Cannabis evolution along the creation of new strains means that marijuana plants are producing THC levels never seen before. Therefore, consumers are constantly seeking new ways to make the best out of the properties of this amazing plant. Concentrates, extracts or hash are the three different types of hash that we’ll discover in this article.
What is Hash?
Hashish or hash is a concentrated cannabis product made from the resin glands of the plant. It involves separating cannabinoid-rich trichomes (such as THC and CBD) to create a more potent substance than cannabis flower. Besides, people consume these extractions in various ways (smoking, vaping…).
Types of Hash
The 21st century has seen two other techniques to get similar results: BHO (the most dangerous one, as you need to use butane gas) and Rosin (the newest method). Anyways, there are plenty of types of hash and each of them has its own peculiarities and characteristics that makes it unique.
Charas
Fresh hash, also called charas, was one of the firsts resin extraction processes in the cannabis world. It consisted of rubbing the fresh buds of the living plant with the hands until the trichomes got stuck to them. However, this method was only used in Asia, especially in the Himalayas, India, Pakistan and Nepal.
Dry Sift
Flowers were placed in bags and hit with sticks, mimicking playing the drums until the resin came off the buds. This system is very easy as it is based on the friction of vegetable matter to separate the trichomes.
Nowadays, it’s common to use a hash shaker or grinders to extract dry sift hash, and it is the most common concentrate worldwide.
Bubble Hash
Bubble Hash, also called Water Hash or Ice-O-Lator, consists of separating the trichomes and the vegetable matter using water, ice and movement.
Freeze the vegetable matter that you are going to use (buds, leaves…). Make sure that the room where you are going to carry out this process is cold enough, otherwise, the ice won’t work properly. For this basic technique, one must follow the next steps:
- Place the ice and the water in a hash washer. Some people do this process using buckets and moving the liquid with a long stick.
- When water and ice is about 28ºF (-2ºC), introduce the vegetable matter inside the hash washer and turn it on for 30 minutes.
- Throw the water into a bucket that has been previously laid with hash extract bags of different microns. The bags must be one inside the other one (the one with the bigger holes goes first and the one with the smallest holes goes last).
- Take each bag out, empty the water out and once it is more or less dry, turn the bag upside down and collect the hash, separating the content according to the microns of the bags.
BHO
BHO (hash oil made with butane gas) is the most complicated, dangerous and risky process of the cannabis field, but the results are better quality in general terms.
Here, we’ll explain the most common and safest BHO extraction method (called closed circuit). The steps are:
- Place the vegetable matter inside the BHO Roller extractor.
- Introduce the butane gas through the extractor tube, which will generate a huge pressure that will drag the trichomes. You must wear gloves as the tube freezes out.
- The liquid gas, together with the trichomes, will fall through the other side of the tube onto the plate we have previously placed to collect the resin. Let the gas evaporate as much as possible.
- Finally, you need to use an extractor or a Vacuum Oven for BHO Extracts connected to a vacuum pump in order to remove gas leftovers and stay with the pure concentrate. This last process is called purging.
Rosin
Rosin is the most recent resin extraction method. This concentrate became very popular as it doesn’t use butane, it is easy to do and offers good quality results. It is suitable for consumption straight after making it.
To make rosin, follow the next steps:
- Place two rosin papers over the press.
- Introduce the vegetable material inside a rosin bag filter.
- When the temperature of the Rosin press reaches the right temperature (between 85-110ºC or 185-230ºF), place the material in the press and compress for one minute.
- Continue pressing for 1-3 minutes until it drains completely. Once the extraction is done, let the concentrate sit for a couple of days, and it will be ready to use.
The evolution of cannabis consumption and the creation of new genetics are leading to unprecedented THC levels in history. We hope this article has helped you learn more about the different types of hash that exist and how to make them.
