Table of Contents
- What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
- Different Types of Cannabis Concentrates
- What Is Live Resin?
- How Cannabis Concentrates Are Made
- Shatter vs Wax
- Live Resin vs Shatter
- How to Consume Your Favourite Weed Concentrates
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
Want to know which type of cannabis concentrate is right for you? With multiple options available, it can be overwhelming to choose between these concentrates. But don’t worry — our comparison of concentrates can help! Each type has its own unique characteristics, production methods, and uses. Understanding these differences is important so you can make an informed decision.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of cannabis concentrates, comparing live resin vs shatter, wax, and budder. You’ll learn their appearances, textures, and effects to help you decide the best one for your needs. So whether you’re a seasoned concentrate connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of dabbing, this article has something for you.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Highly Potent Marijuana Extracts
Cannabis concentrates are highly potent extracts of the marijuana plant. They contain a lot of THC and CBD, which are the two main compounds that make people feel high. They are made by using various methods to get the active compounds out of the plant matter. This creates a concentrated form that is much more potent than regular flower.
Different Types of Cannabis Concentrates
Each cannabis concentrate has its own unique properties and characteristics. But in this article, we’re going to focus on the following:
- Live resin
- Shatter
- Wax
- Budder
These concentrates are produced differently and can have slightly different effects. Yet, they all give a strong, intense high that’s good for both experienced weed smokers and those who want to explore their cannabis experience further.
What Is Live Resin?
Live resin is a cannabis concentrate that’s made in a way that keeps the terpenes, which give the marijuana plant its smell, intact. The fresh, not-yet-dried cannabis plants are flash frozen, and then the active compounds are taken out with a solvent like butane or CO2.
Live resin is also known for having a strong, flavourful aroma and taste. The freezing process helps keep the terpenes that give the plant its unique smell and taste. Live resin usually has a lot of THC, which is the compound in marijuana that makes you feel high and gives it its psychoactive effects.
You can use a dab tool or put it in joints or bowls to consume live resin. Most people think of live resin as a stronger form of cannabis. So when you use it, remember to start low and go slow.
Shatter
This is another type of cannabis concentrate known for its golden, amber-colored, glass-like appearance. It is typically consumed using a dab rig or vaporizer and is known to have potent and long-lasting effects. Concentrates like shatter are made using a solvent extraction process, which results in a higher THC level and other psychoactive compounds.
When broken apart, this type of concentrate tends to shatter into smaller pieces, hence its name. However, it should be noted that shatter does not contain any terpenes, as they are removed during the extraction process. On the bright side, terpenes can be reintroduced to shatter after it has been purged of the solvent.
Wax
Compared to other marijuana concentrates, sugar wax has a slightly grainy texture and is easier to handle due to its slightly different processing.
While sugar wax and regular wax are about the same in terms of how potent they are and how they taste, most people prefer sugar wax because it tastes better and is richer than other marijuana concentrates.
Budder
Do not confuse budder with cannabinoid-infused butter, which is used to make edibles. Budder (also known as budder wax) is a yellowish-coloured extract with a high THC content and a texture and appearance similar to regular butter.
This weed concentrate is becoming increasingly popular due to its high terpene profile and 80% THC content. It’s often sold on dispensary shelves in states where it is legal. In terms of popularity, some people even consider it to be a rival to live resin.
How Cannabis Concentrates Are Made
There are several methods for producing marijuana concentrates. Solvents, such as butane, ethanol, and CO2, are often used to extract the potent oils from the plant material. CO2 is a popular choice because it produces a pure and clean concentrate. However, other solvents, such as butane and ethanol, are also effective in these extraction processes.
Manufacturers often use a “blast” or “soak” method to create concentrates, using solvents to extract the oils from the plant material. After the extraction process, the remaining oils are carefully purged to remove all traces of solvent. This ensures that the final product is pure and safe to use.
If you prefer to avoid solvents, you can also try solventless extracts, such as:
- Hash oil
- Dry sift resin
- Ice water hash
These are all excellent options made without the use of solvents.
The sifting or flash freezing methods can be used to effectively separate plant matter from hash, trichomes, and cannabinoids, resulting in a pure and potent extract.
Shatter vs Wax
Marijuana concentrates can be broadly categorized into two types: shatter and wax. What sets these two types apart from each other?
