Live Rosin vs Crumble: Which One Is Right For You?

If you are confused about the differences between various types of hemp or cannabis concentrates, then you aren't alone. Resin, rosin, crumble, budder, shatter, wax, sauce, and more are all different types of cannabis concentrates, each with slightly different features, benefits, and manufacturing processes.

All of these cannabis concentrates tend to be extremely potent, and they're usually ideal for vaporizing or dabbing. That said, there are some notable differences between various concentrates that are worth knowing.

Today, we want to compare live rosin and crumble to see what both of them are, what makes them different, and which one might be best for you. By the end of today's article, you should know exactly what both live rosin and crumble are, what their benefits and characteristics are, and what sets the two apart. 

Key Takeaways

• Live rosin and crumble are both popular forms of cannabis concentrates.
• Live rosin is made from live frozen plant matter and is made without solvents, whereas crumble is made from cured bud using a solvent extraction process.
• There are some notable differences between these two cannabis concentrates that you are about to find out about. 

What is Live Rosin?

First, we have live rosin, which is currently one of the most popular types of concentrates in the cannabis world. Live rosin products tend to be extremely expensive, some of the most expensive ones of all concentrates, and one of the reasons for this is that no solvents are used in the extraction or manufacturing process.

Live rosin features a fairly lengthy and complex manufacturing process, which leads to its high price, but also its high quality. Live rosin is generally considered to be one of the safer types of cannabis concentrates due to a lack of solvents. Live rosin can contain up to 85% cannabinoids, such as THC, as well as up to 15% terpenes.

One of the defining features of live rosin is that it is made with fresh frozen plant matter,instead of cured plant matter, and there are no solvents used in the extraction process. This means that the vast majority of terpenes and flavonoids from the original strain are preserved, therefore producing a complex and rich flavor profile that resembles the original strain. This type of concentrate is ideal for dabbing, vaporizing, and more.

How is Live Rosin Made?

Live rosin requires a lengthy and special manufacturing process to achieve high-quality results. First and foremost, fresh plant matter is taken and frozen. The plant matter is not cured here, such as when you smoke cured weed or when you use weed to make other concentrates. There is no curing that happens here, and instead, the plant matter is just frozen for a couple of days.

That frozen plant matter is then used to make what is known as ice wax or bubble hash. Special mesh bags of varying thicknesses are used to separate the trichomes or THC-rich crystals from the rest of the plant matter. These are sometimes known as Micron mesh bags. Each mesh bag lets through slightly less plant matter than the last. By putting the plant matter in ice water and then quickly stirring it for long periods, the trichomes and crystals separate from the rest of the plant matter and are left at the bottom of the bag.

Whatever is left in the first mesh bag is then put into the next mesh bag, which is a bit finer than the previous one. Because the mesh is slightly tighter, it lets even less plant matter through. This process is repeated for anywhere between four and eight of these Micron mesh bags until all plant matter has been sifted out, leaving you with only the cannabis concentrate known as bubble hash. This is still quite wet due to being submerged in ice water, so it is left to dry.

Finally, that ice wax or bubble hash is then pressed in between something like a hair straightener, a T-shirt press, or any other burning hot plates where pressure can be applied. The combination of heat and pressure causes the purest form of the cannabis concentrate, the oils, to be released from the ice wax or bubble hash, therefore leaving you with live rosin, an extremely pure, potent, and flavorful extract. It is then left to cure.

Characteristics and Benefits of Live Rosin

In terms of appearance, live rosin is bright yellow or off-white in color, not dark like most other concentrates. Many concentrates are very golden, dark yellow, brown, or greenish, whereas live rosin is much lighter.

Live rosin is also very saucy and thick and resembles crystallized honey in the bottom of a honey jar. It's rather perfect for dabbing and vaporizing. Furthermore, live rosin also contains most or all of the original terpenes and flavonoids, therefore producing a very complex flavor profile. Most people absolutely love the flavor of live rosin.

Live Rosin vs Shatter

The biggest difference here is that live rosin does not use any solvents in the manufacturing process, whereas shatter does. To make shatter, either butane or carbon dioxide is fired through the plant matter, which separates the cannabinoids from the material. Heat and air pressure (or technically a vacuum) are then used to remove the solvent from the cannabinoid extract, leaving you with just the extract.

Some people consider shatter to be somewhat unhealthy because there are often solvents like butane left behind. Due to the lengthy extraction process and because it's perceived as being slightly healthier, live rosin is generally much more expensive than shatter.

Also, whereas live rosin tends to be relatively thick and saucy, shatter is fairly solid, almost like a very thin and fragile sheet of glass. Shatter also tends to be darker in color than live rosin.

Both may have roughly the same cannabinoid content, although because shatter is usually made with cured bud and because it's made with a solvent extraction process, it usually has much fewer terpenes. This means that the flavor of shatter generally does not resemble the original strain and is not overly enjoyable.

