For the Local Connoisseur visiting Litmosphere, our concentrate display is a highlight. However, for a beginner, terms like Live Rosin, Badder, Crumble, and Shatter can sound like a foreign language. Cannabis concentrates are highly refined extracts that gather the active trichomes from the plant material, concentrating them into a highly potent form. While flower typically tests between 15% and 30% THC, concentrates regularly test between 60% and 90% THC.
To choose the right extract, you must first understand the extraction method. Solventless concentrates represent the pinnacle of craft purity. The most famous of these is Live Rosin. To produce live rosin, fresh-frozen cannabis is agitated in ice water to separate the trichome heads, producing "bubble hash." This hash is then subjected to intense heat and mechanical pressure in a specialized press. No chemical solvents are ever used. Live Rosin retains the purest expression of the original plant’s terpenes and is highly prized for its flavor.
Solvent-based concentrates utilize hydrocarbons (like butane, propane, or ethanol) to strip cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Once the active compounds are extracted, the solvents are completely purged in a vacuum oven, verified by a strict OCM-licensed COA. Common textures include Shatter (glass-like and brittle), Badder or Budder (whipped, creamy, and easy to handle), and Crumble (dry and honeycomb-like).
Consuming concentrates requires specialized hardware. The most common method is "dabbing," which involves placing a tiny amount of extract onto a heated quartz surface (a nail or banger) and inhaling the vapor through a water pipe. Portable concentrate vaporizers and electronic dab rigs have made this process incredibly clean and accessible. Because of their immense potency, we advise starting with an amount no larger than half a grain of rice. Speak with our team to explore our craft NY lineup.