If you know anything at all about cannabis lore, you’ve probably heard of hash, the fabled cannabis concentrate that took the ancient world by storm over a thousand years ago.
Hash is the earliest form of cannabis concentrate, a family of marvelously potent and flavorful products that have upended the cannabis world in the last two decades. And believe it or not, it’s something you can make—safely, easily, and simply—right at home. Welcome to the world of making bubble hash.
What is bubble hash? In today’s post we’ll take a deep dive into the topic, sharing the history of this storied concentrate as well as simple, step-by-step instructions on how to make bubble hash yourself.
Keep reading to find out:
- What is bubble hash?
- Why choose hash over other cannabis concentrates?
- How do you discern high-quality hash products?
- What are the steps to making bubble hash?
- How is bubble hash consumed?
Are you ready? Let’s get rolling!
What is Bubble Hash? Introduction to the OG Cannabis Concentrate
If you’ve never tried hash—otherwise known as hashish—you’re in for a treat! Aromatic, flavorful, and significantly more potent than cannabis flower, it’s a living link to the world of ancient times, when traders carried hash and other precious commodities westward from its original home in present-day India and Pakistan.
Bubble hash is a particularly captivating refinement of hash. Like hash, it’s made from trichomes, the tiny, mushroom glands that appear as a silvery dust on high-grade cannabis. Viewed under a microscope, that silvery powder turns out to be tiny mushroom-shaped glands, and they’re the cannabis plant’s miniature “factories.” That’s where the plant produces the bulk of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, as well as the fragrant terpenes that contribute to each strain’s characteristic aromas and flavors.
To make most forms of hash, the trichomes are mechanically separated from the flower by physical agitation and sifting—at which point they’re known as “kief”—and then gently pressed into chalky bricks. But to make bubble hash—which resembles a cross between powdery kief and traditional blocks of hash—those trichomes are instead separated by a cold-water process that produces a particularly smooth and refined product.
Why Choose Hash? The Timeless Appeal of an Ancient Product
The fact that making bubble hash involves no more than ice water and a little patience is a big clue as to its appeal. Unlike many forms of cannabis concentrates, hash doesn’t require the use of solvents such as butane, CO2, or other chemicals. While all the solvent-based concentrates we offer here at Exclusive—such as wax or shatter—have had these solvents carefully washed away, some people just prefer solventless concentrates as a matter of principle. And hey: We certainly have no problem with that!
Of course, there are other potential reasons to choose hash over other concentrates. While hash isn’t typically as potent as more modern concentrates—topping out at roughly 60% THC as opposed to the over 90% that some concentrates can pack—it offers a very unique sensory experience.
Spicy, bold, and often boasting a captivatingly smoky or sandalwood-like aroma, it’s no wonder hash is one of the most legendary intoxicants of the ancient world. And when hash aficionadoes describe their favorite concentrate as being “mysterious,” “beguiling,” or “perfumed,” they’re responding to the uniquely handmade element of a classic hash. No solvents and no chemicals, just ancient techniques handed down over generations.
Understanding the Bubble Hash Grading System
So…why is bubble hash called “bubble hash”? We’re glad you asked! When you smoke bubble hash, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of countless tiny bubbles forming as the hash is burned. With high-quality products—especially the premium-grade “full melt” varieties—the bubble hash melts away completely, a sign that you’re working with a truly exceptional and hand-crafted product.
How is bubble hash rated? Study a container of bubble hash, and you’ll generally see a star rating ranging from 1 to 6:
- 1 – 2 Stars
With a significant proportion of organic plant matter mixed in with the potent trichome heads and stalks, 1 to 2 stars are the lowest grades of bubble hash. That said, they’re not without their uses. Sometimes labeled “food grade hash,” these products are great for making edibles with. In addition, they can be sprinkled on a bowl or wrapped into a joint for a burst of potency and flavor.
- 3 – 4 Stars
Sometimes known as “half melt,” these grades of bubble hash contain small amounts of organic debris and plant material, such as tiny bits of leaf material or anything else that isn’t a trichome head or stalk. Like lower-rated products, these grades can add potency to flower, but arguably its most popular use is as the raw material for rosin, a simple-to-make form of concentrate that requires just gentle heat and pressure.
- 5 – 6 Stars
These top-ranked products are the best of the best, and command proportionally higher price tags and other bubble hashes. At 6 stars, a bubble hash should truly earn the name “full melt,” leaving absolutely no residue behind when smoked.
