Types of Weed Concentrates Explained From Shatter To Live Resin
Cannabis concentrates take our passion for the plant to the next level. Concentrates extract the most potent elements of cannabis, resulting in high flavor, aroma, and effects in a compact, powerful form. From smooth oils to glowing shatter, these products are crafted to highlight the finest qualities of each strain.
Concentrates have recently gained popularity among both experienced cannabis users and curious beginners. Their purity, potency, and versatility make them an excellent choice for anyone looking for a potent and flavorful. Whether you love dabbing, vaping, or adding a little additional kick to your flower, there's a concentrate product for you.
In this article, we'll look at the
different types of THC concentrates available today, break down what makes each unique, and help you find the best type of concentrate for your preferences.
What Are Weed Concentrates?

Weed concentrates are highly refined products created by extracting the most desirable components of cannabis, such as THC, CBD, and flavorful terpenes. The end result is a robust and flexible strain of cannabis that produces a stronger effect than regular cannabis flower.
Concentrates, as opposed to flowers, are refined to remove extra plant material before being smoked or vaporized. This results in a cleaner flavor, a smoother experience, and more potency. They also differ from edibles, which must be digested and take longer to deliver results. Concentrates produce faster, more controlled results when vaporized or dabbed.
There are two major methods used to create cannabis concentrates. Solvent-based extraction uses butane or CO₂ to separate cannabinoids and terpenes, while solventless extraction uses heat, pressure, or ice water to achieve natural results.
7 Types of Weed Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates come in a variety of textures, flavors, and levels of potency. Whether you're looking for pure flavor, gentle hits, or maximum potency, here's a summary of the most popular types of THC concentrates to help you choose your favorite.
1. Shatter

Shatter is known for its glass-like texture, which breaks cleanly when handled. It's created using a solvent-based extraction method that removes unwanted plant material, leaving behind a translucent sheet rich in cannabinoids and terpenes.
- How To Use: Usually consumed by dabbing or vaporization.
- Pros: High strength, extended shelf life, and pure flavor.
- Cons: May be fragile and difficult to handle.
2. Wax & Badder
Wax and badder are softer, more flexible concentrates that are easy to scoop and apply. They are created by whipping the extracted oil during purging, which changes its texture.
- Differences: Wax has a flaky texture, whereas badder is smoother and creamier.
- How To Use: Ideal for dabbing and vaping.
- Pros: Easy to use, delicious, and potent.
- Cons: Can lose potency faster if not stored properly.
3. Live Resin

Live resin is made from fresh-frozen cannabis plants instead of dried and cured ones, which helps to preserve delicate terpenes. This technique produces a bright scent and a strong, true-to-strain flavor.
- Why it stands out: It is known for its exceptional flavor and terpene profile.
- How to use: Ideal for dabbing or vaping in cartridges.
- Pros: A full-spectrum experience with rich flavor.
- Cons: The complex extraction procedure makes it often more expensive.
4. Rosin
Rosin is a solventless concentrate prepared by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from flower or hash with heat and pressure.
- How to use: Ideal for dabbing or vaping.
- Advantages: Clean, natural, and chemical-free.
- Cons: Yields may be lower than in solvent-based methods and thus it gets expensive.
- Best for: People who like pure, natural and truly full-spectrum extracts.
5. Distillate
Distillate is one of the most refined cannabis concentrates, made by isolating cannabinoids using heat and vacuum pressure. The result is a transparent, flavorless oil that is highly potent and adaptable.
- How to use: Common in vape carts, tinctures, and edibles.
- Pros: High THC content, easy to mix with other products.
- Cons: Lack of natural flavor and terpenes, isolated cannabinoids rather than a full-spectrum experience.
6. Hash and Bubble Hash
Hash is one of the oldest types of concentrates, produced by compressing trichomes (cannabis resin glands). Bubble hash goes a step further by separating the trichomes with ice water rather than solvents.
- How to use: Smoke, vape, or mix with flower.
- Pros: Natural and traditional, often affordable.
- Cons: Compared to current extracts, they are generally less powerful.
7. Crumble, Sauce, and Diamonds
These are newer types of concentrates that use enhanced extraction techniques.
- Crumble: A dry, flaky texture that is simple to handle.
- Sauce: High in terpenes, with a saucy consistency and strong flavor.
- Diamonds: Crystalline THC or CBD isolates often paired with terpene sauce.
- How To Use: Ideal for dabbing and vaping.
- Pros: A wide range of textures and flavor profiles.
- Cons: Certain types can be sticky or hard to dose precisely.
Each of these form of cannabis concentrate has its own characteristics. Whether you want taste, potency, or simplicity, there's a cannabis concentrate that fits your routine perfectly.
How To Choose The Right Cannabis Concentrate?
The best concentrate form or type depends on your preferences, experience, and how you consume cannabis. Each type balances potency, flavor, and texture differently.
- Potency: For strong, quick effects, use shatter, distillate, or live resin.
- Flavor: Live resin and rosin are high in terpenes, giving them a strain-specific flavor.
- Extraction: Solvent-based extracts (wax, shatter) are potent, while solventless choices (rosin, hash) appeal to people who avoid chemicals.
- Budget: Wax, shatter and hash are often more affordable; premium live resin, rosin, and diamonds are more expensive but provide better purity and flavor.
- Consumption: Dabbing is intense and quick, vaping is convenient, and combining with flower allows for customization.
Beginners should begin with simple to handle options such as wax, budder, or rosin. Experienced users should go for live resin or sauce for more strength and flavor.
Finally, the best weed concentrate depends on your lifestyle and goals, whether you value flavor, strength, or simplicity of use.
Final Thoughts

We've explored many different types of weed concentrates, from glass-like shatter and malleable wax to tasty live resin and solventless rosin, each with its own set of advantages in terms of potency, flavor, and consumption method.
Whether you prefer maximal strength, rich terpene profiles, or a natural solvent-free option, there is a concentrate for you.
Ready to find your perfect THC concentrate? Visit Doobie Night Dispensary in Santa Rosa to explore a wide selection of high-quality shatter, live resin, wax, and more, and discover the best type of concentrate for your lifestyle.
FAQs
Can you eat thc concentrate?
How to store cannabis concentrates?
To maintain potency and flavor, store concentrates in a cool, dark, and sealed environment.
- Short-term storage: Keep in silicone or glass containers at room temperature or slightly cooler.
- Long-term storage: chill or freeze (packed tightly) to prevent degradation and terpene loss.
Always keep them away from heat, light, and air, and keep jars upright on a flat surface.
How do you smoke live resin?
The best way to consume live resin is to dab or vape:
To use the dab rig, heat the nail to around 315-450°F, then apply a little amount of live resin and inhale.
- Vape pen: Insert a live resin cartridge or load it into a suitable concentrate pen.
You can also sprinkle it on flower in a joint or bowl for extra potency and flavor.
Is live resin better than distillate?
It depends on what you want.
Live resin keeps more terpenes and flavor, resulting in a rich, full-spectrum experience. Distillate contains more strong and pure THC, but with less terpenes and less flavor so it’s easier to mix it into other products like edibles.
So, live resin equals flavor + entourage effect, while distillate means strength + versatility.
How are cannabis diamonds consumed?
Cannabis diamonds (pure THCa crystals) are usually dabbed or vaped. Many users combine them with sauce or terpene-rich extracts for better flavor and smoother hits. They can also be added to joints or bowls for an extra kick, but a little goes a long way.