Live Resin Vs. Distillate: Differences and Similarities

With the growing rise of cannabis concentrates, it can be hard to find the right one for your needs. Live resin and distillate are two of the most prominent options on the current market. But, due to their remarkable differences, it’s important to be intentional in your purchases to buy the product that best fits your goals.

This article will provide detailed insight into the world of live resin vs. distillate and clarify common differences, similarities, and misconceptions. Learn about medicinal benefits, extraction processes, product effects, and more!

What is Live Resin?

Live resin is a cannabis concentrate made from flash-frozen cannabis plants. To make this substance, the plants are quickly transferred to a -10 degrees F freezer after being harvested. Processors then use a hydrocarbon extraction machine — utilizing butane, propane, or both — to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material.

Thanks to this extraction process, live resin is a full-spectrum cannabis product. This means that the makeup of compounds in the extract mimics the profile of the cannabis used to make it. 

One of the benefits of live resin retaining the terpenes is that the flavor and aroma of the final product are fuller and richer. Another benefit is that full-spectrum products boast the entourage effect, in which cannabis compounds work synergistically to create effects that isolated compounds can’t achieve alone.

What is Distillate?

The main difference between live resin and distillate is that distillate is void of all those terpenes but is incredibly potent in THC. It is highly refined and undergoes traditional processing before solvent extraction. Distillation takes place when a substance is heated up into a vapor and then cooled back down to become a liquid. This process is used for more than just cannabis and is a common technique in herbalism. 

Distillation works because different compounds have different boiling points, with more volatile compounds vaporizing first and then cooling down in a chilled condenser. High-quality THC distillate undergoes multiple rounds of distillation to get rid of impurities. 

For THC distillate, the refining process takes place after crude oil is extracted. CO2 extraction is among one of the most common crude oil extraction processes, but ethanol is another common extraction solvent.

Terpenes are often reintroduced to compensate for the loss during extraction, affecting flavor and effects. Terpenes all taste differently and have different therapeutic benefits, so the addition of terpenes changes the experience.

Check out this guide if you want to learn about the differences between botanical and synthetically derived terpenes.

On a final note, distillate is one potential concentrate used in cannabis caviar.

Live Resin vs. Distillate: What’s the Difference?

For a live resin vs distillate comparison, live resin preserves terpenes and cannabinoids during the extraction method, and hence has the benefits of the entourage effect. Distillate has a much higher THC content, but most terpenes and cannabinoids are lost in the extraction process. Live resin has a fuller taste and stronger smell.

Extraction Processes

Live Resin:

With live resin, the cannabis undergoes rapid freezing after being harvested in order to preserve the terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Processors use a cold extraction process to keep the natural compound makeup of the plant in tact. Think of it like cold brew- there are a lot of layered flavors preserved by utilizing a cold technique compared to a hot solvent.

Distillate:

THC distillate isolates cannabinoids by heating and distilling the cannabis. However, the heating frequently results in a loss of terpene as they can’t be preserved at high temperatures.

The process usually starts with a solvent extraction, such as CO2 extraction, and then continues on with distillation in order to achieve a pure THC or CBD extract. 

Taste, Potency, and User Experience

Live Resin

Live resin has a strong, complex flavor because the natural terpenes are preserved during the extraction process. If you’re a connoisseur of sorts and care about taste and smell profile, live resin is a great choice for you. If you’ve only ever tried distillate, prepare to be amazed!

Live resin also has enhanced therapeutic effects because of its full spectrum nature. Thanks to the entourage effect, compounds work together and ultimately create benefits that any individual compound on its own can’t mimic.

Distillate:

Due to the distillation process, distillate usually lacks the natural terpene profile of the cannabis, so the flavor tends to be either neutral or enhanced artificially.

The main point of distillate is to have a high THC or CBD percentage, so it may have a stronger effect in those arenas. That being said, you miss out on the full spectrum benefits of live resin.

Appearance, Texture, and Consistency

Live Resin:

Live resin is less refined than distillate and tends to have a color ranging from golden to dark amber. The texture and consistencies range from sticky and gooey to crystallized depending on how the live resin is extracted.

Distillate:

Distillate ranges from clear to light yellow and has a thicker, oil-like consistency. Likewise, it has a uniform texture because of the high refinement, which opens the potential for different product formulations.

Using Live Resin: Pros & Cons

Pros

Live resin tastes and smells much better because the terpenes are preserved during the cold extraction process. 

The entourage effect is in full force in live resin, creating more complex results than isolates can’t replicate. If your medical condition benefits from full-spectrum products, you may benefit from considering live resin. 

Cons

Unfortunately, live resin tends to be more expensive because of how intricate the extraction process is.

It also has a lower THC concentration than distillates because the whole plant profile is preserved and the THC isn’t isolated. If you have a medical condition that requires a lot of THC, live resin may not be for you.

Using Distillate: Pros & Cons

Pros

Distillate is usually sought out for its high potency in THC. It is also incredibly versatile and can be used in edibles, topicals, and vape cartridges.

Lastly, distillate tends to run cheaper than live resin.

Cons

Because of the heat used during the distillation process, distillate loses natural terpenes and cannabinoids — meaning you miss out on the full-spectrum entourage effect.

Some manufacturers replace the lost terpenes by adding natural or synthetic terpenes to the distillate, but this can result in an inauthentic flavor.

Live Resin vs. Distillate: Which is Better?

Choosing between live resin and distillate really depends on what your priorities are in your cannabis product. If you care about having a complex flavor, live resin beats distillate any day of the week. The extraction process is specifically designed to maintain as many terpenes and flavinoids as possible in the final product.

Likewise, if you’re looking for the potential benefits of a full spectrum product, live resin is the obvious choice. 

But if all you’re looking for is THC potency, distillate blows live resin out of the water. 

Some medical conditions benefit from a high THC concentration, whereas others benefit more from the entourage effect and the plentiful cannabinoids and terpenes found in full-spectrum products. It’s important to work closely with a doctor or speak with knowledgeable dispensary staff to know which choice is best for you.

But at the end of the day, your best bet is to try both and see which you like better. Check out our guide for cannabis concentrates to learn about other options available to you too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is distillate better than live resin?

Distillate is better than live resin if you’re looking for a high THC percentage, whereas live resin is better than distillate if you’re looking for a full-spectrum product for its entourage effect and more complex high.

Live resin vs. distillate: which gets you higher?

Distillate gets you higher more quickly than live resin because of its high THC percentage.

Are live resin carts healthier?

Live resin carts are presumed to be healthier because of the cold extraction process used in their production, but there haven’t been any long-term studies on the health effects of live resin or distillate.

Why is live resin more expensive?

Live resin is more expensive because of its flash-freeze method and cold extraction process.

Are distillates safe?

There is not enough long-term research to say confidently whether or not distillates are safe.

Can I mix distillate and live resin?

You can mix distillate and live resin in order to explore unique medicinal and recreational experiences.