All About Hash
These are all terms you’ve probably heard thousands of times over without really thinking about it. Many people would just assume they are all the same. After all, weed is well-known for having a million nicknames for itself and its many variants.
But no! Hash is actually quite different from the regular cannabis bud we all know, and it is well worth your curiosity, too.
With a number of ways to consume weed, it can sometimes be difficult to determine exactly which way is the right one for you. We’re here to drill into why “hash” might be just the substance for you.
Let’s start with the basics.
What actually is Hash?
It all comes down to the Trichomes. They’re the resin glands found in cannabis flowers – the jackpot, really. It’s the trichomes that contain all the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.
To say that in less technical terms – they contain everything people seek our cannabis flowers for! The good stuff.
Unlike smoking a regular cannabis bud, Hash is made up of just the trichomes, through a surprisingly simple process that we’ll go into in more depth further down. This means that you’re left with a pure, concentrated product that provides you with a very different experience than you might be used to.
But is it better than weed?
As you can imagine from its description, Hash is a purer, and therefore stronger, product. Most forms of Hash test at around 30% THC, though this can of course vary depending on the strain used. But, it’ll still average at a high percentage in comparison.
As well as this, most customers report tasting a very earthy, florally flavour. This is why its frequently mixed with herbal blends like mint, lavender or chamomile. So, if that sounds like your preference, then it could very well be a good choice for you.
Unsurprisingly, you’re also likely to feel a much more clear and intense high, due to its purity.
Of course, none of this necessarily makes it better than any other weed product, but it certainly offers a unique experience.
But how is it made?
The question on everyone’s mind… Well, compared to making concentrates, especially butane-extracted ones, you may be surprised how easy it is to make Hash.
You can even try it at home!
The method involves taking a mature, flowering cannabis flower and rubbing it between your hands. The friction and heat will cause the trichomes to break off and stick – either to a prepared surface or your hands. Or both! Many people also dry-sieve for the same effect.
What’s left is then pressed and shaped into blocks, creating that distinctive earthy, crumbly mixture. The type of flower used can dramatically alter the appearance of it. For example, hash can be red, brown, yellow, blonde and in some cases even a little green in colour. None of these are necessarily better or worse than the others, only evidence of a different flower used.
It is rare for big producers of hash to do this by hand these days. Mechanical beating of the plants or large scale use of the “ice water” method are more common now, but they’re essentially the same concept. All that matters if separating the Trichomes from the flower. And there you have it – hash.
Is there a “best” type of hash?
As we alluded to above, hash can vary wildly depending on how it’s extracted and what flower was used. Not only can the colour be different, but texture, THC and flavour can differ too!
Lots of people prefer “dry” extraction – that is to say, by hand or sieved. This is because when compared to chemical or even water extraction, you’re left with a more “pure” and “cleaner” product. Dry extraction will typically leave more of the parent’s plant flavour in the product, as more of the plant matter is retained.
Despite this, it all comes down to personal opinion, so go and explore the world of hash for yourself!
So, what do I do with it?
Hash can be used in numerous ways! Easily the most common way would be smoking it. You could do this on its own, simply rolled up in a joint – maybe dispensaries even do pre-rolled hash joints these days! You could also add it to your more typical cannabis flowers to just enhance their hit and flavour.
For you concentrate fans, you’ll know all about the intense highs you can get from dabbing. For those not yet in the know, dabbing involves vaporizing different types of concentrated weed to then inhale. Fortunately for us, many types of hash can be melted in this way, usually with any variety of dab machine, so look into it!
Like regular flowers, hash can also be used in edibles. For the sweet-tooths among you, it’s much easier to add mixtures than flowers, as hash will simply dissolve into warm oil or butter. This makes hash the perfect choice for weed brownies, cookies, cakes and whatever else! So, if you prefer to eat your way to your high, then this is the one for you.
For something more refreshing, you could even try infusing milk! Just simmer a gram of weed to a litre of milk slowly over about 2 hours. You might need a heavy lifter for this, as it’ll need to be constantly stirred throughout! Your hard work will be rewarded however, with some smooth canna-milk, that you can make into anything you like! Milkshakes, tea, hot chocolate or even just have it on its own!
No matter how you choose to utilize your hash, we can guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience and may find a new favourite!
Shop our hash here: Dunnville Hash, Georgetown Hash, St. Catharines Hash, Fonthill Hash, Tillsonburg Hash.