Cannabis Concentrates Guide: Shatter, Wax, Live Resin Explained
From shatter's glass-like clarity to live resin's terpene explosion, cannabis concentrates offer potency and flavour that flower cannot match. Here is your complete guide.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are products made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material, resulting in a highly potent product. While flower typically contains 15-30% THC, concentrates range from 60-99% THC.
Concentrates are not new — hash is a concentrate that has existed for thousands of years. But modern extraction technology has created an entirely new category of products with unprecedented purity and potency.
Types of Cannabis Concentrates
Shatter
THC: 70-90% | Texture: Glass-like, translucent, breaks with a snap
Extraction: Butane hash oil (BHO)
Shatter is one of the most popular concentrates due to its purity and potency. Its translucent, amber appearance indicates minimal lipids, waxes, and fats — meaning a cleaner product. High-quality shatter "shatters" when broken rather than bending.
Browse our shatter collection — we carry strains like Green Crack, Gorilla Glue, and Blue Dream in shatter form.
Wax
THC: 65-85% | Texture: Soft, opaque, easy to handle
Extraction: BHO (whipped during purging)
Wax is chemically similar to shatter but has been agitated during the purging process, creating an opaque, waxy consistency. Many users prefer wax because it is easier to handle — you can scoop it with a dab tool without it shattering into pieces.
Live Resin
THC: 65-95% | Texture: Sticky, saucy, golden
Extraction: BHO from fresh-frozen plant material
Live resin is extracted from cannabis that was flash-frozen immediately after harvest rather than dried and cured. This preserves terpenes that would normally evaporate during drying, resulting in the most flavourful concentrate available. If you prioritize taste and aroma, live resin is the premium choice.
Rosin
THC: 60-80% | Texture: Sticky, golden, similar to sap
Extraction: Solventless — heat and pressure only
Rosin is the solventless champion. No chemicals touch the plant material — only heat and mechanical pressure squeeze out the cannabinoids and terpenes. Rosin appeals to health-conscious consumers who want zero solvent residue in their concentrates.
Distillate
THC: 85-99% | Texture: Thick, clear oil
Extraction: Short-path distillation
Distillate is the purest form of THC available. The distillation process strips away everything except the target cannabinoid, resulting in a nearly pure product. It is odourless and flavourless, making it ideal for edibles, vape cartridges, and capsules.
Hash and Full Melt
THC: 25-80% | Texture: Varies from pressed blocks to granular
Extraction: Mechanical separation (sieving, ice water)
Traditional hash remains a favourite. Read our complete hash guide for a deep dive into hash varieties.
How to Consume Concentrates
Dabbing
The most common method. Requires a dab rig (glass piece with a heated "nail" or "banger"), a torch or e-nail, and a dab tool. Heat the nail to 315-450°F (lower temperatures preserve terpenes), apply a small amount of concentrate, and inhale.
Temperature guide:
Vape Pens
Pre-filled vape cartridges use distillate or live resin and attach to a standard 510-thread battery. They are the most convenient and discreet way to consume concentrates. No torch, no rig, no mess.
Adding to Flower
Crumble wax or shatter on top of a bowl or inside a joint. This "supercharges" your flower with extra potency and flavour. A small piece goes a long way.
Edible Infusion
Distillate is already decarboxylated (activated), so it can be eaten directly or mixed into food. Other concentrates need to be decarboxylated first by heating at 240°F for 30-40 minutes.
Concentrate Quality Indicators
Colour: Light amber to gold indicates purity. Dark brown or green suggests plant material contamination.
Texture consistency: Quality shatter is uniform. Wax should be evenly whipped. Live resin should look like wet sugar or sauce.
Aroma: Good concentrates smell like the strain they came from. Chemical or solvent odours indicate poor purging.
Lab testing: Always check for THC content, terpene profiles, and residual solvent testing. All concentrates at Mohawk Medibles are tested under our Empire Standard protocol.
Safety Considerations
Potency: Concentrates are 3-5 times stronger than flower. If you are new to concentrates, start with a piece the size of a grain of rice and wait 10 minutes before taking more.
Solvent residuals: Only buy concentrates from sources that provide lab testing for residual solvents. Poorly purged BHO can contain butane, propane, or other chemicals.
Tolerance: Regular concentrate use builds tolerance quickly. Many experienced users rotate between flower and concentrates to manage tolerance.
Browse Our Concentrate Collection
Mohawk Medibles carries shatter, wax, live resin, distillate, and hash — all lab-tested and Empire Standard verified. Browse the complete selection at our concentrates shop page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are concentrates safe?
When produced properly and lab-tested, concentrates are as safe as any cannabis product. The risks come from untested products with residual solvents or from taking too much due to the high potency. Always buy from reputable sources.
Q: How much concentrate should a beginner use?
Start with a piece about the size of a grain of rice (roughly 25-50mg of product, containing 15-40mg THC). This is enough to feel significant effects without being overwhelmed.
Q: What is the difference between shatter and wax?
They are made with the same extraction process, but wax is agitated during purging while shatter is left undisturbed. The chemical composition is similar — the difference is primarily texture and handling.
Q: Do concentrates smell?
When stored, concentrates have minimal odour compared to flower. When dabbed or vaped, they produce a brief but noticeable aroma. Live resin is the most aromatic concentrate type.
