Master Makers

Cannabis concentrates are highly potent extracts made by removing plant material and leaving behind cannabinoids and terpenes in a concentrated form. They include wax, shatter, live resin, rosin, distillate, and diamonds. Concentrates typically range from 60–99% THC, compared to 15–30% in flower.

BHO (butane hash oil) and CO₂ extractions use chemical solvents to pull cannabinoids from the plant. These require post-processing to remove solvent residue. Solventless concentrates — like rosin and ice water hash — use only heat, pressure, and cold water. Solventless products are generally considered cleaner and more flavorful, though they are typically more expensive.

The most common method is dabbing — you need a dab rig, a banger (quartz nail), a torch, and a dab tool. Wax pens and dab pens provide a portable alternative that heats concentrate with a battery-powered coil. Some consumers also add small amounts of concentrate to flower bowls or joints for enhanced potency.

Live resin is made from fresh-frozen cannabis — plant material that is frozen immediately after harvest rather than dried and cured. This preserves a fuller terpene profile compared to traditional extraction methods. Live resin typically has a more complex, flavorful aroma and effect profile than distillate-based concentrates.

Resin (specifically live resin) is solvent-extracted using butane or propane. Rosin is solventless — extracted using only heat and pressure applied to hash, kief, or flower. Live rosin combines both ideas: rosin pressed from fresh-frozen ice water hash, generally considered the top of the solventless quality pyramid.

Most concentrates dab best between 500°F and 600°F. Lower temperatures (500–550°F) preserve terpenes and flavor; higher temperatures (550–600°F) produce thicker vapor but burn delicate terpenes. A quartz banger with a carb cap and a thermometer (or e-nail) gives you the most consistent results.

Most concentrates should be stored in airtight non-stick silicone or glass containers in a cool, dark place. Live resin and sauce benefit from refrigeration to preserve terpene profile and texture. Avoid temperature swings — repeatedly warming and cooling concentrates degrades them faster than steady cool storage.

THCA diamonds are crystalline structures of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid — the non-psychoactive precursor to THC. When heated (in a dab rig or vape), THCA converts to active THC. Diamonds often test above 95% THCA and are typically sold in "sauce" — a terpene-rich liquid that surrounds the crystals.