If you’re looking for a potent and flavorful cannabis experience beyond regular weed, smoking live resin is an excellent option.
This concentrate packs a punch with a flavorful terpene profile and full-spectrum effects. But as with any cannabis concentrate, learning how to smoke live resin can be intimidating for newcomers.
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Our ultimate guide will explain everything you need to know about live resin, from what it is to the best methods of smoking it.
Let’s get started!
WHAT IS LIVE RESIN?
What exactly is live resin? How is it made? Before we discuss how to smoke live resin, let’s answer these questions so we are all on the same page.
Simply put, Live resin is a super potent cannabis concentrate. It is made by first flash-freezing freshly harvested cannabis plants, skipping the drying and curing process.
Terpenes and cannabinoids are then extracted from the trichomes of flash-frozen plant material with solvents like butane or propane.
The result? A golden, sticky form of cannabis that can range from saucy to sugar-like in consistency. A middle ground between wax and sauce...more like honey.
Not to be confused with live rosin...
So what’s the difference between the two? No solvents are used for the live rosin extraction process.
Live resin is very potent! The THC levels usually hit 60-90%. That’s way stronger than your regular cannabis flower.
But it’s not just about the high. The live resin extraction method keeps more of the plant’s original terpenes, giving it a complex, aromatic flavor profile.
This full spectrum is why live resin is so loved by cannabis connoisseurs. All those cannabinoids and terpenes work together to create a more overall effect, otherwise known as the entourage effect.
Fun fact:Some of the first people to create live resin were two Colorado-based cannabis pioneers, William “Kind Bill” Fenger and Jason “Giddy Up” from EmoTek Labs in 2013.
Today, you can find many live resin products at your local dispensary. This brings us to the next section, which explores the different types of live resin available.
TYPES OF LIVE RESIN CONCENTRATES
LIVE RESIN SHATTER
Picture a thin, glass-like sheet that shatters (hence the name) when dropped or handled roughly. It’s like the brittle candy of the cannabis concentrate world. Shatter’s got a rep for being potent and easy to handle, as long as you don’t mind playing with tiny glass-like shards of THC-packed goodness.
LIVE RESIN SAUCE
Sauce is the opposite of shatter. This type of live resin is runny and gooey and has a thick, syrupy texture. It has small, crystallized THC-A diamonds suspended in the sauce, so it’s visually stunning and potent.
LIVE RESIN BADDER/BATTER
Badder, or batter, is a creamy, whipped concentrate that’s like, well, batter. It’s soft, malleable, and easy to work with, so it’s a popular choice for those who like a smoother consistency.
LIVE RESIN SUGAR
As the name suggests, live resin sugar is grainy, crystalline, and like wet sugar. It’s a bit drier and less sticky than the others, so it’s easier to handle and dose.
LIVE RESIN DIAMONDS
These are the pure, crystallized THC-A diamonds found in live resin sauce. They’re super potent and flavorful but usually consumed with the sauce for a fuller experience.
LIVE RESIN CRUMBLE
Crumble is a dry, crumbly concentrate that resembles—you guessed it—crumbled cookies or bread. It’s easy to break apart and handle, making it an excellent option for on-the-go.
LIVE RESIN BUDDER
Live resin budder is smooth and creamy, like traditional cannabis butter or wax. It’s a spreadable concentrate that’s easy to work with and can be dabbed, vaped, or even used in edibles.
LIVE RESIN TERP SAUCE
For the flavor chasers out there, terp sauce is the holy grail. It’s packed with terpenes, so you get a flavorful experience sesh that’ll make your taste buds dance.
LIVE RESIN THCA CRYSTALS
Live resin THCA crystals are the pure, crystallized form of tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA), the precursor to THC. These crystals are often suspended in terpene-rich sauces or combined with other live resin concentrates, making them highly potent and flavorful.
LIVE RESIN SAP
Sap is a sticky, syrupy concentrate like maple syrup or honey. It’s made by allowing the cannabis resin extract to separate and settle. It’s a bit messy to work with but super potent and flavorful, so it’s a connoisseur’s favorite.
BEST WAYS TO SMOKE LIVE RESIN
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room - the best ways to smoke live resin. As you would expect, live resin, like any cannabis extract, is super potent. Take it slow, especially if you are new to this, as you don’t want your first experience to be overwhelming.
DABBING
Dabbing is the most popular method of smoking live resin. It uses a dab rig, like a bong, but for concentrates. Here is how:
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Heat the nail (quartz, titanium, or ceramic) with a torch.
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Let it cool to the desired temperature (usually 350-450°F for live resin).
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Use a dab tool to load a small amount of live resin onto the nail.
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Inhale through the mouthpiece.
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Use a carb cap to control airflow and vaporize any remaining concentrate.
VAPORIZER
Using a vaporizer made for concentrates is another excellent way to enjoy live resin. These devices heat the concentrate to a precise temperature, vaporizing the cannabinoids(THC and CBD) and terpenes without combustion. This results in a smooth, flavorful vapor that is easier on the lungs than smoke.
Some popular vaporizers for live resin:
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Desktop vaporizers
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Portable vaporizers
E-NAIL (ELECTRONIC NAIL)
An e-nail is an electronic device that replaces the traditional torch in a dab rig setup. It gives precise temperature control to dial the perfect temperature for your live resin.
This is great for preserving terpenes and getting the most flavorful dabs.
