Hash aka Hashish, is the resin collected from the flowers of cannabis plants and repeatedly compressed to form a hardened, solid piece. The primary active substance is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), although all other chemical components of the plant are collected as well.
This form of concentrate compresses the trichomes, which are responsible for producing the aromatic terpenes and active cannabinoids that facilitate our therapeutic experiences. Hash can be chocolate brown, a greenish hue, a deep maroon or sandy brown in colour.
It is arguably one of the oldest types of cannabis concentrates, with written texts referring to hash dating as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries.
This cannabis concentrate is normally smoked in a water pipe or sprinkled in joints, hookahs, and sometimes mixed with cannabis or tobacco. It can also be eaten.
What makes hash different from other cannabis concentrates?
Hash is the original concentrate. Aside from being the world’s oldest cannabis concentrate, it is made of trichome glands, which house many of the beneficial compounds available in the cannabis plant. These active molecules — the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids of cannabis — work in synergy and may have positive effects. Terpenes have also been shown to heighten the effects of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
Hash can also have a long shelf life, if stored properly. The dry resin powder that’s collected and used to make sieved hash can last for years. The rate of degradation increases once the chief has been pressed into a slab or bar. The structure of the trichome gland, before it is pressed, acts as a natural barrier to oxygen, moisture, and other factors that can degrade potency and flavour.
What's the difference between bubble hash and hash?
Both traditional and bubble hash are concentrations of the plant's resin glands. The difference between the two is in the way they are made as well as their typical consistency. Hash is made by sieving resin glands through a series of mesh screens, while bubble hash is made by separating resin glands from the plant using ice water. Hash is then pressed into a slab or brick and stamped with a seal.
