What is Live Resin?

Live resin is widely considered one of the most premium forms of cannabis concentrate due to its purity and costly extraction process. Unlike more common extraction methods such as CO₂ extraction, live resin extracts are produced in small batches and require more hands-on care.

What makes them “live” is that they are flash-frozen immediately after harvest. This crucial step ensures that all the important compounds — such as cannabinoids and terpenes — are perfectly preserved. For this reason, live resin is known for being both powerful and flavourful.

Live resin is very sticky to the touch and has the consistency of tree sap, making it perfect for those who dab, infuse it with their CBD flower, or enjoy vaporising.

What is Distillate?

Distillate is a much more mainstream cannabis extract that has been used to power almost every cannabis product on the market. It is known for its cannabinoid strength, though less so for its flavour.

Cannabis flowers are harvested and cured so that the dried biomass can be passed through multiple levels of distillation. At this step, cannabinoids are stripped from the plant material, and impurities or unwanted compounds are discarded.

Distillate has a similar texture to live resin but can be distinguished by its much clearer colour. Because distillation is a reliable, safe, and cost-effective extraction method, most CBD and THC products use it as a base ingredient in their formulations.

Live Resin vs. Distillate

Until recently, cannabis users were rarely faced with a choice between live resin and distillate — for many years, distillate was the only option. Choosing between the two depends on your desired strength, flavour preferences, and budget.

The Extraction Process

• Distillate: The process of distillation involves heating dried cannabis flowers to specific temperatures so that only the required cannabinoids remain. It is very precise; for CBD distillate, all THC can be effectively eliminated, leaving behind a potent CBD extract.

• Live Resin: Live resin extraction is slower and carried out at lower temperatures. Once the cannabis flower is flash-frozen, extraction is performed at low temperatures over time to ensure that the rich flavour profile comes through in the final extract.

Terpene and THC Content

• Live Resin: Terpenes — the building blocks of a cannabis strain’s flavour profile — are perfectly maintained in live resin extraction. A wide range of different cannabinoids are also pulled from the plant, not just a single one. When a cannabis product contains lots of terpenes and cannabinoids, it is often considered a more premium and “fuller” product, as it contains a full spectrum of beneficial compounds.

• Distillate: Distillate is much simpler in what it aims to achieve. It focuses on a single cannabinoid and excels at maximising its concentration in extract form. This means there are fewer terpenes and minor cannabinoids than you’d find in live resin.

The Smoking Experience

• Distillate: Because distillate contains fewer terpenes, it has a subtle flavour profile and leaves behind little to no noticeable cannabis smell. It’s typically infused into creams, oils, and vapes, though it can also be used in joints and dabs. As it’s mostly flavourless, it’s an excellent option for those who want high THC or CBD content without the cannabis taste.

• Live Resin: We consider live resin to offer a more premium smoking experience, as it is loaded with terpenes and a wide range of cannabinoids. You should expect more powerful effects and delicious flavours upon inhaling.

To activate live resin and make it effective, it must be heated to high temperatures, so smoking, vaping, or dabbing are the most effective ways to consume it. It has both the smell and flavour of cannabis — something that sets it apart from distillate.

How to Buy Distillate and Live Resin

Choosing the Right Product

Instead of buying raw distillate or live resin, most cannabis users find that purchasing pre-loaded vape cartridges is the way to go. These extracts can get very messy, and due to their sticky nature, it’s difficult to transfer all of your extract from a jar into your device. A pre-loaded cartridge ensures that nothing is wasted and that you enjoy a clean, smooth experience.

Buying Live Resin

• Live Resin Vape Cartridge: Choosing a live resin vape pod can be difficult in the UK, as it’s a specialist ingredient that few brands can make. We exclusively stock The Goods live resin vape pods, as they are manufactured to an exceptional standard and priced very reasonably. Their flavours are delicious, and we’ve yet to find a CBD vape pen that packs a punch like these. Each pod is loaded with 60% CBD purity, and a normal-to-heavy user can expect around one to two weeks of enjoyment per pod.

• Ease of Use: Live resin vape pods are as easy to use as it gets. Simply attach the pod to the battery and press the button when you want to take a hit. It’s sleek and slim, easy to carry anywhere, and delivers the flavour and effects of a substantial amount of CBD flower.

Buying Distillate

When we first launched our online shop, we stocked distillate-based CBD vape pens. However, as innovations improved with live resin, we eventually made the decision to stop carrying distillate vapes — they simply pale in comparison.

Because distillate has almost no natural flavour, brands must add flavourings to make it more enjoyable. Live resin, on the other hand, is naturally flavourful, so there’s no need to add any extra ingredients. This matters to us — we always prefer a cannabis product that contains only cannabis-based ingredients.

There are still many vendors selling distillate-based vape products, but we believe now is the time to make the switch to live resin vapes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Live Resin Pods Healthier?

• Live resin pods contain more of the beneficial compounds found in cannabis and don’t require the addition of non-cannabis ingredients. For this reason, many people believe live resin pods are healthier.

Does Live Resin Oil Move Fast?

• This depends on the temperature. When live resin is cold, it almost appears solid. However, when heated, it becomes fluid and moves easily.

Is Vaping Live Resin Harmful?

• Vaping is generally perceived to be less harmful than smoking. Our advice is always to consult a medical professional if you’d like to understand the risks associated with any vaping device.

Does Live Resin Get You Higher Than Distillate?

• The potency and effects of live resin are usually more powerful than those of distillate. Even though distillate often tests higher in THC or CBD percentage, it lacks minor cannabinoids and terpenes.

• Live resin, packed with these compounds, offers a more full-spectrum effect. Researchers have found that when all cannabis compounds are present, a phenomenon called the entourage effect increases the delivery of cannabinoids to the body. For this reason, even if a live resin product shows a lower percentage strength than a distillate, it can still produce stronger effects.

Why is Live Resin Better for You?

• Live resin is considered better due to its full-spectrum profile of minor ingredients. Because it already contains so much of the cannabis plant, it doesn’t require additional compounds to be added. Terpenes and cannabinoids are present in abundance — and these are what people seek when using CBD or THC.

How Does the Cost Compare? 

• Live resin products were once very expensive; however, their prices have come down over the past few years and are now nearly the same as distillate.

How Does the Effectiveness Compare?

• This varies from person to person, but most find that live resin-based products are more effective than those made with distillate.

Conclusion

Both live resin and distillate play important roles in how we consume cannabis products, and depending on your needs, one will stand out. We believe most people will benefit more from live resin, thanks to its superior profile of terpenes and cannabinoids.

There was a time when distillate was much cheaper than live resin, but now that their prices are nearly the same, there’s no longer a financial reason to choose one over the other.

If you enjoy all the extra compounds found in cannabis and want to taste the true, authentic flavour of your chosen strain, live resin could be for you. If all you want is a single cannabinoid and flavour doesn’t matter, then distillate may be better suited.