Hashish, often simply called hash, is a cannabis concentrate obtained from the resin glands, the so-called trichomes, of the cannabis plant. This concentrate has a higher concentration of cannabinoids, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which leads to a more intense effect compared to normal marijuana.

Importance and use of hashish

Hashish has played an important role in many cultures and societies around the world for centuries. It has traditionally been used for both medicinal and spiritual purposes. Nowadays, it is used both as a recreational drug and for medicinal purposes. Medically, hashish can be used to relieve pain, treat nausea or stimulate the appetite for various illnesses. In some cultures and religious practices, it is also used as part of rituals and ceremonies.

Aim of the article

This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the production of hashish. We will explore different methods of producing hashish from different parts of the cannabis plant, including stems, leaves and sugar leaves. Additionally, we will highlight the legal aspects of hashish production to ensure that all readers are aware of the potential consequences. Finally, we will discuss the pros and cons of each method and provide practical tips for producing high-quality hashish.

History of hashish production

Origin and early use

The history of hashish goes back thousands of years. The first reports of the use of hashish come from Central Asia and the Middle East, where it was used both medicinally and ritually. Ancient civilizations such as the Assyrians and Egyptians documented the use of cannabis and its derivatives in medical texts and religious writings.

Spread in different cultures

Over time, the use of hashish spread to other parts of the world via trade routes and cultural exchanges. In the Middle Ages, Arab traders brought hashish to North Africa and Europe. India and Nepal developed their own tradition of hashish production, known as charas, where fresh cannabis flowers are rubbed between the hands to extract the resin.

Hashish in modern times

In the 19th century, hashish experienced a surge in popularity in Europe, especially in artistic and literary circles. Famous personalities such as the French writer Charles Baudelaire and the English author William S. Burroughs experimented with hashish and described its effects in their works. Nowadays, the legalization of cannabis in some countries and states has led to a renewed interest in hashish. Today, hashish is used for both medicinal and recreational purposes, and there are numerous innovative ways to produce and consume this cannabis concentrate.

Making hashish: The basics

What is hashish?

Definition and differences to other cannabis products

Hashish, often referred to simply as hash, is a cannabis concentrate obtained by extracting and processing the resin glands, also known as trichomes, of the cannabis plant. These resin glands contain a high concentration of cannabinoids, in particular THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is responsible for the psychoactive effects.

Compared to regular marijuana, which consists of the dried flowers of the cannabis plant, hashish is much more concentrated and potent. While marijuana usually has a THC content of 10-20%, the THC content of hashish can be up to 60% or more. This leads to a more intense effect, which is why many users prefer hashish.

Types of hashish

There are various types of hashish, which differ in their production methods and the parts of the plant used. Here are some of the most common:

Dry Sift Hash: This type of hashish is obtained by sifting dried cannabis. The trichomes are separated from the plant and collected.
Bubble Hash: This is a type of hashish that is produced by using ice water and filters. This method extracts the trichomes particularly cleanly and efficiently.
Charas: This traditional Indian method involves rubbing fresh cannabis flowers between the hands to extract the resin.
Finger hash: This type occurs when resin sticks to the fingers when handling cannabis and is collected.

The trichomes of the cannabis plant

Meaning of the trichomes

Trichomes are the small, hair-like structures that grow on the surface of the cannabis plant. They produce and store the cannabinoids and terpenes that are responsible for the medicinal and psychoactive properties of cannabis. Trichomes also protect the plant from pests and UV rays by forming a sticky and sometimes protective layer.

How to recognize and extract trichomes

Recognizing the trichomes:

Trichomes are microscopic and often appear as tiny, sparkling crystals on the plant's flowers and leaves.
Under a microscope, trichomes look like small mushrooms, with a stalk and a spherical head containing the valuable resins.
They are most commonly found on the flowers and sugar leaves, less so on the larger fan leaves and stems.

