What is Solventless Hash?
Solventless hash is a cannabis extract that uses a non-solvent or physical extraction method to separate the desired compounds from the plant, rather than using a chemical (solvent) process.
As true as this definition is - It doesn't really tell you how your hash was made. Just as important is the “roots” of hashish.
Looking Back…
Brief history of hash and hashish - “cultures and types.” Cannabis has been used for hundreds of years, and hash has been a large part of that history. From the Himalayas to the Mediterranean Seas of Lebanon, hash has been used around the world for cannabis consumption. One main reason hashish has been loved for centuries is its potency and pleasurable effects. Cannabis from centuries ago was not nearly the high quality of cannabis that we enjoy today; this motivated our forefathers to collect (extract) resin off the plant to make a higher potency product, which was “more effective” than the raw plant.
Fast forward a few hundred years to the end of the 20th century, and hash consumption is still a highly desired method of enjoying the cannabis plant.
Hash takes form in many ways. Most subcategories of hash are determined by the process in which they are created. This includes charas, kief, water hash, rosin and live rosin.
Charas
is the simplest form of hash - it is collected by the extractor running their hands through the cannabis plants, causing the resin to stick to their hands. This resin is then removed from the hands and ready to be used/consumed. You will not see this form of hash in dispensaries.
Kief, (including “dry sift,” & pressed kief)
Kief is extracted by using manual forces to separate the resin off the plant. Kief is the simplest of these products as it is a very general term for resin that has fallen off the plant. Pressed kief is the next iteration, where after the keif has been separated from the cannabis plant, it is placed in a high-weight press and put under extreme pressure. This condenses the kief to provide a slower burning product. Dry sift is created by running cannabis over a specified micron-sized screen to create a more refined product, with fewer plant materials. In some cases, dry ice may be used to chill the plant, aiding in the collection of resin. You may see these forms of hash in dispensaries.
Methods of Consumption for Kief Pressed Kief, and Dry Sift:
All of these can be used as a bowl-topper, in a rolled product, or in a dry herb vape. Whereas, dry sift is the only one in this category considered a dabbable product.
Water Hash
Water Hash is made using ice water to extract the resin to create hash. The reason that ice water is used is to chill the plant and make the resin brittle. The motion of the water and the ice - break off the resin heads. The water is then strained to remove all of the collected resin. This resin is dried and is ready to be consumed or further processed into rosin.
Methods of Consumption for Water Hash -
Water hash comes in various qualities, usually denoted by the micron screen size used in its creation. The quality ranges from a high amount of plant product (with black or brown coloring) to nearly pure resin heads (appearing to look like sticky sand). The micron screen size will be on the label. If no micron size is given, it is best to presume it is a mixture of sizes. If it is high quality and pure resin heads, it can be dabbed. If not, it's best consumed through smoking on its own or as an addition to flower in bowls and rolled products.
Rosin
The three main types of rosin: flower rosin, hash rosin, and live rosin. Naturally, flower rosin is created when a cannabis plant is pressed under high pressure and heat. This melts the resin and forces it out of the plant, under pressure. Hash rosin is made from dry sift or water hash. Live rosin is pressed from a water hash or dry sift which was made from a flash-frozen or live plant.
Methods of consumption for Rosin and Live Rosin
These are normally used as a dabbable product but can also be vaped or as an addition to flower.
In the dawn of California’s cannabis culture, hash was extracted and sold to salvage otherwise unusable (trash) product. By this, I mean that a large portion of the hash, back in the day, was made with low-quality flower, trim, and stems. There was high-quality hash produced, but it was hard to come by and not even an option for many people.
With the emergence of the dabbing market, a whole new demand for cannabis extracts arose. The creation of rosin brought solventless hash back into the spotlight, becoming some of the most sought-after (and highest-priced) products on the market.
And so, today, we are seeing the renaissance of a cannabis tradition that is thousands of years old.
WORDS BY MATHEW CARVALHO
Canna-educator, fostering cultural acceptance & an appreciation of cannabis