Check out our own Botany Farms Live Resin Delta-8 THC Tincture or this Live Resin CBD Tincture, both of which are loaded with flavor and potential benefits.

Live Rosin vs Wax

Although wax is not as hard or brittle as shatter, in general, the differences between live rosin and shatter are about the same as the differences between live rosin and wax. Once again, live rosin is made with fresh plant material, and it does not use any solvents to extract the cannabinoids from that plant matter.

On the other hand, wax, just like shattered, uses either a CO2 or butane extraction process. This calls into question the same health risks associated with the solvents as with the shatter. Furthermore, because wax is often made out of cured plant matter as opposed to live rosin, which is made out of fresh frozen plant matter, the terpene and flavonoid profiles are generally fairly low.

Live rosin is much tastier than wax. Live rosin also tends to be slightly runnier than wax, with wax resembling your ear wax. Live rosin may be ever so slightly less potent than wax, but much more flavorful and generally less harsh due to the lack of solvents. Live rosin can also cost up to two times more than wax, or even more.

What is Crumble?

We then have crumble, which is also an extremely potent form of cannabis concentrate, otherwise known as crumble wax or honeycomb. This particular concentrate tends to be quite powdery and dry, hence its name, crumble. If you touch it with your fingers, it tends to fall apart, kind of like sand. Many people like crumble because it's both affordable and very potent, plus you can consume it in different ways.

How is Crumble Made?

Crumble is made very similarly to how wax and shatter are made. Here, cured cannabis buds are taken and put inside a tube, through which butane or other solvents are fired. That butane collects all of the cannabinoids from the plant matter and comes out of the bottom, at which point it is put in a vacuum chamber and then in the oven.

The absence of air combined with heat pulls the solvent out of the material. The difference between shatter and crumble is that shatter spends less time in the vacuum chamber at higher temperatures, whereas crumble spends longer periods of time in the vacuum chamber but at lower temperatures. The result is a dry and crumbly concentrate. On that note, you could technically make crumble out of shatter.

Characteristics and Benefits of Crumble

The color of cannabis crumble can range anywhere from mid or dark yellow to light brown, and sometimes even greenish. It somewhat depends on the strain it comes from, although it is usually always darker in color than live rosin.

Due to the way it is made, crumble often does not contain many of the original terpenes or flavonoids, so the flavor can be a bit unassuming or bland when compared to something like live rosin, which is made with fresh plant matter and without solvents. Yes, crumble still tastes like cannabis, but it does not have a complex flavor profile.

In terms of consistency, as mentioned above, it's very dry and powdery. Many people like crumble not only due to its potency but also due to its cost-effectiveness. It is generally one of the more affordable types of cannabis concentrates you can purchase.

Crumble vs Budder

Generally speaking, the extraction process here is more or less the same. Both crumble and budder use a solvent-based extraction process, usually butane, which is then put through a heated vacuum chamber to remove the solvent. Crumble ends up being much drier and more powdery than budder, which is much creamier and wetter, kind of like soft butter. Other than the texture, both are relatively similar.

Crumble vs Sauce

Sauce tends to be a much simpler type of cannabis extract. This extract is quite sticky and fairly thin. Sauce is a special type of extract because one of the main goals is to crystallize the THC and separate it from the terpenes.

Other extracts, such as butter, shatter, and wax, all aim to keep as many terpenes and cannabinoids as possible. What you are left with is a two-part product: thick and solid crystals that are full of cannabinoids, as well as thin and liquid oil that is rich in terpenes.

Differences Between Live Rosin and Crumble

Now that we know what both crumble and live rosin are, let's figure out what makes the two concentrates different from each other.

Appearance and Texture

One of the biggest differences between these two types of concentrates has to do with their appearance and texture, with crumble being the thicker of the two. Live rosin tends to be quite thick and oily, sometimes even like crystallized honey, and its color tends to be quite light. It can be pale yellow or even off-white. We then have crumble, which is very powdery and dry, almost like ever so slightly moist sand. Crumble also tends to be a little bit darker in color.

Terpene Profile and Flavor

Remember that live rosin uses fresh, frozen plant matter, whereas crumble usually uses cured bud and a solvent-based extraction process. In terms of flavor, this means that live rosin is generally much more flavorful, has a more complex flavor profile, and usually resembles the original strain that the concentrate was taken from. Crumble still tastes like hemp or cannabis, but you generally won't be able to taste a complex flavor profile, and you definitely won't be able to identify the original strain that the concentrate was taken from.

Potency and Effects

Because cured bud is often used to make crumble, whereas live frozen bud is used to make live rosin, crumble might be slightly more potent. Both concentrates are extremely potent and usually have well over 75% THC, with live rosin usually having up to 85% THC and Crumble as much as 90% THC. Both will get you sky-high, but crumble is slightly more potent.