Using one is easy, just like dabbing, but with temperature control. Set your desired temperature, heat the nail up, and dab away!
WAX PEN
Vape pens for concentrates, also called wax pens or dab pens, are a portable and discreet way to enjoy live resin on the go. It has a battery, heating chamber or coil, and mouthpiece.
To use a wax pen, you load a small amount of live resin into the heating chamber, turn it on, and inhale through the mouthpiece.
JOINT OR BLUNT (LIVE RESIN INFUSED)
For a more old-school smoking experience with a bit of extra oomph, add or sprinkle live resin to your regular joint or blunt before rolling. Or heat the live resin until it’s gooey, then wrap a snake around the joint.
Although it is tempting to make cool patterns and all sorts of fancy things with it, try to keep it simple. This is sometimes called “waxing” and can really bring the potency and flavor of your smoke.
BONG WITH A QUARTZ BANGER
If you bong smoke, you can easily convert your setup to use cannabis resin. Instead of a traditional bowl, you’ll need a quartz banger (a specialized nail for concentrates).
To smoke live resin with a bong and quartz banger, follow these steps:
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Heat up the quartz banger until it’s glowing red hot.
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Let it cool down slightly
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Use a dab tool to pick up a small amount of live resin.
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Place the concentrate on the hot banger.
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Inhale through the bong mouthpiece.
Bongs with quartz bangers allow you to experience the full flavor and potency of live resin and the smooth, water-filtered hits of a bong.
NECTAR COLLECTOR (HONEY STRAW)
A nectar collector (also known as a honey straw or dab straw) is a tool for smoking live resin without a dab rig or water pipe. It’s a glass or silicone tube with a tip on one end and a mouthpiece on the other.
To use a nectar collector:
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Heat up the tip of the nectar collector with a torch until it’s glowing red hot.
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Let it cool down slightly (around 500-600°F is good).
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Place the hot tip directly on the live resin.
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Inhale through the mouthpiece to draw the vapor into the tube.
Nectar collectors are perfect for those who want a portable and discreet way to smoke live resin without a full dab rig setup.
PUFFCO PEAK (PORTABLE DAB RIG)
The Puffco Peak and similar devices are high-tech, portable dab rigs with temperature control and water filtration in a small package. They make dabbing more accessible and user-friendly.
To use a Puffco Peak, load your live resin into the ceramic bowl, select your temperature, and inhale through the mouthpiece.
HOT KNIFE METHOD
This method vaporizes the live resin with two hot knives or metal objects.
It’s not the most elegant or recommended as other methods, but it works in a pinch.
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Heat up two knives or metal objects (like butter knives or metal skewers) until they’re red hot.
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Place a small amount of live resin concentrate on a heat-resistant surface (like a ceramic dish or metal tray).
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Use the hot knives to “sandwich” the live resin, press them together, and vaporize the concentrate.
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Inhale the vapor through a straw or rolled-up paper. Easy!
Be careful with hot metal objects. Burns and accidents happen. For an alternative, learn how to create a homemade bong in our detailed guide.
TIPS FOR SMOKING LIVE RESIN
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Start low and go slow: As mentioned earlier, live resin is super potent, so start with a small amount and work your way up until you find your happy place without overdosing.
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Invest in quality gear: You can smoke live resin with basic tools, but investing in quality gear like a dab rig or vaporizer will enhance your experience and make it safer and more efficient.
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Try different strains: The flavor and effects of your live resin will depend on the strain from which it was extracted. Try different strains or ask your budtender at your local dispensary for recommendations.
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Consider the source: When buying live resin, buy from reputable sources and trusted brands. High-quality live resin is made with care and attention to detail so you can have a safe and enjoyable experience.
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Use MooseLabs filter:And lastly, smoking live resin, like any cannabis product, produces particles that can affect your lungs. MooseLabs filters trap 99% of those particles, giving you a clean, flavorful experience. You get to enjoy a session without coughing and taste all the terpenes of live resin. MooseLabs has filters for whatever method you use, whether bongs, joints, blunts, vapes, or wax pens.
FAQ:
DOES SMOKING LIVE RESIN GET YOU HIGHER THAN REGULAR WEED?
Yes, generally. Live resin is more concentrated than regular weed and usually stronger.
CAN YOU SMOKE LIVE RESIN BY ITSELF?
Yes! In fact, smoking live resin by itself is the best way to experience its flavor and effects. But you’ll need the right gear, like a dab rig or vaporizer.
HOW TO SMOKE LIVE RESIN CRUMBLE?
Live resin crumble is good in a dab rig or vaporizer or sprinkled on top of a bowl or joint. It’s dry and crumbly, so it’s easy to work with.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SMOKE LIVE RESIN FOR MAXIMUM FLAVOR AND EFFECT?
For maximum flavor, low-temperature dabbing or using a high-quality vaporizer is best. This preserves the terpenes and gives you a smooth, flavorful hit.
Higher-temperature dabs will give you a more intense high but at the cost of some flavor for maximum effect. Use a high-quality external filter to filter the harsh smoke. Even if dabbing at high temperatures, you will still enjoy a smooth smoke.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO PROPERLY SMOKE LIVE RESIN?
Live resin’s consistency can be a bit tricky to work with. The terpene content makes it more fluid and flexible, which is great for flavor but can be a pain to manage.
You’ll most likely need a dab tool to handle it properly unless you’re smoking out of live resin carts. Don’t forget a MooseLabs MouthPeace for extra filtration!