There are all sorts of hash out there, some old-school and some more recent that cannabis lovers really appreciate for their strong effects and distinct flavors. Old-school types of hashish, known as “grass” in Arabic, usually get their names from where they come from. On the flip side, the newer types are named based on how they’re made. All this hashish types can be cured to perfection using the iCure hash fridge.
Growers and extractors have a great opportunity to take advantage of the variety of hash products by creating a diverse selection of cannabis concentrates for consumers. Since modern hash tends to be of much higher quality and potency compared to the import varieties you can find these days, let’s dive right into the modern types of hash.
Today’s Solventless Hash Products
Solventless hash products come from isolating those sticky resin-filled trichomes that grow on mature cannabis plants. The resin glands are where the cannabinoids and terpenes in the cannabis plant come to life. When you separate them from the buds, you get an extract that has a higher percentage of cannabinoids than if you were to smoke the whole flower. This hashish types can be cured to perfection using the iCure hash fridge.
Modern hash products really stand out because of their tech-driven production process. This means they can achieve greater purity and consistency, plus they keep way more terpenes than the old-school hash-making methods. At Lowtemp Industries, we’ve got the solventless extraction equipment you need to create a variety of hash products.
Dry Sift Hash
In terms of typical hash varieties seen in the US market today, dry sift hash is the closest. To make dry sift hash (you can cure it using the iCure hash fridge). Producers gently rub dried cannabis buds over a sieve, then refine the resulting kief through a series of metal screens step by step until only trichomes remain. For optimal results, they use Vaportrol technology with the Cannatrol to dry cannabis effectively.
You can produce edibles and topicals from dry sift hash, or you can press it on a rosin press to get the resin (for dabbing). To prepare dry sift for pressing, Static Tech is frequently employed.
Bubble Hash
This Bubble hash is a type of hash created through the process of ice water extraction. Bubble hash, often referred to as ice water hash, is a method of extracting cannabinoids. The procedure for extraction is outlined below:
- A bucket or chamber with ice and cold water holds frozen cannabis buds.
- Gentle agitation separates the trichomes from the plant material and drops them to the chamber bottom.
- Empty the contents into a bucket with graduated bubble bags or an AutoSieve to gather trichomes of various sizes.
- The moist hash is dried in a freeze dryer or cold chamber.
Full Melt Bubble Hash
Full melt bubble hash is the kind that melts away completely when you dab it, leaving no residue behind. This type of bubble hash usually consists of trichome heads that fall within the 90-120μm range.
Full Spectrum Bubble Hash
Producers create full-spectrum bubble hash by utilizing the complete micron range of collected material, excluding the smallest and largest wash bags, which typically capture the most undesirable plant debris. This approach gives full-spectrum bubble hash a more intricate flavor profile compared to bubble hash made from a single micron size.
Temple Ball
Modern temple balls combine the idea of Nepalese temple balls (which we describe lower down) with the more recent technique of ice water extraction.
- A wine bottle filled with hot water rolls out dried bubble hash in a turkey bag.
- After many rolls both sides, the hash is folded into a cube.
- Handwork removes air pockets and irregularities from the cube.
- Hands form the cube into a ball.
- Cold storage ages the ball.
Temple balls provide two main advantages:. (1) The outer layer safeguards the resin contained within, and (2). The application of heat during the preparation process begins to activate the cannabinoids, enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness.
Piatella
Piatella is a pretty new hash product that Zio from Uncle’s Farm. It is put together using bubble hash from La Sagrada Farms and Slite 23. This hash product snagged 3rd place at Ego Clash 2020. Producers create Piatella by cold-curing (iCure hash fridge) full melt bubble hash from fresh frozen cannabis buds. This process packs it with terpenes, allowing it to bind together and slice like a soft loaf of bread. You can only whip up piatella using full melt bubble hash, which usually has trichomes in the 90-120μm range.
Rosin
Rosin is filtered resin cannabis plant produce. To remove the sticky resin, press dried cannabis flower, sift, bubble hash, or kief between two hot plates until the trichome cuticles melt. Next is resin incorporation into products and topicals. Done by dabbing or decarboxylation.
While pressing premium bubble hash yields the best rosin, pressing static-cleaned premium dry sift yields decent economy rosin as well. The pressing process follows by either cold curing ( iCure hash fridge)the rosin. This for a budder texture or warm curing it for jam, sauce, or diamonds. Another way to get a shatter-like texture is to press the bubble hash at higher temperatures.
Modern Solvent-Based Hash: BHO
Butane hash oil (BHO) extracts are kind of like solventless hash extracts because they have the active compounds of cannabis without any extra plant material hanging around. You know, the big difference between solventless and solvent-based hash products is pretty straightforward. Solvent-based hash products involve dissolving cannabinoids and terpenes in a solvent, and then they purge off any leftover solvent. On the other hand, solventless hash products are created through mechanical separation. Simple as that!
