Are you looking for a rush but can’t decide between Live Resin Carts and Distillate Carts? Fret not; we are here to guide you in the right direction. Both live resin and distillate carts are made from the versatile cannabis plant. They come in the form of cannabis oil extracts sold in cartridges. There are many different kinds of cannabis vape cartridges available in the market. But, the live resin and the distillate carts have become the most popular recently. In this article, we’ll learn about live resin vs distillate carts in detail.
Live Resin Vs Distillate Carts: What are the Differences?
Cannabis concentrates differ in consistency, THC content, and terpene profiles. These subtle differences are the result of the extraction and purification processes. Vapers will be able to recognize these differences, affecting their overall experience. The two most popular cannabis cartridges are the live resin and the distillate carts. But what makes them different from each other? Which is the better one of the two? We will explore the answers to these questions in this blog!
1. Live Resin
The fresh flowers of the cannabis plants are harvested early to make live resin. These flowers are then put through flash-freezing to lock the precious trichomes in place. What are trichomes, you may ask? Trichomes are the resin glands and form the essence of the cannabis flowers. They contain terpenes and the cannabinoids responsible for the aroma and flavor of the cannabis extract.
Live resin ranges from white to a thick and dense yellowish extract. This extract contains the largest terpenes since it is extracted from freshly harvested flowers. If the extract came from dried and cured cannabis flowers, it would not have the same number of terpenes. Live resin carts are, therefore, able to deliver a luxurious flavor and multiple notes of aroma.
2. Distillate
The distillate is a transparent extract, often having the look of a regular oil. They are very potent and are, therefore, in great demand amongst consumers. The name distillate comes from the process that creates this product. After an extensive process of distillation followed by purification, the result we get is the distillate.
The distillate contains no other compounds except the valuable THC and other cannabinoids. Unlike the fresh flowers used to produce live resins, here, the cannabis plant is harvested and then dried. The oil we get from this process has a lot of uses. It can be consumed, applied as a topical medicine, transformed into wax, etc.
The distillation process is called fractional short-path, where pressure and heat are exerted on the cannabis plant. This eliminates the cannabis compounds one by one until we have left the THC in the form of a transparent and odorless liquid.
Live Resin Vs Distillate Carts: The Differences
From what we discussed earlier, you must have already observed many differences. The two differ in flavor and aroma, not just in color and production process. Let us now look at some of the other differences:
- The Extraction
The first distinction between live resin and distillate carts begins with extraction.
Live Resin’s process of extraction
The cannabis flowers are harvested early in the season and then flash-frozen. The oil in these frozen flowers is extracted using solvents like butane or ethanol. This extracted oil is then put through a purification process, which eliminates any and all of the solvents used in the extraction process.
Distillate’s process of extraction
The cannabis flowers already dried and cured after being harvested are used. They are put through the fractional short-path distillation process. This refines the oil extract only to contain THC. While the distillate has a higher concentration of cannabinoids, it is entirely lacking in terpenes.
- Terpene Content
As we discussed earlier, distillate does not contain any terpenes. Live resin carts are produced in such a way that preserves the highest concentration of terpenes. Terpenes are important because they are responsible for the extract’s aroma and flavor. They help in distinguishing the different types of cannabis plants. For the consumer, it produces the full effect of vaping and gives them the desired satisfaction.
Terpenes do not have the hallucinogenic properties of cannabinoids. But they work in synergy with them to produce an entourage effect. This denotes the pleasurable feeling you get after consuming cannabis extracts. The distillate carts do not have terpenes and, therefore, cannot give you the same feeling as live resin carts.
- The Entourage effect
The entourage effect is only created through the synergy between the terpenes and the multiple cannabinoids in the extract. Live resin has less in terms of percentage of cannabinoids than distillate carts. But it also has a high concentration of terpenes which the distillate lacks completely.
Thus live resin can give consumers euphoria and harmony, often called the entourage effect. On the other hand, the distillate carts have a clear and runny oil extract with almost no taste or aroma. That is why artificial flavoring is often added to them, such as strawberry or apple flavors. However, it fails to produce this desired effect that only naturally occurring terpenes in the cannabis plant can create.
- The overall experience
The debate over live resin carts and distillate carts boils down to the consumer’s preference. And preference is always subject to your present mood. You may want to feel the greater rush of a higher concentration of THC on one occasion. But at another time, you may feel the urge for a milder but more aromatic experience.
The live resin is not as intense as the distillate. But the feeling of distillate is also very short-lived since there is no terpene or cannabinoid to carry the feeling for a long time. Although mild, the live resin can create an entourage effect for you.
Final Thoughts
You must understand that the live resin carts and the distillate carts are produced for different purposes. Look for the purity of the extract before purchasing either one of the products. Try both carts and decide for yourself which you like better. It might be so that you like both. There is nothing wrong with that. Remember, we told you it depends on your choice and preference.
