Cannabis concentrates are one of the most misunderstood product categories in the legal Canadian market. New buyers often overlook them entirely, assuming they’re only for experienced users. Returning customers sometimes avoid them because the terminology — shatter, live resin, rosin, distillate, crumble — feels overwhelming without context. And experienced users who have tried concentrates in the grey market are sometimes surprised by the consistency and quality available through legal retailers.
This guide covers everything you need to know about cannabis concentrates: what they are, how they’re made, the different types available, how they’re consumed, and how to decide whether they’re right for you.
What Are Cannabis Concentrates?
Cannabis concentrates are products made by extracting the cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flower and concentrating them into a more potent form. The result is a product that contains significantly higher levels of THC — and in many cases a richer terpene profile — than anything achievable in whole flower.
While premium cannabis flower typically ranges from 15–30% THC, concentrates commonly reach 60–90% THC or higher. This makes them the most potent products available in the legal Canadian cannabis market, and it means a very small amount goes a very long way.
The extraction process determines the character of the final product — its texture, consistency, flavour, potency, and how it performs when consumed. Different extraction methods produce the distinct concentrate types you see on dispensary menus, from the hard brittleness of shatter to the creamy, terpene-rich texture of live rosin.
Browse our full concentrates menu at The Purple Leaf — one of the most comprehensive selections available from any online cannabis retailer in Ontario.
How Are Cannabis Concentrates Made?
There are two broad categories of concentrate extraction: solvent-based and solventless. Understanding the difference helps you make more informed purchasing decisions.
Solvent-Based Extraction
Solvent-based concentrates are made by passing a chemical solvent — typically butane, propane, CO2, or ethanol — through cannabis plant material. The solvent strips the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant, and the resulting solution is then processed to remove the solvent, leaving behind a concentrated cannabis extract.
The specific solvent used, the temperature and pressure of the process, and the post-extraction processing all influence the texture and character of the final product. Butane hash oil (BHO) processes produce products like shatter, wax, crumble, and live resin. CO2 extraction is commonly used for distillate and vape cartridge oil.
When produced correctly by licensed facilities with proper equipment, solvent-based concentrates are completely safe. All legal cannabis products in Canada must meet Health Canada’s testing requirements, which include verification that residual solvent levels are within safe limits.
Solventless Extraction
Solventless concentrates are made without any chemical solvents — using only heat, pressure, ice water, or mechanical agitation to separate the trichomes from the plant material. The result is considered the purest form of cannabis concentrate because nothing is added to or removed from the cannabis beyond the plant material itself.
Solventless products command a premium price because the process is more labour-intensive and the yields are lower, but many experienced users consider them the highest expression of cannabis quality available. Hash rosin — pressed from quality flower or bubble hash using heat and pressure — is the most prized solventless concentrate on the legal market.
Types of Cannabis Concentrates Available at The Purple Leaf
Shatter
Shatter is one of the most widely recognised cannabis concentrates. It gets its name from its texture — a hard, brittle, glass-like consistency that literally shatters when broken, similar to a thin sheet of amber-coloured candy.
Shatter is made through a butane extraction process and is one of the most potent concentrates available, typically ranging from 70–85% THC. Its stable consistency makes it easy to handle and portion for dabbing. Browse our shatter selection at The Purple Leaf.
Live Resin
Live resin is produced by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plants that were frozen immediately after harvest — rather than dried and cured — preserving the full terpene profile of the living plant at its peak freshness.
The result is a concentrate with a noticeably richer, more complex flavour and a more nuanced, strain-specific effect than any dried and cured extract can achieve. Live resin is available in a range of consistencies from sauce and sugar to more solid forms, and is the preferred choice of flavour-focused concentrate users. Browse our live resin products at The Purple Leaf.
Hash Rosin
Hash rosin sits at the premium end of the concentrate market. It is produced solventlessly — freshly frozen cannabis is first processed into bubble hash using ice water agitation, and the resulting hash is then pressed using heat and pressure to yield a clean, terpene-rich rosin.
