THCa Live Rosin: The ‘Liquid Gold’ of Cannabis
THCa live rosin (a.k.a. live hash rosin) is the liquid gold of cannabis concentrates, particularly popular among enthusiasts for its potency and flavor. The ‘live’ refers to the fact that this premium product is made with fresh frozen plant material. The goal of this method is to preserve the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis while eliminating the need for potentially harmful solvents. This brings us to the second major benefit of live rosin: it’s a solventless extraction.
Here's how it's made:
Selecting High-Quality Starting Material: The process begins with selecting high-quality cannabis flower. It's essential to choose a strain with a rich terpene profile and potent cannabinoid content, as these factors heavily influence the final product's flavor and effects.
Freezing the Fresh Plant Material: The ‘live’ aspect of live rosin involves freezing the freshly harvested cannabis plant material immediately after harvest. This helps to preserve the volatile compounds, including terpenes, that are responsible for the strain's unique aroma and flavor.
Making Full-Melt Hash: The next step is to turn the frozen material into the highest grade of hash, known as full-melt hash, or bubble hash. This part is done with an ice water extraction process; it’s possible to DIY using filter bags, but the best bubble hash is made with state-of-the-art equipment with precise wash cycles, agitation settings, and filtered water. Essentially, the hash maker wants to capture the trichome heads while filtering plant material and contaminants out.
Applying Heat and Pressure: The full melt-hash is placed between two metal plates of a specialized rosin press. These plates are heated to a precise temperature, typically between 160°C to 220°C (320°F to 428°F), depending on the desired outcome. Pressure is applied to the hash, causing the trichome heads to rupture and release their precious content.
Collection of Rosin: As the pressure and heat are applied, the cannabinoids and terpenes are squeezed out of the trichomes and onto a collection surface, such as parchment paper. The resulting extract is live rosin, which contains a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes in a highly concentrated form.
Live rosin is highly regarded for its potent and flavorful profile, which comes from the preservation of the plant's terpenes. The absence of solvents in the extraction process makes it a safer and more appealing option for those who prefer a more natural and pure cannabis concentrate. However, the process can be labor-intensive and may yield less product compared to other extraction methods, which can make it more expensive.
Making live hash rosin on a low temp press is a slow, labor intensive process with relatively low yields for extraction. It is considered the ‘Liquid Gold’ of concentrates, and generally comes with a price tag to match.
Live Hash Rosin FAQ
Now that we understand the basics, let’s dive into the process a little deeper and answer some questions you might have…
What is Fresh Frozen?
The term ‘fresh frozen’ refers to the process of immediately freezing fresh cannabis plant material immediately after harvest. This ensures the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes are captured for concentrate making. By contrast, the conventional air drying process will result in the loss of some cannabinoids, and especially the more volatile terpenes.
What is Full-Melt Hash?
Full-melt hash is a term reserved for the highest grade of hashish. Its name comes from the fact that when heated, it transforms into a melty liquid. production of full-melt hash primarily involves an ice water extraction process, often known as "bubble hash." This approach is designed to minimize impurities and maximize filtration, ultimately leading to a product that approaches a state of purity. While it's theoretically possible to produce full-melt hash using traditional dry-sifting methods, it proves considerably more challenging.
Some enthusiasts take a DIY approach, crafting bubble hash by employing containers filled with ice water and utilizing bubble bags for filtration. However, this DIY process frequently falls short of achieving true full-melt status. To achieve the highest-quality product, specialized hash-making equipment with precise wash cycles, agitation settings, and filtered water are prerequisites.
Full-Melt vs Half-Melt vs Cooking-Grade Hashish quality is often assessed using a 6-star rating system:
Full-melt hash stands as 5 to 6 stars.
Half-melt hash falls within the 3 to 4-star category.
Cooking-grade hash earns a rating of 1 to 2 stars.
Full-melt hash represents the pinnacle of hashish quality. It contains solely trichome heads, which contributes to its enhanced psychoactive nature due to its rich rosin concentration. It boasts a smooth flavor and a refined throat hit, with a little going a long way.
Live Rosin vs. Live Resin
Live rosin is made using a solventless extraction process, while live resin typically employs hydrocarbon solvents like butane or propane to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes from the frozen plant material. Both concentrates are made from fresh frozen cannabis. For more information, read our Quick Guide to THCa Concentrates.
In general, live rosin is lighter in color and smoother in texture. This isn’t always true, however; sometimes these the two types of concentrates can be impossible to tell apart visually.
WARNING: Unfortunately, some retailers are known to sell ‘live rosin’ when, in fact, the product is actually live resin. Live resin can still be a safe product to consume (good lab practices will remove all potentially harmful solvents,) but why pay a premium for anything less than the best? Make sure you purchase from a trusted company that emphasizes transparency and customer service.