A lot goes into successful cannabis cultivation, but that's just the start. Many steps happen after harvesting the plants, and those steps must go just right. Curing is the most common way flower is prepared for extraction to create concentrates. Even when perfectly managed, the heat, oxygen, and light involved in the curing process play a role in degrading a flower's terpenes. Terpenes are the class of compounds found within the plant’s trichomes that give strains their distinctive aroma and flavor.

Luckily, there’s a way to get even more out of your bud before extraction – and it’s quickly becoming the gold standard of concentrates.

What Are “Live” Concentrates?

The main difference between live and standard concentrates, is that live concentrates utilize flash-frozen flower instead of cured material.

By freezing the flower right away, terpenes and cannabinoids aren’t given the chance to degrade. This preserves the plant’s original flavor and fragrance, which can be carried over into the finished concentrate. With that extra level of terpenes, live concentrates may have a sappier, more liquid-like consistency and stronger smell than others concentrates. And since terpenes work in tandem with cannabinoids like THC and CBD, you’ll also preserve more of the plant’s therapeutic benefits.

Are There Added Benefits to This Terpene-Rich Concentrate?

It’s a common misconception that live concentrates are more potent, with higher concentrations of cannabinoids. They can be, but not always. It’s the higher terpene content that distinguishes live concentrates and extracts from cured ones, and the higher terpene content is what delivers elevated medicinal effects.

Live extracts are a top-shelf product. The production process requires specialized laboratory equipment, so it may difficult to achieve optimal results from creating at home. And as you might expect, considering the complex production process and rich flavor profile, live extracts usually cost a little more than other concentrates.

Using live concentrates for higher concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, medical cannabis patients can take larger doses from less product with an outstanding flavor. To many cannabis connoisseurs, concentrates that remain loyal to the plant’s original profile provide an exceptionally pleasant experience. You might find, after trying live, that you settle for nothing less.