- Shatter – It’s a transparent, fragile concentrate
- Wax – A muddied, more viscous concentrate
But it’s important to note that these two types have more complex differences beyond their appearance.
- Shatter – It’s produced through rigorous extraction and purification processes, resulting in a clear, nearly translucent composition.
- Wax – It’s often whipped, stirred, or mixed during purging, giving it its characteristic malleable texture.
Others believe that more transparent concentrates are superior, but this is just a misconception. It’s simply a result of manipulation during production and is not necessarily true.
Live Resin vs Shatter
Live resin and shatter differ in their characteristics and appearance due to post-processing techniques.
- Live resin – It has a sugar-like appearance due to small trichome crystallizations.
- Shatter – It has a crystal structure that’s almost translucent and transparent, with a bright amber or golden color.
Level of Terpenes
When it comes to terpene levels, live resin has more of it than shatter. Why? Because the process used to produce shatter ruins the terpenes and flavonoids, leaving THC more isolated and pure. And since live resin retains the taste and smell of the living plant, it is more aromatic and flavourful compared to shatter.
THC Levels
The amount of THC in the final product depends on the raw materials that were used to make it. But live resin can feel more potent than other concentrates because it keeps more of the active components in cannabis, such as terpenes and flavonoids. When consumed, the presence of these compounds in the live resin can create a more full bodied effect compared to shatter.
Texture
Live resin tends to have a waxy or medium-diluted sugar appearance, while shatter typically looks like hard candy or a translucent gummy. Shatter’s texture can also vary depending on the manufacturing process — it can be brittle or more malleable.
Here’s a table showing the summarized comparison of concentrates:
How to Consume Your Favourite Weed Concentrates
Whether you prefer the strength of live resin or shatter’s purity, know that there are many ways to enjoy weed concentrates. Vaping and dabbing are two of the best methods to enjoy the full range of cannabinoid potencies and flavors.
Dabbing
You only need a few simple tools (which you can buy at your local shop) to dab marijuana concentrates. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dab rig
- Dab tool
- Carb cap
- A torch
Here are the steps for dabbing:
- Put a dab of your preferred weed concentrate on your dab tool.
- Use the torch to heat up the rig.
- To stop heating, wait until the banger of the rig turns red hot (about 550 degrees Fahrenheit).
- After about 30 seconds, put the dab in the banger and take a hit.
- Cover the banger using the carb cap, keep inhaling, and then blow out the delectable smoke.
With a bit of practice and caution, dabbing can be an enjoyable way to consume your favourite cannabis concentrates.
Vaping
If you find dabbing a bit complicated, you can also vape your concentrate. For vaping, just find a live resin or your preferred wax cartridge and screw it onto a CCELL battery. Then you effortlessly inhale, exhale, and enjoy every puff of the saucy, golden substance.
FAQ
Is Live Resin Better for You?
In terms of therapeutic benefits, live resin may be better than dried flower because it keeps more of the whole plant’s compounds, including a higher terpene concentration. Terpenes are a big part of how cannabis helps people feel better due to their wide range of effects.
Is Live Resin or Wax Better?
Most of the time, live resin has more terpenes and can taste better than wax, shatter, or hash oil. Also, many cannabis connoisseurs think that this type of concentrate keeps the cannabinoids and terpenes better than any other type.
What Gets You Higher Live Resin or Shatter?
Live resin seems to be more potent than shatter, even though shatter has higher THC percentages. Live resin is also the best choice if you’re looking for therapeutic effects like pain relief, relaxation, or both.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the type of concentrate that’s best for you will depend on your own tastes and needs. There is a concentrate for everyone, whether you like the full-bodied effects of live resin, the versatility, practicality, and transparency of shatter, the malleability of wax, or the smooth and creamy texture of budder.
To recap, here’s a quick rundown of each type of concentrate:
- Live resin is made with a specific freezing method that keeps the terpenes and makes a flavourful and aromatic weed concentrate;
- Shatter is known for having a glass-like texture with strong effects that can last a long time;
- Wax is a malleable concentrate that can be used in many different ways; and
- Budder is a smooth, creamy cannabis concentrate with a bit of a softer consistency.
Note: Start slow and low with any concentrate you choose because they are much more potent than regular flowers. And as always, purchase your concentrates from a reputable source.
