The 5 Best Ways To Make Hash
Hash production is pretty simple when you get down to it, so here are 5 ways you can work to turn your cannabis plants into this world renowned concentrate.
Hash, also known as hashish, is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of cannabis concentrate around. Its popularity stems from its high potency and easy production, with pretty much everyone being able to make it themselves. So, we thought we would put together a guide on finer details of what it is, and how you can make it yourself.
WHAT IS HASH?
As mentioned, hash is a form of cannabis concentrate. It is made up of the trichomes of the cannabis plant – the tiny hair like glands that produce and hold the great majority of the plants cannabinoids. These are separated from the plant and then pressed into concentrated blocks using pressure and heat. The great majority of trichomes grow around the plant’s flowers, which is why bud and its trim is the key ingredient in hash production – although all plant matter can be used in its production.
It is important to know that simply separating the trichomes from the cannabis plant does not produce hash. The result of this separation is known as kief, another form of concentrate, and the raw ingredient in hash production. It is not hash until it has undergone heat/pressure treatment, causing the trichomes to break down and meld - affecting consistency, flavour and effect.
So, at its essence, there is technically only one way to produce hash – by heating and pressing it. However, the method you use to obtain your kief can have a large bearing on the quality of your hash, and cause both profound and subtle differences in it. This is why there are many “different” methods of producing hash, as the method you use can define the type of hash you get.
Note: the type of plant matter you use also affects the end quality of the hash. Entire plants can be used to collect kief and produce hash; however, it is the kief collected from bud and bud trim that is the best. So here are five ways of collecting kief, and turning into hash.
5 Best Ways To Make Hash
1. FINGER HASH
This is the most basic way of producing hash. It is often done as a by-product of harvesting a cannabis plant or handling a large amount of weed.
Basically, as the weed is handled, trichomes and resin stick to the skin, as the resin can be pretty gunky. Finger hash is produced by rubbing your hands or fingers together when they have this coating. The pressure of rubbing your fingers together, combined with the body heat of your hand, can produce a low-grade hash.
Bear in mind, all the dirt, sweat, and oil on your hands will also get pressed into it, which is why it is considered to be so low quality. However, hand-rolled Charras-Hash from Nepal is considered a delicacy, proving that this method is capable of producing outstanding material.
2. THE BLENDER METHOD
This method relies on the fact that trichomes will sink in water. Cannabis trim, water and ice are put into a blender – ice, because the colder trichomes are, the easier they are to separate from the plant matter. When the blender is switched on, the force of the motion, as well as the collisions caused by everything bashing together separates the trichomes from the plant matter, allowing them to sink to the bottom when the blender is turned off.
Everything is poured into a jar through a screen to remove the plant matter – the trichomes are small enough to pass through. The water/trichome mix is then allowed to settle for about 30 minutes, so that a layer of trichomes forms at the bottom of the jar. About two-thirds of the water is then carefully poured out, taking care not to disturb the trichomes.
The jar is then placed in a freezer for 10 minutes, before being filtered through coffee paper. The paper should collect all of the trichomes to form kief. All you have to do is let it dry before pressing it into hash. This method is seen as better than the finger hash method, but can still contain impurities.
3. THE SILK SCREEN METHOD
This method involves sieving your cannabis plant matter through a silk screen. Ground up trim is placed on the silk screen and gently agitated to break of the trichomes and allow them to fall through onto the surface below.
Generally, you want a dark surface with a glass top, making it easy to see the trichomes, as well as collect them. This will give you some initial kief to work with and produce hash from; however, by using a series of successively finer silk screens, it is possible to refine the purity and quality of your hash.
Wooden Sifter Box
The left over from each screen can still be used to make hash, and the separation allows you to do it in varying qualities – with the finest being the best. It is optional, though. One screen will give you decent enough kief to make reasonable hash.
If you can’t make your own silk screens, it is possible to purchase all in one screening boxes, allowing for easy manual sifting and collection.
4. THE MECHANICAL DRUM METHOD
For those looking for an easy ride, the mechanical drum method will fit the bill. A mechanical drum performs the same job as the silk screen method, but it is completely automated – making it easier to process a couple of plant’s worth. Basically, the plant matter is placed inside a mechanical drum made from a very fine screen. When turned on, the drum will roll, agitating the cannabis and allowing the trichomes to fall through. After a couple of hours, all the user has to do is turn it off and collect their bounty.
Pollinator P150
5. MAKING YOUR OWN BUBBLE HASH
Hash produced using this method of extraction is the best of the best. There are few who consider other forms of hash finer. The bubble hash method basically combines all of the above. Using a bucket of ice water, plant matter and trichomes are filtered through a series of progressively finer mesh bags, resulting in an extremely pure end product. Much like the drum method, this production method also has its own automated version.
TURNING KIEF INTO HASH
With kief in hand, it is time to make hash. There are two ways to go about it. The first is with just pressure, using a pollen press. This allows you to place your kief in the press, applying high pressure to it and melding it into a pellet. Although this does change its state of being without heat – changing flavour, consistency and effect - the result will not be considered as hash by some.
To make true hash, you need to use both heat and pressure. The kief is in a wrap of cellophane, such as that used to wrap food. The kief needs to be compact and tight; it also needs to be wrapped enough to ensure it is waterproof. This is then wrapped in paper and taped shut. The whole package is then run under a warm tap and placed in an oven set to 175°C.
The cellophane will ensure that the kief remains dry, while the wet paper will stop anything from burning – but allowing the kief to soften and meld. After 10 minutes at this temperature, the parcel is taken out of the oven and placed on a hard surface. Large amounts of even pressure are the applied to the package using a rolling pin. It should be rolled from all flat sides multiple times.
It is possible to repeat this heat/pressure process again by re-wetting the paper, putting it back in the oven, followed by another period of rolling. This will improve the quality, but is not essential. Once satisfied, the package is put into the fridge to cool down and solidify. Note: food-safe cellophane should always be used.
There you go! You should now have all the info you need to making your own little supply of hash. It is a great concentrate and an excellent way of turning unwanted trim into a usable stash.
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