How to Make Bubble Hash at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve read this far, it’s a safe bet you’re intrigued by the notion of making bubble hash for yourself. While there are any number of complex and involved bubble hash-making recipes and setups, this DIY method is easy and yields good results with minimal investment. If you find you enjoy it, you might consider stepping up to a full-fledged setup down the line. These typically entail multiple icing chambers, micron-gauge bags, and other tools that help yield artisan-grade bubble hash.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 7–14 grams cannabis flower and/or trim
- 2 – 4 pint glass jar with a lid
- Kitchen sieve or a 9” square section of window screen
- Coffee filters
- Scissors or a cannabis grinder
And here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps needed:
- Using a purpose-made grinder or the kitchen scissors, break up the cannabis into smaller pieces so as to expose as much of its surface area as possible to the ice water.
- Place the sieve or mesh screen over the glass jar, and then gently rub the ground cannabis over it in order to dislodge the kief while leaving any plant matter behind. Continue until the jar is at most about ¼ full.
- Prepare a pitcher of ice-cold water. Pour the fully cooled water into the jar almost to the top, put on the lid, and then shake vigorously until the plant matter is fully mixed with the water. Shake, shake, and shake some more until the organic material is thoroughly incorporated. Wait at least half an hour.
- Open the jar and–using a sieve or a small section of screen–carefully skim off any plant matter floating on the top. You can keep or discard this plant matter, depending on taste. But either way, skim the top of the ice water until there’s no plant matter left.
- Now wait another 30 minutes to let the mixture in the jar settle back down, at which point you should see some cloudy material at the bottom. These are the separated trichomes–aka bubble hash.
- If there’s any floating plant matter on top, skim it as before. Now carefully pour off the water to within an inch of the bottom of the jar, making sure not to pour out any of the precious bubble hash.
- Now it’s time for one more rinse. Fill the jar again with fresh ice-cold water, shake it thoroughly, and then let the mixture settle again for a minimum of 15 minutes.
- Next, slowly pour the contents of the jar through the coffee filter. When you’ve poured all the water and bubble hash out, gently roll up the filter and carefully squeeze the last drops of moisture out. Now place the filter on paper towels to help remove any remaining moisture.
When this wrap is completely dry, unwrap the paper towel and gently unroll the filter. Using a butter knife or similar implement, scrape the bubble hash from the filter. Congratulations: You’ve just learned how to make bubble hash!
At this point you can smoke the hash, but you’ll want to press it together to make a solid mass. Wash and dry your hands, then use your fingers to press the bubble hash firmly into a solid ball. If you don’t press hard enough, the hash will liquify in the presence of a heat source. When you press it together and smoke it, the hash should bubble.
Enjoying Hash: Simple Tools for a Timeless Experience
While many fans love to enjoy hash through a dabbing rig, it’s certainly not required. In fact, hash is perhaps the simplest cannabis concentrate to consume, requiring nothing more than a bowl or a pinch of flower wrapped in a joint.
That said, here are a few of the most popular ways to enjoy this ancient product:
- Hash Pipe: At first glance it might appear to be a standard hand pipe, but instead of a central draw hole, this version features three small holes at the rim of the bowl instead. Why? Because solid hash tends to disintegrate as it burns, the design prevents it from being sucked through the bowl as it burns. The result? Maximum flavor and potency, and no wasted product!
- Water Pipe: In North Africa, it’s known as a shisha; in ancient India, a hookah. Whatever you call it, the simple water pipe is centuries old. Today it’s an elegant way to cool, purify, and inhale the smoke from burning hashish, tobacco, or cannabis.
- Chillum: After originating in India around the 18th century, this “one-hitter” migrated to Africa and then to the Americas, where it became an essential tool in Rastafarian rituals. Admirably simple and practical, using a chillum to enjoy bubble hash adds an exotic flair to your normal smoking routine.
Want to Make Your Own Bubble Hash? Start with Flower From Exclusive!
If today’s post has got you excited about making your own cannabis concentrates at home, we’d love to help! As a family of Michigan cannabis dispensaries, we’re all about giving you the information, the tools—and of course, the top-shelf Michigan-grown cannabis flower—to get started making your very own bubble hash at home.
Next time you visit your local Exclusive dispensary or shop online, you can also browse our selection of bubble hash, hash-infused pre-rolls and gummies, or live hash rosin. And if you have any other questions about bubble hash making—or you’d like to sample some expertly crafted bubble hash yourself—stop by any of our locations, grab our app, or give us a shout! We’re always here to help.