The process produces no residual solvents, preserves an exceptional terpene profile, and delivers a flavour experience that experienced users consistently rate as the most authentic representation of the source strain. The labour intensity and lower yields of the process are reflected in the price point, but for flavour-focused users the quality is unmatched. Browse our hash rosin selection at The Purple Leaf.
Distillate
Distillate is the most refined of all cannabis concentrates — a highly purified oil that has been processed to isolate THC or CBD almost entirely, removing most other cannabinoids and terpenes in the process. The result is a clear to golden oil with very high cannabinoid concentration — often 85–95% THC — and minimal flavour of its own.
Distillate is the most widely used cannabis oil in vape cartridges, edibles manufacturing, and capsules precisely because of its purity, consistency, and neutral flavour profile. Terpenes are sometimes added back after distillation to restore flavour and produce strain-specific effects. Browse our distillate products at The Purple Leaf.
Crumble
Crumble is a dry, brittle concentrate with a texture similar to brown sugar or honeycomb — it literally crumbles when handled. It is produced through a BHO extraction process similar to shatter, but a longer, lower-temperature purging process produces its distinctively dry texture.
Crumble is popular for its ease of handling — it’s less sticky than many other concentrate formats and easy to portion accurately. It retains more terpenes than distillate and delivers a fuller flavour profile than shatter at a comparable price point. Browse our crumble products at The Purple Leaf.
Hash
Hash is one of the oldest forms of cannabis concentrate, with a history stretching back centuries across Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. It is made by mechanically separating the trichomes from cannabis flower — through dry sifting or ice water agitation — and compressing the resulting powder into a solid block or pressed form.
Traditional hash is typically less potent than modern solvent-based concentrates, ranging from 30–60% THC depending on quality and production method, but it occupies a unique place in cannabis culture and delivers a distinctive, full-bodied experience that many users prefer to more refined modern extracts. Browse our hash selection at The Purple Leaf.
How Are Cannabis Concentrates Used?
Cannabis concentrates can be consumed in several different ways depending on the product type and the user’s preference.
Dabbing
Dabbing is the most popular consumption method for concentrates and produces the most immediate, intense experience available from any legal cannabis product. A small amount of concentrate — typically a rice grain to pea-sized portion depending on potency and tolerance — is placed on a heated surface called a nail or banger attached to a dab rig, instantly vapourised, and inhaled.
Modern dab rigs range from simple glass setups to electronic devices called e-nails or e-rigs that allow precise temperature control. Temperature matters significantly in dabbing — lower temperatures preserve more terpenes and flavour, while higher temperatures produce denser, more potent vapour. Most experienced concentrate users experiment to find their preferred temperature range.
Dabbing is best suited to experienced cannabis users with well-established tolerance. The near-immediate onset and high potency of a concentrate dab is not appropriate for first-time buyers or anyone without prior cannabis experience.
Vaping
Many cannabis concentrates — particularly distillate and live resin — are available in pre-filled vape cartridges that attach to a standard 510-thread battery. This is the most accessible and beginner-friendly way to consume concentrates, delivering many of the benefits of concentrate potency in a much more manageable format than dabbing.
Disposable vape pens with pre-filled concentrate oil are the simplest entry point — no separate battery, no maintenance. 510-thread cartridges offer more variety and better value for regular vapers. Browse our vapes and cartridges section for currently available options.
Adding to Flower
Concentrates can be added to a standard joint or bowl of flower to significantly increase potency. Small pieces of shatter or crumble can be crumbled over ground flower in a bowl or rolled into a joint. This is sometimes called “twaxing” and is a popular method for experienced users who want to boost the potency of their flower without investing in a full dabbing setup.
