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.
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.
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, dried cannabis buds are gently rubbed over a sieve, and the resulting kief is refined through a series of metal screens in a stepwise fashion until only trichomes are left.
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
This Full spectrum bubble hash is produced utilizing the complete micron range of collected bubble hash, excluding the smallest and largest wash bags, which typically gather the most undesirable plant debris. Full spectrum bubble hash is purported to possess a more intricate flavor profile compared to bubble hash derived from a singular 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. Piatella is basically cold cured full melt bubble hash that comes from fresh frozen cannabis buds. It’s packed with terpenes, making it come together and slice just 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
The cannabis plant’s filtered resin is known as rosin. The sticky resin is removed by pressing dried cannabis flower, sift, bubble hash, or kief between two hot plates until the cuticles of the trichomes melt. The resin can subsequently be absorbed into consumables and topicals through dabbing or by 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 is followed by either cold curing the rosin 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, BHO can be further processed and manipulated to create a wide range of textures, including:
- Honey oil
- Budder
- Badder
- Wax
- Shatter
- Crumble
- Pull-and-snap
Usually, all of these concentrations are dabbed. Additionally, they can be used to create topicals, edibles, vaping goods, 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)
Charas, also known as finger hash, is created by rubbing fresh cannabis buds, usually from the Cannabis indica strain, between your hands. This process allows the trichomes to adhere to your fingers or gloves. So, the trichomes that get collected are rolled up into a stick or sausage shape and are usually smoked 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 made by taking the trichomes off of dried cannabis buds to get kief. The kief is then baked and pressed over a low-heat wood fire, which is sometimes done with tea, warm water, or animal fat. When the dark mixture looks like dough, it is kneaded by hand or with bare feet until it’s about 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
The most well-known Lebanese hash comes from marijuana that’s cultivated outdoors in the Bekaa Valley. When it’s ripe, they pick the buds and dry them out. After that, the dried buds get sifted to create kief, which is then pressed into those brittle hash slabs that can be yellow or red. Yellow Lebanese hash is said to be more stimulating, while red Lebanese hash is known 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. This exquisite hash is crafted by gently rubbing fresh cannabis buds, much like charas, resulting in 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. Traditional Moroccan hash is made by pressing dried cannabis buds into kief after beating them through a sieve. The kief is then heated and shaped according to 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
Hash that is black is made in the tribal parts of northern Pakistan. People say it is made in a way that is similar to how Moroccan hash is: it is sieved, cooked, and then pressed. Some Pakistani hash is unique because it is kept for three months in the skin of a dried sheep or goat to bring out the flavors.
Turkish Hash
In some provinces, where cannabis can be grown for medical and research reasons, you’ll find turkey hash being made. Just like Moroccan and Pakistani hash, kief gets heated and pressed into those black hash slabs, and they tend to be pretty 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.