Hashish, or hemp concentrate, has been around for a very long time. While today's production methods are technically advanced, traditional methods are still used in some countries. Join us on a tour of the different ways hashish is made.
Hashish: what are we talking about?
We're going to talk about professional manufacturing methods, but first it might be a good idea to remind you what hashish is. To make sure you know what we're talking about here.
Hashish is one of the concentrates of hemp. It's also called hash. It comes from the hemp plant, like CBD flowers, but is a resin. This resin is obtained from the trichomes on the surface of the plant's flowers. Trichomes are highly concentrated in cannabinoids and terpenes.
Visually, hashish looks like a small, dense, compact block. Its texture can vary in softness and friability (depending on its origin or manufacturing method). Color ranges from light to dark brown, and hash can even be green or golden.
Hashish is indeed a processed concentrate. It is considered to be richer in active compounds than raw CBD flowers. It is more likely to be sought after by experienced users, for its powerful aromas, potentially stronger effects and unique textures.
Ancestral and traditional manufacturing
The history of hashish is rooted in ancestral know-how in countries such as Lebanon, Morocco and Afghanistan. Today's hashish-making in these regions is faithful to traditional techniques, carefully handed down through the generations. The technique involves simple, highly precise gestures.
To begin with, the hemp flowers are harvested and dried, then finely sieved. This removes any remaining plant matter from the trichomes. The result is "kief".
Then the kief has to be compressed, either by hand or with presses, into solid blocks. This corresponds to the hashish we buy. The quality of the flowers, the pressure and the heat influence the texture, aroma and color of the final result.
Hashish with ice water
There is another method used by professionals, which uses water and ice. It's called water-ice extraction, or Ice-o-lator, or Bubble Hash .
This method is in fact a mechanical separation technique, which produces a pure, solvent-free resin rich in cannabinoids. It is performed in specialized laboratories.
The process involves low temperatures, while movements separate the trichomes from the rest of the plant. In fact, ice-cold water makes it easier to detach trichomes that have been weakened by temperature.
The process is based on a simple principle: ice-cold water weakens the trichomes, making them easier to detach from the flowers. This is followed by filtration and drying, either in the open air or with dehumidifiers. The result is a clean, high-quality resin.
CO2 or solvent extraction
Another professional manufacturing method is supercritical CO2 extraction. Some companies opt for this more technological method, which is performed in the laboratory or at least in an industrial environment. It can also be carried out using solvents (butane, hexane, ethanol).
For CO2 extraction, a high-pressure, temperature-controlled extraction system must be used. This separates the trichomes from the rest of the plant. This highly technical process has the advantage of being precise and clean. The composition of the concentrated product is more controlled. The concentrate can then be processed into wax, crumble, etc., or transformed into a compact resin.
This type of extraction requires specific, expensive equipment, as well as a significant infrastructure.
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