Hashish 101: What is hash and how to smoke it

Hash, short for hashish, is a popular cannabis concentrate that cannabis enthusiasts have cherished for centuries. Depending on the type of cannabis plant being used to make it and the preparation technique, hash can vary in texture, color, and consistency.

Learn more about hash, how to smoke it, and how to make your own from a homegrown weed. Whether you're new to concentrates or a seasoned connoisseur, you can appreciate and enjoy this ancient cannabis product.

What is hash?

Hash is a concentrated form of cannabis that's been historically produced by isolating the trichomes, or resin glands, from the cannabis flower and leaves. 

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

These trichomes contain valuable cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds responsible for the plant's unique effects and flavors. 

Hash can take on various forms, from a crumbly texture to a hard, solid substance, depending on the method of extraction and processing. Hash can also vary in color, from white to yellow, and multiple shades of brown–like reddish-tan or dark brown.

A brief history of hash

Hashish has a history intertwined with the evolution of cannabis. While its exact origins remain elusive, it can be traced back to as early as the 12th century BC, if not earlier. Hash has played a significant role in various cultures, from Nepal and India to the Middle East and Northern Africa. 

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

The popularity of hash, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, highlights its cultural significance and enduring appeal. The art of crafting hash through mechanical separation and other traditional methods has been passed down through generations. In the modern cannabis landscape, hash remains a symbol of ancient craftsmanship while still evolving alongside new technologies.

Types of hash

Hash, like many other cannabis products, comes in various qualities and types. 

• Dry sift: An ancient form of making hash, dry sift is made by mechanically separating trichomes by sifting cannabis plants through different screens. 
• Bubble/Ice water hash: Bubble hash is created using water and ice to separate the trichomes from the plant material.
• Rosin: A sticky cannabis concentrate made by applying heat and pressure to plant material, rosin can be made with flower to produce flower rosin or from hash to produce hash rosin.
• Charas: The oldest form of hash making, charas is made by rubbing fresh cannabis buds vigorously back and forth between your palms.

Note: There's an ongoing discussion within the hash community about whether concentrates made with chemical solvents, like butane, can be considered true hash. One prominent voice in this debate is the late cannabis legend Frenchy Cannoli, who believed that hash can only be made through mechanical separation. Solvent-based concentrates may be categorized differently within the broader world of cannabis concentrates.

How to smoke hash

One of the things that makes hash so popular with consumers is that it's versatile, but the differences in consistencies and quality can significantly impact your experience. Here's a glimpse of how the qualities of hash can match different ways of consumption:

• Full melt hash and rosin: These high-quality hash varieties are excellent for vaporization due to their minimal contaminants from plant matter. When vaporized, you'll enjoy a clean and pure experience with an emphasis on the unique flavors and effects of the hash.
• Dry sift/Moroccan hash: While Moroccan hash can be dabbed, the experience may not be as refined as with full melt hash or rosin. However, it offers a different profile of flavors and effects, making it a suitable option to roll together with flower or in a spliff. The combination can create a harmonious blend of cannabis experiences.

There are several methods to smoke hash, each with unique characteristics and benefits. 

How to smoke hash in a joint, spliff, or blunt

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One of the interesting things about hash is that it sometimes doesn't burn that well. To remedy this, you need to roll joints, spliffs, or blunts that include a combination of flower and hash. 

Materials

• Ground cannabis flower 
• Tobacco (for a spliff) or other herbs (optional)
• Hash
• Rolling paper

Instructions

1. Mix the finely ground cannabis flower with the tobacco or herbs. 
2. Line the mixture down the middle of your rolling paper.
3. Sprinkle crumbled hash on top of the flower. To make it easier to work with, try shaping your chunk of hash into a thin cylinder that lays down neatly on top of the flower.
4. Roll the mixture into a hash joint, spliff, or blunt.
5. Light up and enjoy.

Tip: When smoking hash in a joint or spliff, achieving the proper ratio between the chosen herb and hash is crucial. If you use too much hash and not enough flower or other herbs, your joint may clog or canoe. 

The ideal ratio depends on the quality of the hash. If it's closer to full melt, you will need more herb due to the higher oil content. If it's hash with less oil and more plant matter, such as Moroccan hash, you'll require less herb for the mix.

How to smoke hash using a bowl, spoon pipe, bubbler, or bong

Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Materials

• Cannabis flower or herb
• Hash
• Bowl, spoon pipe, bubbler, or bong
• Hemp wick (optional)
• Lighter

Instructions

1. Place a small amount of cannabis flower in the bowl.
2. Add a crumbled or small piece of hash on top of the flower.
3. Apply flame to the hash while inhaling.

How to smoke hash using an electronic vaporizer or dab rig

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Materials 

• Vaporizer or dab rig
• Hash
• Torch (for dab rig)

Instructions

1. Load a small amount of hash into the vaporizer or dab rig.
2. Set the vape to the appropriate temperature or heat the nail on the dab rig.
3. Inhale the vapor or smoke produced as the hash heats up.

Tip: Precise temperature control is crucial when using an electronic vaporizer or dab rig. Higher temperatures can rapidly produce dense vapor, but they also risk quick oil evaporation, potentially leading to an unfavorable taste when excessively hot, resulting in an unsatisfactory experience. Lower temperatures allow you to savor the terpenes and flavors in the hash fully. However, setting the heat too low may not provide the desired level of intoxication. 

Discovering the optimal temperature for your specific hash variety and the experience you seek is essential for unlocking its full potential. For example, for the Puffco, you can start the temperature at the lowest blue setting; for a regular quartz banger, you can try 480°F for hash.

How to smoke hash: Hot knives method

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Materials

• Two metal knives, such as butter knives
• Stove or open flame
• Hash
• Plastic water bottle that's been cut in half

Instructions

1. Start by cutting a plastic water bottle in half. Discard the bottom half, but save the top half for use as a mouthpiece.
2. Heat the blades of the knives on the stovetop or open flame.
3. Let the knives cool slightly. Put the mouthpiece in your mouth and hold it there with your teeth or lips. Place a small chunk of hash onto one of the hot knives. 
4. Press the other knife on top of the hash to create vapor.
5. As soon as it is sandwiched between the hot knives, your hash should immediately start smoking. Use the mouthpiece to suck up all the smoke, trying to minimize how much of it escapes.

Bottom line

People like smoking hash because it's fairly common, versatile, and gives consumers a more potent high than flower alone. And though it can't compete with other types of concentrates when it comes to potency and THC percentages, it's usually very flavorful and contains all the beneficial elements present in the cannabis plant. 

FAQ

Hash vs. weed: What's the difference?

Hash is a concentrated form of cannabis made from extracting trichomes (resin glands) from the plant. Weed, on the other hand, refers to the whole cannabis plant, including the flowers, leaves, and stems.

What makes hash different from other cannabis concentrates?

Hash is unique because it is made directly from the resin glands of the cannabis plant. Other concentrates, like shatter or wax, are made using different extraction methods.

Can you eat raw hash?

Consuming raw hash is not recommended, as it may not provide the desired effects and can be harsh on your digestive system. It's best to heat or decarboxylate hash before consumption.