Edibles and Cooking
Distillate in particular is widely used in homemade cannabis edibles because of its neutral flavour, high potency, and reliable consistency. A syringe of cannabis distillate can be incorporated into butter, oil, or directly into food to produce precisely dosed homemade edibles. For users who prefer to buy ready-made edibles rather than making their own, our full edibles menu includes products made with cannabis oil and distillate at defined doses.
Are Cannabis Concentrates Right for You?
Concentrates are not for everyone — and that’s completely fine. Here’s a straightforward framework for deciding whether they belong in your cannabis routine.
Concentrates are well suited to you if:
- You are an experienced cannabis user with an established tolerance
- You consume cannabis regularly and are looking for a more potent, cost-efficient option
- You are a flavour-focused user interested in the richest terpene expression available
- You are a medical cannabis patient who requires high potency for effective symptom management
- You are interested in dabbing as a consumption method and have done your research
Concentrates are not well suited to you if:
- You are a first-time or occasional cannabis user
- You are new to cannabis entirely and haven’t yet established your personal tolerance and limits
- You are sensitive to high-THC products or prone to cannabis-induced anxiety
- You don’t yet have a clear understanding of how different products and doses affect you personally
For new buyers, flower, low-dose edibles, or a vape pen are far more appropriate starting points. Concentrates will still be there when you’re ready for them.
Not sure where you fall? Our team at The Purple Leaf is available 7 days a week at 519-777-9498. We’re always happy to help you figure out the right product for your experience level — no pressure, no judgment.
Concentrate Potency — A Word of Caution
Given that concentrates commonly reach 70–90% THC, it is worth being very direct about dosing. A dab the size of a grain of rice from a 80% THC shatter delivers far more THC than an entire joint of 20% flower. For users transitioning from flower to concentrates for the first time, the potency difference is not incremental — it is significant.
Start with an extremely small amount — smaller than you think is necessary — wait 10–15 minutes for the full effect, and increase from there on subsequent sessions. The “start low, go slow” principle that applies to all cannabis consumption applies even more emphatically to concentrates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cannabis concentrates? Cannabis concentrates are products made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis flower into a more potent form. They typically range from 60–90% THC and include products like shatter, live resin, hash rosin, distillate, crumble, and hash. Browse our full selection at thepurple-leaf.com/concentrates.
What is the difference between shatter and live resin? Shatter is a hard, brittle BHO extract with high THC content and a stable, glass-like texture. Live resin is extracted from freshly frozen cannabis plants and preserves a much richer, more complex terpene profile. Live resin is the preferred choice for flavour-focused users.
What is the strongest cannabis concentrate available in Canada? Distillate and some live resin products reach 85–95% THC — the highest potency products available in the legal Canadian market. Browse our concentrates menu for current options.
How are cannabis concentrates consumed? The most common methods are dabbing using a dab rig, vaping via a 510-thread cartridge, adding to flower in a joint or bowl, and incorporating distillate into homemade edibles.
Are cannabis concentrates safe? Yes, when purchased from a licensed retailer and consumed responsibly by experienced users. All concentrates at The Purple Leaf meet Health Canada’s testing requirements including verification of residual solvent levels, potency accuracy, and contamination screening.
Can I buy cannabis concentrates online in Canada? Yes. The Purple Leaf ships all concentrate types — shatter, live resin, hash rosin, distillate, crumble, and hash — to every province and territory in Canada via Canada Post. Order online at thepurple-leaf.com or call 519-777-9498.
Shop Cannabis Concentrates at The Purple Leaf
Whether you’re exploring concentrates for the first time or you’re a regular looking for the best selection at the best price, The Purple Leaf has one of the most comprehensive concentrate menus available from any online dispensary in Ontario.
Browse our full concentrates range — including shatter, live resin, hash rosin, distillate, crumble, and hash — at thepurple-leaf.com, or call us at 519-777-9498 any day between 9 AM and 9 PM.
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The Purple Leaf — London, Ontario’s trusted cannabis dispensary. Licensed, tested, knowledgeable. Local delivery available. Ships across Canada.