Last reviewed October 18, 2026
The main types of hash are bubble hash, dry sift, pressed hash, hand-rolled hash and hash rosin. They’re all made from trichomes, the tiny resin glands on cannabis flowers. What sets them apart is how those trichomes are collected and what’s done with them afterwards.
| Type | How it’s made | Texture | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kief | Trichomes that fall through a grinder or screen | Loose, fine powder | Sprinkled on a bowl or joint |
| Dry sift | Dried plants tumbled or shaken over fine screens | Sandy powder, often pressed | Bowls, joints, pressing |
| Bubble hash | Plants stirred in ice water, then filtered through mesh bags | Grainy to sandy, sometimes melts | Bowls, joints; top grades dabbed |
| Pressed hash | Kief or dry sift pressed with heat into blocks or coins | Firm, can be crumbled | Crumbled into bowls and joints |
| Hand-rolled (charas) | Resin rubbed off live plants by hand | Soft, sticky, dark | Crumbled or rolled into joints |
| Hash rosin | Bubble hash pressed with heat into oil, no solvents | Badder or jam | Dabbed or vaporized |
Bubble hash and the star rating
Bubble hash is named for the way good batches bubble when heated. Makers grade it on a 1 to 6 star scale by how cleanly it melts. Six-star hash, often called “full melt”, turns almost completely to oil with little residue left behind, so it’s clean enough to dab. Lower grades still have plant matter mixed in and are better crumbled into a bowl.
Regional styles
Many traditional hash names describe where a style comes from rather than a strain. Moroccan and Lebanese hash are dry-sifted and pressed into slabs, and are often lighter in colour. Hand-rolled styles from the Himalayas are darker and softer. Temple balls are hash rolled and pressed into tight spheres, then cured.
How hash is made at home
The two home methods are mechanical: shaking dried plants over screens (dry sift), or agitating them in ice water and filtering through bags (bubble hash). Both separate trichomes without chemicals. In Canada, the Cannabis Act doesn’t allow you to make cannabis products at home with organic solvents such as butane, which also carry a serious fire and explosion risk.
How to smoke hash
- In a joint: warm a small piece, crumble it and spread it through the flower.
- In a bowl: lay a crumbled layer on top of flower so it doesn’t fall through the screen.
- Dabbing: only full-melt bubble hash and hash rosin; lower grades leave residue.
Common questions
Is hash stronger than weed?
Usually. Hash is concentrated trichomes, so it typically has more THC per gram than the flower it came from. Exact potency depends on the type and grade.
What’s the difference between hash and kief?
Kief is loose trichomes. Hash is kief or resin that has been pressed, rolled or processed into a solid.
What is full melt hash?
The top grade of bubble hash, with so little plant matter left that it melts almost completely when heated.
Is hash the same as rosin?
No. Hash rosin is made from hash: bubble hash is pressed with heat to squeeze out oil.