Extraction of the trichomes:

Dry Sifting: One of the easiest methods to extract trichomes is dry sifting. This involves rubbing dried cannabis over a fine sieve to separate the trichomes.
Ice-water extraction: In this method, the plant materials are stirred in ice water. The cold temperatures cause the trichomes to break off, which are then collected through a series of sieves.
Hand rubbing: This traditional method is mainly used for making charas. It involves rubbing fresh flowers between the hands until the resin separates and can be collected.

By understanding the basics of hash and the trichomes of the cannabis plant, you can better understand the different production methods and choose the one that works best for you.

Making hash from stems

Materials and equipment

Required utensils

To make hash from stems, you will need the following materials and equipment:

Dried cannabis stems
A fine-mesh sieve (pollen sieve or kief sieve)
A blender or grinder (to grind the stems)
A clean, flat work surface
Parchment paper or a clean surface to catch the trichomes
A small spatula or card to collect the trichomes
A press or simply your hands to press the collected material

Preparing the stems

Stem collection: Collect the stems from your cannabis plants. It is best to use stems from plants that have already been dried, as fresh stems are harder to process.
Drying the stems: Allow the stems to dry completely if they are not already dry. Hang them up in a dry, well-ventilated place or place them on a drying rack.
Shredding the stems: Shred the dried stems with a blender, grinder or simply by hand to make it easier to extract the trichomes.

Step-by-step instructions

Collection and drying

Collectthe stems from your cannabis plants after harvesting and drying the flowers.
Dry the ste ms completely if this has not already been done. This prevents mold growth and makes processing easier.

Crushing and sieving

Crush the stems: Use a blender or grinder to break the dried stems into small pieces. The finer the pieces, the easier it is to extract the trichomes.
Sieve the stems: Place the crushed stems on the fine-mesh sieve. Gently rub the stems over the sieve so that the trichomes fall through the sieve and land on the parchment paper or clean surface underneath.

Collecting and pressing the trichomes

Collecting the trichomes: Use a small spatula or card to scrape the collected trichomes from the parchment paper or clean surface.
Pressing the trichomes: To form the hash, press the collected trichomes together. You can do this with a special hash press or simply with your hands. Press the material firmly together until it takes on a firm, compact shape.

This method allows you to make hash from the stems of your cannabis plants instead of throwing away these valuable plant parts. Although stems contain fewer trichomes than flowers or sugar leaves, you can still obtain a usable product that is easy to use.

Making hash from leaves

Materials and equipment

Required utensils

To make hash from leaves, you will need the following materials and equipment:

Dried cannabis leaves (ideally sugar leaves)
A fine-mesh sieve (pollen sieve or kief sieve)
A blender or grinder (to grind the leaves)
A bucket for the ice-water extraction method
Ice and cold water
Filter sieves in various sizes (bubble bags or other filter systems)
Parchment paper or a clean surface to catch the trichomes
A small spatula or card to collect the trichomes
A press or simply your hands to press the collected material

Preparing the leaves

Collecting the leaves: Collect the leaves of your cannabis plants, especially the small sugar leaves, which are rich in trichomes.
Drying the leaves: Allow the leaves to dry completely if they are not already dry. Hang them up in a dry, well-ventilated place or place them on a drying rack.
Shredding the leaves: Shred the dried leaves with a blender, grinder or simply by hand to make it easier to extract the trichomes.

Step-by-step instructions

Drying and shredding

Dry the leaves completely if you have not already done so. This prevents mold growth and makes processing easier.
Crush the leaves: Use a blender or grinder to break the dried leaves into small pieces. The finer the pieces, the easier it is to extract the trichomes.

Sieving process

Preparing the sieve: Place a fine-mesh sieve on a clean, flat surface covered with parchment paper.
Sieving process: Place the shredded leaves on the sieve. Gently rub the leaves over the sieve so that the trichomes fall through the sieve and land on the parchment paper underneath.
Collecting the trichomes: Use a small spatula or card to scrape the collected trichomes off the parchment paper.

