Hashish has been around for a long time, but some people still might not know exactly what it is. There is a history behind it and it can be made right at home, with a bit of time and patience. Simply put, hashish is a cannabis extract that is formed by collecting and compressing the trichomes found on the cannabis plant.
Trichomes are the most potent material that comes from cannabis plants. Strains with a heavy coating of trichomes typically have more cannabinoids and terpenes. The resinous glands that line the surface of cannabis plants are removed and processed into a concentrated form. Trichomes are important because they not only determine the flavour, taste, and effects of a cannabis strain, they also are a sign of quality to consumers and growers alike. Hashish contains essentially the same active ingredients found in marijuana, except in a more concentrated THC form.
Hashish is usually smoked in a pipe or bong or “dabbed” using a special tool or vaporizer (“vape”) pen. It may be rolled into a “blunt” (from an empty cigar) with marijuana or tobacco. It can be added to food or brewed as a tea. Comparing it to cannabis, because the hash is an extract, it typically has a much higher level of THC.
History of Hashish
The word “hashish” originates from the Arabic language, roughly translating to mean “grass.” The history of hash is fairly similar to the history of cannabis, Ancient civilizations used the hemp from the cannabis plant to make paper, rope, and other useful goods, including medicine. Historians say hash has been used and produced for thousands of years. In Persia, around the 1940s, hash could be purchased at pharmacies and in France, two texts on the subject were published. In 1869, doctors in Germany began using it as an anesthetic In the late 1800s it became legal in Turkey and Greece, but it didn’t take long for them to crack down on its use in the 1920s.
In the 19th century, European doctors imported hashish for research, which led to the introduction of various extraction methods that allowed for further refinement of cannabis tinctures and medications. In 1995, locally produced hashish sprung up in Amsterdam coffee shops.
Just like cannabis, the history of weed is always changing and it’s always evolving. Being that it’s the same plant, just in a different form, and the legalization of cannabis is steady on the rise, it is predicted that hashish use will continue to increase among cannabis users.
How to Make Hash
There are a few different methods to actually make your own hash. Importantly, it is recommended to make hash without solvents, to be safer. There are ways to make it with household items but here is a step by step way to make hash with just you and your hands:
Step 1: Make sure your hands are nice and clean and be sure not to use any scented soaps or lotions. Try to use the highest quality cannabis buds to yield the best product.
Step 2: Rub the cannabis buds between your palms. Be sure not to use too much pressure or force as this could contaminate the resin collected.
Step 3: A resin should start to form by continuing to rub the cannabis between your palms. Scrape that off and carefully collect it and place it onto a clean surface, parchment paper will do. This is a tedious process, so patience is required.
Step 4: Gradually start pressing the resin matter between your fingers by applying pressure. Pressing it against a surface continually will eventually turn the paste into a solid. If using parchment paper, just fold the paper over the hash and apply pressure to it.
Now it is time to enjoy your hard work. You could smoke this in a joint, make some hash brownies or pack some in your bong, or even vaporized in a vape pen. Enjoy and let us know in the comments how yours turned out, or if you have different methods you find worked well for you.