After extraction, producers can further process and manipulate BHO to create a wide range of textures, including:
- Honey oil
- Budder
- Badder
- Wax
- Shatter
- Crumble
- Pull-and-snap
Users typically dab all of these concentrates. They also use them to create topicals, edibles, vaping products, and infused joints.
Traditional Types of Hash
Traditional kinds of hashish (hash) are based on where they come from, mostly in Central Asia and the Middle East. A study conducted in Madrid revealed that illegal “import hash” was contaminated with hair, vegetable matter, plastic, sand, textile fibers. All those and notably, E. coli from human feces. The best way to try these hash products is to fly to the cities in question or to Amsterdam.
Just a heads up, cannabis is illegal in some countries where hash is produced. Its cultivation is mostly restricted to tribal areas or specific places where it can be grown and processed for research. Note that many old-school hash-making methods, especially those using your hands or feet, aren’t clean anymore.
Charas (India, Pakistan, Nepal, and the Himalayas)
Producers create Charas, also known as finger hash, by rubbing fresh cannabis buds—usually from the Cannabis indica strain—between their hands. This process allows trichomes to adhere to their fingers or gloves. They then collect these trichomes, roll them into a stick or sausage shape, and typically smoke them using a chillum.
The stuff that collects from rolling fresh buds in your hands is a dark green, nearly black color. That’s because it has plant residue in it, along with dirt, stigmas, and anything else that might have landed on the plant. You know, one great thing about this soft, creamy hash is how aromatic it is when it’s fresh. The terpenes are still intact, so you really get to enjoy those lovely scents.
Afghani Hash
Afghani hash is prepared by removing trichomes from dried cannabis buds. This produces what we call kief. Producers bake and press kief over a low-heat wood fire, sometimes using tea, warm water, or animal fat. When the mixture darkens and takes on a dough-like consistency, they knead it by hand or with bare feet until it reaches the thickness of fudge. The producer’s seal of approval means that the Afghani hash is good. It is said to taste spicy and harsh.
Kashmiri Hash
Kashmiri hash originates from Kashmir, located in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent. This type of hash is purportedly produced in a manner akin to charas and yields a potent physical substance.
Lebanese Hash
Growers cultivate marijuana outdoors in the Bekaa Valley, producing the most well-known Lebanese hash. When it’s ripe, they pick the buds and dry them out. After that, producers dry the buds and sift them to create kief, then press it into brittle hash slabs that can be yellow or red. People describe yellow Lebanese hash as more stimulating, while they recognize red Lebanese hash for its relaxing effects.
Manali Hash
Manali hash originates from the picturesque town of Manali, nestled in the Beas River valley amidst the majestic Himalayan mountains of India. Producers craft this exquisite hash by gently rubbing fresh cannabis buds, much like charas, creating a remarkably smooth texture that has earned it the distinguished title of “Manali Cream.”
Moroccan Hash
The northern Rif area of Morocco gained fame in the 18th century for its hash manufacturing after importing cannabis to the country in the seventh century C.E. Producers make traditional Moroccan hash by beating dried cannabis buds through a sieve to produce kief. They then heat the kief and shape it according to the desired taste and texture. Among the many forms of Moroccan hash, two stand out: the brittle brick hash and the soft pollen hash.
Nepalese Hash
Temple balls actually have their roots in the hash made in Nepalese temples. So, the story goes that to create those Nepalese temple balls, Buddhist monks would take dried cannabis buds and rub them between their hands. They’d gather the trichomes that stuck to their palms and roll them into these shiny little balls, which they’d let age for a year or even longer.
Pakistani Hash
In the tribal regions of northern Pakistan, producers make black hash using methods similar to Moroccan hash: they sieve, cook, and then press it. Some producers follow a unique process by storing the hash for three months in the skin of a dried sheep or goat to enhance its flavor.
Turkish Hash
In some provinces cannabis can be grown for medical and research purposes. This producers make Turkish hash. Like Moroccan and Pakistani hash, they heat and press kief into black hash slabs, which tend to be quite brittle. People say the smoke has a smooth quality with just a hint of spice. The high feels pretty mild and definitely gets your brain working.
Join a Proud Line of Hash Makers
Hash making has been around for quite a while and keeps evolving as people discover new techniques, invent new technologies, and as the tastes in the cannabis market shift and change. All types of hash are naturally concentrated. There’s a big difference between the old-school hash types from traditional hash-making communities and the newer ones like rosin, bubble hash, and piatella.
If you’re looking to process cannabis for making hash, whether for yourself or to sell, it’s really key to begin with some good extraction equipment and top-notch starting material. Using top-notch, sturdy equipment that you can program for reliable results can really help you create hash that today’s consumers will appreciate.