Ice-water extraction method

Preparation of ice water: Fill a bucket with cold water and add plenty of ice to further lower the temperature.
Adding the shredded leaves: Add the shredded leaves to the ice water. Stir the mixture vigorously to loosen the trichomes from the leaves.
Filter the mixture: Pour the mixture through a series of filter sieves (bubble bags). Start with the coarsest sieve and work your way to the finer sieves to collect the trichomes.
Drying the trichomes: Collect the extracted trichomes from the sieves and allow them to dry completely to prevent mold growth.

Collecting and pressing the trichomes

Collecting the trichomes: Use a small spatula or card to scrape the collected trichomes from the filters or parchment paper.
Pressing the trichomes: To form the hash, press the collected trichomes together. You can do this with a special hash press or simply with your hands. Press the material firmly together until it takes on a firm, compact shape.

This method of making hash from leaves allows you to extract the valuable trichomes contained in the leaves of the cannabis plant. By drying, shredding and sieving or using the ice-water extraction method, you can obtain a high-quality product that is ideal for further use.

Making hash from sugar leaves

Materials and equipment

Required utensils

To make hash from sugar leaves, you will need the following materials and equipment:

Dried sugar leaves from the cannabis plant
A fine-mesh sieve (pollen sieve or kief sieve)
A blender or grinder (for crushing the leaves)
A bucket for the ice-water extraction method
Ice and cold water
Filter sieves in various sizes (bubble bags or other filter systems)
Parchment paper or a clean surface to catch the trichomes
A small spatula or card to collect the trichomes
A press or simply your hands to press the collected material

Preparing the sugar leaves

Collecting the sugar leaves: Sugar leaves are the small leaves that grow near the flowers of the cannabis plant. They are rich in trichomes and therefore ideal for hash production.
Drying the sugar leaves: Allow the sugar leaves to dry completely if they are not already dried. Hang them up in a dry, well-ventilated place or place them on a drying rack.
Crushing the sugar leaves: Crush the dried sugar leaves with a blender, grinder or simply by hand to make it easier to extract the trichomes.

Step-by-step instructions

Drying and crushing

Dry the sugar leaves completely if you have not already done so. This prevents mold growth and makes processing easier.
Crush the sugar leaves: Use a blender or grinder to break the dried sugar leaves into small pieces. The finer the pieces, the easier it is to extract the trichomes.

Sieving process

Preparing the sieve: Place a fine-mesh sieve on a clean, flat surface covered with parchment paper.
Sieving process: Place the crushed sugar leaves on the sieve. Gently rub the leaves over the sieve so that the trichomes fall through the sieve and land on the parchment paper underneath.
Collecting the trichomes: Use a small spatula or card to scrape the collected trichomes off the parchment paper.

Ice-water extraction method

Preparation of ice water: Fill a bucket with cold water and add plenty of ice to further lower the temperature.
Adding the crushed sugar leaves: Add the crushed sugar leaves to the ice water. Stir the mixture vigorously to loosen the trichomes from the leaves.
Filter the mixture: Pour the mixture through a series of filter sieves (bubble bags). Start with the coarsest sieve and work your way to the finer sieves to collect the trichomes.
Drying the trichomes: Collect the extracted trichomes from the sieves and allow them to dry completely to prevent mold growth.

Collecting and pressing the trichomes

Collecting the trichomes: Use a small spatula or card to scrape the collected trichomes from the filters or parchment paper.
Pressing the trichomes: To form the hash, press the collected trichomes together. You can do this with a special hash press or simply with your hands. Press the material firmly together until it takes on a firm, compact shape.

This method of making hash from sugar leaves allows you to extract the valuable trichomes contained in the leaves of the cannabis plant. By drying, crushing and sieving or using the ice-water extraction method, you can obtain a high-quality product that is ideal for further use.

Making bubble hash

What is bubble hash?

