserve the terpenes and other compounds within the plant, resulting in enhanced flavour and aroma. To make Live Resin, the flowers of the cannabis plant are harvested, frozen and then extracted using a solvent like butane.
The extract is then vacuumed off, leaving behind a thick, sticky, waxy-like concentrate.
This concentrate is then purged to remove any solvents and then finally packaged for consumption. Live Resin is known for its strong aroma and flavour, as well as its potency. The terpenes within the plant material are better preserved throughout the flash-freezing process, resulting in a more flavorful product.
The absence of oxygen helps preserve the cannabinoids, resulting in higher potency levels. Live Resin is a great way to experience the full flavour and potency of a particular cannabis strain.
The flash-freezing process locks in the terpenes and cannabinoids, providing an enhanced experience that is definitely worth trying. For those looking for an even more intense experience, Live Resin is the way to go.
Shatter Overview
Shatter is a cannabis concentrate made through a process of extracting the cannabis plant’s oils after the plant has been dried and cured. Butane is the most common solvent used in the making of shatter and is usually done in a closed-loop system.
This system is designed to minimize the risk of explosions and to reduce the amount of solvents that remain in the final product. Once the extraction process is complete, the shatter will be heated and agitated to remove any residual butane and other solvents.
The shatter is poured into a parchment-lined tray and allowed to cool, forming a glass-like consistency that can be shattered with a sharp tap of the finger. Shatter has become a popular cannabis concentrate due to its high levels of THC and CBD, along with the fact that it can be vaporized or dabbed. It’s also one of the purest forms of cannabis concentrate available, making it a great choice for medical marijuana patients who need precise and consistent dosages.
Shatter is usually amber yellow or honey-colored and will typically have a slightly sticky consistency. The higher the quality of the shatter, the clearer it will be.
How is Shatter Made?
Shatter is made by extracting the cannabis plant’s oils after drying and curing. To begin, technicians will take the cannabis flower and cure it in a dark and cool space for several weeks. This helps the plant reach its full potential for aroma, flavor, and potency.
The dried flower is then placed in a large extractor filled with either butane (BHO) or CO2 gas. This gas will dissolve the resin contained in the flower and extract it from the plant matter.
After the solvent is evaporated, the remaining product is then cooled in order to achieve a solidified state of shatter.
The result is a highly concentrated and potent form of cannabis, with a glass-like consistency that can easily be broken apart into smaller pieces. Shatter’s intense flavor and aroma is due to the terpenes that are preserved in the extraction process.
Terpenes are the molecules that give cannabis its distinct flavors and aromas, and these are also concentrated in the shatter. This makes shatter one of the most flavorful and aromatic cannabis extracts available. Due to its high potency, shatter is also one of the most powerful, so it’s important to be mindful of your dosage.
Differences Between Live Resin and Shatter
If you’re looking for a powerful cannabis concentrate, you may be wondering what the difference is between live resin and shatter. Both products are highly potent and offer a range of effects, but there are some key differences between the two that you should be aware of.
When it comes to visual differences, live resin is a sap-like product that is yellowish in color, while shatter tends to be a glass-like consistency that is light to dark amber in color. In terms of consistency, live resin is more like a wax, while shatter is more brittle and will break into pieces easily. In terms of flavor and potency, live resin offers a more complex and intense flavor, while shatter tends to have a more pronounced terpene profile, giving it a stronger taste.
When it comes to potency, live resin tends to be more potent than shatter, as the flash-freezing process used to make live resin results in higher concentrations of cannabinoids. Take all these factors into account when making your decision between live resin and shatter.
Visual Differences
When it comes to visual differences between live resin and shatter, these two types of cannabis concentrates couldn’t be more different. Live resin is characterized by its thin, sappy texture that often appears golden yellow in colour.
In contrast, shatter is much more brittle and glass-like in texture, and its colour can range from golden to bright amber. Since shatter is made from the dried and cured cannabis plant, it tends to have a more earthy aroma compared to live resin. Live resin is made from the fresh cannabis plant and therefore packs a more powerful terpene profile, with aromas of both sweet and pungent.
Although both live resin and shatter are potent extracts, live resin typically contains higher levels of terpenes and cannabinoids due to its flash-freezing process. As a result, the terpene profile of live resin is much more complex, making it the ideal choice for connoisseurs who are looking for an intense flavour experience.
Consistency Differences
Live Resin is usually stickier than Shatter because it was not exposed to heat during extraction. Live Resin has a gummy, syrup-like texture while Shatter will have a brittle texture similar to glass. The texture of the two extracts will affect how easy they are to work with. Live Resin can be difficult to handle because of its stickiness and can be difficult to store due to its tendency to liquefy, whereas Shatter is much easier to handle and store.
Flavour Differences
When it comes to flavour, live resin and shatter can be quite different. Live resin has a more intense terpene profile due to the fact that it is extracted from freshly frozen cannabis. This gives it a more aromatic and fragrant taste.
Shatter has a much more mild flavor since it is extracted from cured and dried cannabis plants.
Shatter tends to be slightly more potent in terms of THC content. In terms of enjoying the flavour of cannabis, many people prefer live resin for its robust terpene profile and strong aroma.
Shatter can still be a great choice for those who want a milder, more subtle flavour. It comes down to personal preference. To really appreciate the difference between live resin and shatter, it’s best to try them both. That way, you can get a first-hand experience of the different flavour profiles they offer.
Potency Differences
Live resin and shatter have different levels of potency. Live resin is often more potent than shatter. This is because the flash-freezing process preserves more of the plant’s terpenes, which contain the plant’s flavor and aroma, as well as its cannabinoids, which are responsible for the effects of the product.
As a result, live resin typically offers a more flavorful and powerful high than shatter.
Shatter is typically less potent than live resin, as the drying and cure process can lead to the breakdown of terpenes and cannabinoids, resulting in a less flavorful and potent product. The potency of either live resin or shatter will depend on the individual strain used.
When it comes to using either live resin or shatter, it’s important to know the potency of the product you are using. If you are a more experienced cannabis user, you may be more comfortable with higher potency products, like live resin. If you’re new to cannabis, it’s best to start with a lower potency product, such as shatter.
A good rule of thumb is to start with a lower potency and gradually increase if you are comfortable. In conclusion, live resin is typically more potent than shatter, but the potency of both products will depend on the strain used. It’s important to be aware of the potency of the product you are using and to start with a lower potency and increase as needed.
