When it comes to modern cannabis, few things represent craftsmanship and evolution like cannabis concentrates. These potent extractions are the result of decades of innovation, bringing the plant’s pure molecular goodness to the forefront in its most flavorful, elevated form. Whether you are a longtime enthusiast or new to the world of dabs, concentrates offer a deeper, more direct connection to the plant that is rich in cannabinoids, dripping with terpenes, and full of artistry.
At West Coast Cure, we have built our legacy on bringing fire weed and fire weed only in all its viable forms. From solventless rosin to live resin, from cold cure badder to THC diamonds, this is your all-in-one guide to what cannabis concentrates really are, how they are made, and how to find the best of the best.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are the extracted essence of the plant, a condensed form of cannabinoids such as THC, THCa, and CBD, terpenes, and flavonoids that make each strain unique. The goal is to isolate the plant’s trichome glands, the tiny resin-filled structures that contain all its active compounds, and present them in a more potent, flavorful, and versatile form. Depending on how those trichomes are collected, pressed, or refined, you get different styles of concentrates, each with its own texture, flavor, and intended use.
Concentrates can be made through mechanical, solventless methods such as pressing hash into rosin, or chemical, solvent-based extraction using butane, propane, or CO₂. The artistry lies in knowing when and how to preserve the plant’s natural integrity, which is where legacy brands like West Coast Cure thrive.
Solventless Versus Solvent-Based Concentrates
Solventless concentrates, like our Live Rosin Fresh Press, Cold Cure Badder, and Full Melt Hash, are made using only ice, water, heat, and pressure. This mechanical extraction process physically separates trichomes from the plant material without introducing chemicals. The result is a clean, terpene-rich concentrate that reflects the plant’s terpene and cannabinoid profile exactly as nature intended.
Solvent-based concentrates use hydrocarbon solvents such as butane or propane to separate cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. After the solvent is purged, the result is highly potent products like live resin, shatter, or wax. When produced correctly by skilled extractors, solvent-based concentrates can retain robust flavor and high potency, offering a different texture and production scale. At West Coast Cure, we champion both methods, but our focus remains on solventless arts where the connection between farmer, flower, and final experience stays unbroken.
Types of Cannabis Concentrates
There are many types of cannabis concentrates, each with a unique appeal. Live Rosin is pressed from ice water hash under precise heat and pressure, capturing the living essence of the plant. It can be micron specific or full-spectrum, but is always flavorful, and solventless, making it a top choice for those who want pure, uncompromised quality. Cold Cure Badder is whipped and cured from freshly pressed rosin, producing a smooth, cake-batter-like texture that preserves terpenes and provides an easy, enjoyable dabbing experience.THCa Diamonds are crystalline formations of near-pure THCa. When heated, THCa converts to THC, offering unmatched potency and a sparkling presentation. Often paired with terp-rich sauce, these diamonds deliver a balanced and flavorful dab. Live Resin is made using butane extraction on freshly frozen flower, retaining vibrant flavors and potent effects, and it is solvent-free once properly purged. Hash and Kief represent the original cannabis concentrates. Kief is dry-sifted trichomes, while hash is compressed and often ice-water refined. Both solventless, hash and kief offer rich flavors, heavy body highs, and a connection to the history and roots of cannabis culture.
How Cannabis Concentrates Are Made
All cannabis concentrates start with the same fundamental goal: isolating the trichomes, the resin-filled glands that contain the plant’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These trichomes hold the compounds that give each strain its potency, flavor, and aroma, making them the most valuable part of the plant for concentrate production.
One of the most common solventless methods is ice water extraction, sometimes referred to as bubble hash. In this process, plant material is agitated in ice-cold water, which helps freeze and break the trichomes away from the leafy matter. The mixture is then filtered through mesh bags of varying micron sizes to separate the trichomes by quality and size. The resulting hash is terpene-rich, flavorful, and can be enjoyed as-is or further processed. When pressed under heat and pressure, this hash becomes rosin, a smooth, solventless concentrate prized for its flavor profiles and pure plant effects in the high.
Rosin pressing can also be done directly with kief or flower. Using precise heat and strong pressure, the plant material releases its oily resin, producing a sticky, translucent concentrate that captures the living essence of the strain. The beauty of rosin is that it preserves the natural terpenes and cannabinoids without introducing any solvents, making it a favorite among connoisseurs who want a pure, flavorful experience.
Hydrocarbon extraction is a different approach that uses solvents such as butane or propane to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. After the extraction, the solvent is carefully purged to ensure a solvent-free product. The result is potent concentrates like live resin, shatter, or wax. Live resin, in particular, starts with freshly frozen flower to lock in the plant’s aromatic profile, offering a high-potency, flavorful concentrate that is often paired with terpene-rich sauce to enhance taste and effect.
No matter the extraction method, the best concentrates always begin with top-quality cannabis flower. West Coast Cure works closely with sources to ensure each batch starts with carefully cultivated plants and the best strains. This partnership ensures that the concentrates produced are not only potent and flavorful but also reflective of the craftsmanship and care that went into the original flower. Every step, from harvest to extraction, is designed to maintain the plant’s integrity, delivering a top tier dabbing experience in every hit.
Potency, Flavor, and Experience
Concentrates offer more than potency; they allow you to experience the full dimension of cannabis. Rosin and hash provide balanced, full-spectrum highs that honor the plant’s complexity. Diamonds and sauce offer extreme potency with layered flavors from added terpene sauce. Live resin delivers strong, vibrant highs with a smooth, aromatic finish. Most concentrates test between 60 and 95 percent THC, depending on type and extraction method. However, potency numbers only tell half the story. Full-spectrum products activate cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids together, producing a cleaner, more rounded experience.
How to Consume Concentrates
There are multiple ways to enjoy concentrates, each suited to a different style of session. Dab rigs or e-rigs are ideal for maximum flavor and potency, especially when using low-temperature dabs that preserve terpenes. Vape carts and dab pens offer convenience and portability, with solventless rosin carts providing a truest-to-dab experience. Infused joints such as Jefferey combine flower, kief, and diamonds for a heavy hitting session. Solventless hash edibles, like Cultivar Specific Gummies, provide long-lasting effects for a body-focused experience. Each method offers a different way to engage with the plant, allowing for both casual and connoisseur-level enjoyment.
Final Hit: Know What You Are Smoking
Not all cannabis concentrates are created equal. It is not just about chasing high THC numbers. High-quality concentrates honor the farmer, the flower, and the craft that went into making them. Every West Coast Cure concentrate is an act of stewardship, paying tribute to the growers and the legacy of hash-making. Whether you are scooping Cold Cure Badder, puffing a rosin cart, or lighting a Jefferey, you are tasting the plant as nature designed it. Fire in, fire out, always.