Bubble hash is a form of hashish that is produced using the ice-water extraction method. This method uses cold water and ice to loosen and collect the trichomes from the cannabis plant. The name "bubble hash" comes from the bubble formation that occurs when the hash is heated, which indicates a high purity.

Special features and advantages of bubble hash

High purity: Bubble hash is produced through a multi-stage filtration system that removes impurities and delivers a pure product.
Intense flavor and aroma: Because the terpenes are retained during the extraction process, bubble hash has an intense and rich aroma.
Stronger effect: Due to the high concentration of cannabinoids, Bubble Hash offers a stronger psychoactive effect compared to other types of hashish.
Versatility: Bubble Hash can be smoked, vaporized or used in edible products.

Materials and equipment

Required utensils

To make bubble hash, you will need the following materials and equipment:

Dried and chopped cannabis plant parts (flowers, sugar leaves)
A bucket or container for the ice water mixture
Ice cubes
Cold water
Bubble bags or a filter system with various sieves
A mixer (hand mixer or mixing spoon)
Parchment paper or a clean surface to dry on
A small spatula or card to collect the trichomes

Preparation of the plant material

Collecting the plant material: Gather the flowers and sugar leaves of the cannabis plant. These parts contain the most trichomes.
Drying: Allow the plant material to dry completely to avoid mold growth.
Shredding: Shred the dried plant material with a blender or by hand to make it easier to extract the trichomes.

Step-by-step instructions

Preparation of the ice water

Prepare icewater: Fill a bucket or container with cold water and add plenty of ice cubes to further lower the temperature. The water should be very cold to effectively dissolve the trichomes.

Adding the plant material

Add shredded plant material: Add the shredded, dried plant material to the bucket of ice water. Allow the material to soak in the ice water for a few minutes to loosen the trichomes.

Stirring and filtering

Stirring: Use a stirrer or stirring spoon to stir the plant material vigorously in the ice water. Stirring helps to loosen the trichomes from the plants.
Filter: Pour the mixture through a series of bubble bags or filter strainers, starting with the coarsest strainer and ending with the finest. Each filter layer catches trichomes of different sizes.

Drying and collecting the trichomes

Drying: Collect the extracted trichomes from the filters and place them on parchment paper or a clean surface. Allow the trichomes to dry completely to prevent mold growth. This process can take several hours to days, depending on humidity and ventilation.
Collection: Use a small spatula or card to scrape and collect the dried trichomes from the parchment paper.
Pressing: Press the collected trichomes together to form the bubble hash. This can be done with a special hash press or simply with your hands. The result is a pure, high-quality product that can be used directly or processed further.

With these steps, you can produce high-quality bubble hash that is characterized by its purity, aroma and potency.

Conclusion

The production of hashish is a fascinating process that involves a long history and diverse techniques. From ancient traditions to modern methods, the art of hash making offers many ways to extract and utilize the valuable trichomes of the cannabis plant.

Hash from stems: An efficient method of extracting valuable trichomes even from the less utilized parts of the plant such as stems. The steps include collecting, drying, shredding and sieving the stems.
Hash from leaves: Sugar leaves are particularly rich in trichomes and are ideal for the production of hash. Both the sieving method and the ice-water extraction method can be used to extract and collect the trichomes.
Hash from sugar leaves: Similar to leaves, sugar leaves provide a good source of trichomes. Methods include drying, shredding and using the Ice-Water Extraction method.
Bubble Hash: This special form of hashish is produced by the Ice-Water Extraction method and is characterized by its high purity and potency. The process involves soaking, stirring and filtering the plant material in ice water, followed by drying and collecting the trichomes.

Making hashish can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to enjoy the full potency and aroma of the cannabis plant. Whether you prefer traditional methods or modern techniques, each method offers unique benefits and challenges. By understanding the basics and carefully following the steps, you can produce high-quality hashish that is suitable for both medicinal and recreational use.

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Fachautor und Biochemier Niklas Bergmann

Niklas Bergmann, Fachautor

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