Cannabis concentrates are one of the most effective ways to experience the full spectrum effects of a particular strain. Some types offer a wider range of cannabinoids and terpenes than others, and for a truly flavorful smoke, live rosin is tough to beat. If you’ve been interested in trying it out or are simply curious about what kind of concentrates are out there, we’ve got the lowdown on the best ways to smoke live rosin. Dig into these five recommendations and get inspired for your next smoke session.
What is Live Rosin?
Live rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate made by carefully squeezing ice water hash (bubble hash) derived from fresh frozen cannabis. While rosin is made with either dried cannabis, kief, or hash, live rosin is slightly different. It’s similar to live resin in origin because they both start with freshly harvested cannabis. Then, right at the peak of ripeness, the plants are cut down and flash frozen to preserve the precious trichomes. This is where most of the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes live.
Once frozen, the flowers are turned into bubble hash, then pressed through a special sieve or micron-graded filter bags placed between two heated plates. Low heat and pressure squeeze out the plant’s resin, creating a sticky hash called live rosin. The end result is exceptionally flavorful.
How to Smoke Live Rosin
Live rosin is a versatile concentrate that you can use in many different ways. So, no matter what you have on hand, there’s a good chance you can find a way to smoke rosin. Or, you just might be inspired to try something new.
Dab With a Rig
Dabbing involves a water bong with specialized fittings. This ‘dab rig’ looks much like any bong you use to smoke weed, but there is a dab nail instead of a bowl on top of the stem. This nail can be made of titanium, ceramic, glass, or quartz. To use a dab rig, heat the nail with a torch until it reaches an optimum temperature. You can also purchase an e-nail or temperature reader that removes the guesswork of temperature control.
Once the nail is hot, and around 500 – 550 degrees Fahrenheit, use a dab tool to place a small amount of live rosin (a dab) onto the hot nail as you inhale through the mouthpiece. The high temperature vaporizes the live rosin, and it’s filtered through the glass as you draw in. Dabbing is not for the faint of heart, but it is a fun way to experience cannabis concentrates.
Use a Dab Pen
If you want to try dabbing but aren’t too interested in the whole dab rig setup, you might like a dab pen. This is like a do-it-yourself vape pen where you add the live rosin to a chamber where it’s heated and vaporized. Much like a pre-loaded cartridge, a dab pen is portable, rechargeable, and easy to use.
The only difference is that you remove the mouthpiece and add a little bit of live rosin to the inside before use. Then, depending on the dab pen type, you either adjust the temperature controls as you like or simply draw on the pen to inhale the vapor. Then, once you’ve vaped all the live rosin, just add more.
Nectar Collector
There’s one more way to dab live rosin, and it’s with a nectar collector. Also called a honey straw or dab straw, this device somewhat resembles a pen. It’s handheld vertically, and instead of adding a dab to the pen, you take the pen to the dab. First, you heat the pen’s tip much like you would the nail of a dab rig. Then, you place the hot end just near the surface of the dab and inhale from the mouthpiece at the opposite end.
Vape Cartridge or Disposable
Still not sure dabbing is the best way to smoke live rosin? Well, there’s an even easier way to enjoy this delectable cannabis concentrate. For plenty of good reasons, live rosin cartridges are becoming increasingly popular in the vaping category. They’re easy to use, zero mess, last a long time, and taste amazing. You never have to worry about getting the optimal temperature because the technology is built in.
The live rosin is stored in a glass chamber that attaches to a battery. When you draw on the mouthpiece, the heating element is activated, slowly vaporizing the live rosin a little at a time. You can take small or large puffs depending on how big of a hit you want to take. Remember to store your live rosin cartridges upright to prevent them from leaking or clogging so you can get the most out of your pen.
Infuse Your Weed
If dabbing or vaping isn’t your preference, try adding live rosin to your weed. It’s like the cherry on top of a perfect bowl, adding depth of flavor to your pipe or bong hits. However, be mindful that it will get you much higher than simply smoking weed, so start small.
For fans of rolling up joints, there are plenty of ways to get creative with live rosin. For example, try adding little dabs inside a joint for a super-infused smoke sesh. Or, roll out some live rosin and place it on top of the ground flower. Before you roll up the live rosin rope and bottom layer of flower, sprinkle some more ground flower on top of the live rosin. Once it is rolled the live rosin rope should be situated somewhere near the middle of the joint.
When lit and smoked the live rosin will melt down the middle of the joint infusing each hit with concentrated flavor and potency. These are called hash donuts or simply donuts because of hole in the middle of the ash left behind by the consumed live rosin.
Where to Buy the Best Live Rosin
What’s your favorite way to smoke live rosin? There’s no harm in trying them all! If you want an easy entry point, try out our new live rosin vape carts. We use only the highest quality outdoor, sun-grown cannabis grown in native soil to press our rosin. This produces a clean, smooth flavor with full-spectrum effects every time you inhale. Try out all of our newest strains and experience the magic of live rosin for yourself.