As for the effects that you will feel, you can expect to feel the usual effects of Delta-9 THC. Remember that if the crumble or live rosin is taken from a Sativa strain, the high will be a little more head-focused, and if these concentrates come from an Indica strain, the height will be more body-focused.

Price and Availability

Both of these types of cannabis concentrates are readily available in various dispensaries and online retailers. However, due to the extensive production process required to make live rosin, it is generally much more expensive, up to $60 or even $80 per gram, depending on where you get it. Crumble on the other end is much more affordable, and usually cost between $30 and $40 per gram.

How to Choose Between Live Rosin and Crumble

There are a few important things that you need to keep in mind when choosing between crumble and live rosin, so let's take a quick look.

Factors to Consider

The following factors need to be considered when choosing between live rosin and crumble:

• Live rosin has more terpenes and is much more flavorful than crumble.
• Crumble can be slightly more potent in terms of its THC content than live rosin.
• Live rosin, on average, will cost you about twice as much as crumble.
• Depending on where you are, crumble might be slightly more readily available.
• Crumble tends to be a little easier to handle because it's drier, as opposed to live rosin, which is very sticky.

Pros of Live Rosin

• Live rosin is considered one of the safer types of concentrates because it is not made with solvents.
• Live rosin is super tasty and rich in terpenes due to the way in which it is produced.
• Live rosin is very potent, with up to 85% THC.
• Due to the manufacturing process not requiring any solvents, you can technically make live rosin at home without any overly special equipment.
• Live rosin is easy to utilize to dab with.

Cons of Live Rosin

• Live rosin can be somewhat difficult to find due to the extensive manufacturing process required to make it.
• Live rosin is also by far one of the most expensive types of concentrates you can purchase.
• Due to its super sticky nature, it can be a bit difficult to handle. It is best used either for dabbing or vaporizing.

Pros Of Crumble

• Crumble tends to be one of the more affordable types of concentrates.
• Crumble can be extremely potent, up to 90% THC or more.
• Due to the technically easier manufacturing process, crumble is more readily available than live rosin.
• Because crumble is fairly dry and powdery, it is also quite easy to handle. It's also easy to dab with.
• Due to its dry and powdery nature, it also works well in pipes, bongs, and joints.

Cons Of Crumble

• One of the biggest downsides of crumble is that it is made with solvents. This means that there may be solvents left in the final product, which can pose certain health risks.
• Because it is so dry and powdery if it's a bit windy, it can easily blow away, so caution is required on this front.
• Because crumble is made with solvents and because it is made with cured bud, the flavor profile is often not nearly as good as with live rosin. The manufacturing process removes many of the terpenes.

Tips For Using Live Rosin and Crumble

Let's quickly go over some valuable tips for using both crumble and live rosin.

Best Methods of Consumption

Because live rosin is relatively thick and sticky, it is best reserved for dabbing. You may also put it inside a vaporizer cartridge. You can also do the exact same things with crumble, but crumble is a bit more versatile because it's so dry, and this means that you can also put it in joints,bongs,and pipes.

How to Store and Handle Concentrates

We recommend always keeping your concentrates on something like wax paper. Wax paper has a slick coating, so concentrates, especially live rosin, won't really stick to it. If you put live rosin inside a plastic bag or on a piece of paper, it will certainly stick.

Anything you put these concentrates in should be very slick and not porous because you don't want any of that THC sticking to the surfaces. On that note, it's also best to keep these concentrates in a cool and dark place.

Dosage Recommendations and Safety Precautions

If you have any pre-existing respiratory conditions, always consult a healthcare professional before consuming any such cannabis concentrates. 

Furthermore, remember that these cannabis concentrates are extremely potent, with some being nearly pure THC. If you are prone to suffering from anxiety and paranoia from high doses of THC, then you certainly want to be careful with concentrates.

As for dosing, a dab of just 0.05 grams is more than enough for anybody to get very high. When it comes to such potent cannabis concentrates, starting slow is always recommended. You can always take more if the first hit wasn't enough, but if the first hit was too much, you can't go back.

Live Rosin vs Crumble: Frequently Asked Questions

Let's finish off the day by answering some of your most frequently asked questions.

Is Crumble better than Live Rosin?

This is a very subjective question, as live rosin is more expensive and flavorful, yet slightly less potent, but also considered safer. There are trade-offs to consider.

How do I know if my Live Rosin or Crumble is high quality?

The consistency should be as we described, the colors should be quite rich, and they should have fairly potent aromas. However, the best way to tell is simply by consuming them to see how they make you feel.

Can I make Live Rosin or Crumble at home?

You could quite easily make live rosin at home if you have the right equipment, but making crumble at home is much more difficult and dangerous due to the solvents used in the extraction process.

Are there health risks associated with using concentrates?

There are certain health risks associated with inhaling anything other than oxygen, although crumble, due to the use of solvents, is considered less healthy than live rosin.

How to consume concentrates safely and responsibly?

Always start slow with minuscule amounts and see how you feel.