What is hash?
Hash is compressed cannabis resin. Where weed consists of dried flower buds, hash consists of the resin glands separated from those buds and pressed into a solid mass. That makes it more concentrated than the material it comes from.
Where the resin comes from
The flowers and small leaves of the female plant are covered in microscopic resin glands called trichomes. These produce the cannabinoids and terpenes responsible for effect, aroma and taste.
Making hash means separating those trichomes from the plant material and pressing them together. What remains is high in resin and low in plant matter.
How it is made
Several traditional methods exist:
- Sieving. Dried plant material is moved across fine screens so the brittle resin glands fall away. The resulting powder is then pressed.
- With water. Plant material is agitated in ice water, hardening the glands so they break off. They are then filtered and dried.
- By hand. Resin is rubbed from fresh flowers until it accumulates on the hands, a traditional method known from Nepal and northern India.
Origin and appearance
Hash has a long history in Morocco, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nepal, and each tradition has its own approach, visible in the colour and texture of the result.
Colour ranges from golden brown to almost black. Texture varies from soft and pliable to hard and crumbly, depending on production method, age and storage.
Hash and weed compared
| Weed | Hash | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Dried flower buds | Compressed resin |
| Composition | Plant material with resin | Mostly resin |
| Appearance | Recognisable buds | Solid block or piece |
| Concentration | Lower | Higher |
Sources
This article is general information and not advice. Cannabis use is not without risk. For independent information and help, contact the Trimbos Institute, Drugsinfo or your doctor.