Cannabis Concentrates: What to Buy, How to Use Them, and Everything to Know at Earth & Ivy

Maybe you’ve noticed concentrates showing up all over dispensary menus and wondered what makes them different from flower. Or maybe you’ve heard of concentrates but aren’t sure what they are or how to use them.

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What Are Cannabis Concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates for beginners start with understanding how these products are made. Concentrates are made by extracting cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant material. The result is a product that contains a higher concentration of active compounds compared to traditional flower. 

Many of our customers love concentrates because they offer: 

• More intense cannabis concentrate effects in smaller amounts of product 
• Strong terpene flavors and aromas 
• A wide variety of textures and formats 
• Different ways to use cannabis products 

One misconception is that concentrates are only for experienced cannabis consumers. While a lot of people start with flower before moving on to concentrates, concentrates are available in approachable formats like vapes that are easy for new consumers to try. 

Every Major Concentrate Type, Explained

Searching for “concentrates near me” and browsing the Earth & Ivy menu? These are some of the concentrate types you are more likely to encounter: 

• Live resin: Terpene-rich extract made from freshly frozen cannabis known for preserving the plant’s original flavor and aroma. 
• Live rosin: Solventless concentrate created with heat and pressure, often chosen by those who prefer a traditional extraction process. 
• Wax concentrate: Soft concentrate that’s easy to portion and handle and can be used with a variety of devices. 
• Shatter concentrate: Brittle, glass-like concentrate that breaks apart easily and is known for stable consistency. 
• Badder concentrate: Whipped concentrate with a creamy texture that’s easy to scoop and work with. 
• Distillate: Highly refined cannabis extract commonly found in vape cartridges and edibles. 
• Hash: One of the oldest concentrate formats, made by compressing resin glands of the cannabis plant. 

Understanding the different formats can make shopping for weed concentrates a lot easier. 

How to Use Concentrates: Methods Broken Down

So how do you use concentrates? The answer depends on the product and equipment you have available. The most common ways to use THC concentrates include: 

• Vape cartridge: A pre-filled cartridge containing cannabis extracts that attaches to a battery. 
• Dab pen: A portable device designed specifically for concentrates without a larger setup. 
• E-rigs: An electronic version of a dab rig that uses built-in temperature controls.
• Dab rigs: Traditional setups that use a heated surface to vaporize concentrates so you can inhale them. 

Each method has a different setup process and learning curve and can produce a different experience. If you are learning how to smoke concentrates or need more information on dabbing for beginners, our budtenders can help you get started. 

Live Resin vs. Live Rosin: What’s the Difference?

Live resin and live rosin are two of the most popular concentrate types. While both are good for preserving terpenes, the main difference lies in their extraction processes. 

Live resin is made using a solvent-based extraction process on freshly frozen cannabis. It’s a lower-cost way to preserve the plant’s terpenes, and those cost savings are passed on to the consumer. 

Live rosin is produced without solvents, using only heat and pressure to separate the resin from the plant material. The process is more costly because it’s more labor-intensive, so it’s considered a premium concentrate that usually costs more at the counter. 

So, what are the best cannabis concentrates? Neither option is inherently better than the other. Which one you choose will depend on your personal preferences and budget. 

Top Concentrate Picks at Earth & Ivy

If you are ready to buy cannabis concentrates, Earth & Ivy carries a variety of concentrate products in both our Lakehurst and New Brunswick locations. including: 

• FullTilt Labs Hell Z Cold Cure Rosin: Crafted from the renowned Hell Z (Zkittlez × GG#4), Hellz Rosin Cold Cure showcases FullTilt Labs’ dedication to premium solventless extraction. Pressed from fresh-frozen flower and cold-cured to preserve its rich terpene profile, this small-batch concentrate delivers a smooth, creamy texture with notes of earthy sweetness and subtle fruit.
• Breakwater Ice Cream Bananaz #13 Hash Rosin: Ice Cream Bananaz #13 (Ice Cream Nana × Strawberry Runtz) is a premium, solventless, whole-plant, fresh-frozen extract derived from Pheno #13 of Ice Cream Bananaz.
• Jersey Sauce Boss Lemon Nectar Live Resin: A terpene-rich concentrate that delivers a bright citrus profile with a smooth, creamy finish. It blends zesty lemon sweetness with subtle herbal and peppery notes for a vibrant dabbing experience.

Visit either Earth & Ivy location in New Brunswick or Lakehurst to explore our concentrate selection. We’re ready to answer questions so you get weed concentrates explained clearly and help you add concentrates to your cannabis stash. 

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