What Is Bubble Hash & How Is It Made [5 Steps]?
High Points
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Bubble hash and ice water hash are often used interchangeably to describe a solventless cannabis concentrate. While both are different types of hash, they’re different from traditional dry sift hash and kief.
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You can make bubble hash and ice water hash at home through a process known as ice water extraction. It involves mixing cannabis with ice and water to loosen the trichomes, then filtering out additional plant matter and pressing it into hash.
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There are many ways to consume bubble hash, including dabbing, rolling it into a joint, or crowning a bowl of flower in a pipe or bong.
Bubble hash is one of the most popular solventless concentrates on the market. Not only is it easy to find at your local dispensary, but it’s also easy to make once you have the products you need and a little bit of practice. In this guide, we’re going to talk about:
- What is Bubble Hash?
- What is Ice Water Extraction?
- How to Make Bubble Hash [5 Steps]
- Different Grades of Bubble Hash
- What Makes Ice Water Hash Different from Other Concentrates?
- How Do You Smoke Bubble Hash?
- Answering Bubble Hash FAQs
What is Bubble Hash?
Bubble hash is a solventless cannabis concentrate made by mixing cannabis flower with ice water in a large container, then stirring the mixture and filtering it through a series of mesh screens. The combination of the cold temperature and agitation separates trichomes from the flower so they can be collected and pressed into hash.1
The terms ‘bubble hash’ and ‘ice water hash’ are used interchangeably to describe the same product–one is a nod to the water temperature and the other references the bubbly foam that sits on top of the water while the mixture is stirred.
What is Ice Water Extraction?
Cold water extraction is the actual process of using ice, water, and agitation to remove trichomes from cannabis flower.2 While this process has been popular since the 1980s (and even advertised in 1987 in High Times Magazine), manufacturers and DIY extractors have been inventing new techniques to improve ice water extraction methods.3 This is how we eventually got the extraction system known as Bubble Bag. These bags make it easy to catch the trichomes that come off of the flower when it’s agitated.3
How to Make Bubble Hash [5 Steps]
To make bubble hash, you’ll need a few items: a bucket, a large amount of flower, water, ice, mesh screen bags, and a large spoon or some type of dowel.2 Make sure you have all of your supplies in one place before you begin.
Step 1: Setup Your Materials
First, place the screens into your bucket. You’re going to start by putting in your finest screen first, followed by the rest of your screens, ending with your biggest screen on the top. This allows you to push the plant material through several layers of screens so you can catch all the trichomes you agitate free.
Step 2: Add Flower, Ice, and Water
With your screens in place, add your flower, ice, and enough water to submerge them both. Let your flower sit for a couple minutes in that ice bath to get nice and cold. This will freeze the trichomes and make them easier to knock free.
Step 3: Stir
Now, stir using that big dowel. As you stir, the water will start to bubble and foam, which is what gives bubble hash its name. As you stir (also called washing your flower), the trichomes will be collected on the screen.
Step 4: Remove Screen Bags
After you finish stirring, remove the flower and ice and start removing your screen bags. You’ll notice the trichomes caught in each screen. Carefully scoop the trichomes from the bags and set them aside.
Repeat the washing process as much as you’d like to ensure you’ve collected all the trichomes on your flower.
Step 5: Press into Hash
Once finished, put your wet trichomes into a hash press. This will remove the water and create a small tile of bubble hash you can enjoy by dabbing, infusing a pre-roll, or adding to a bowl.
Different Grades of Bubble Hash
Not all bubble hash is created equal! In fact, there are six different grades of ice hash–known as star ratings–that are based on how well the finished product melts.3 Here’s a breakdown of how the rating system works.
Cooking Grade (1-2 Stars)
Cooking grade bubble hash typically has quite a bit of leftover plant matter in it, meaning it doesn’t burn well on its own.3 But don’t throw it away! This product is best used to make edibles or topping flower in a pipe or bong.
Half Melt (3-4 Stars)
When the bubble hash only melts halfway, it’s called half melt. This can also be used to add potency to flower, as well as smoked in a dry herb vaporizer.3
Full Melt (5-6 Stars)
Full Melt bubble hash is the highest grade, meaning it leaves little-to-no residue behind when it’s burned. To get to this quality of hash, you’ll need very fine mesh screens and a lot of patience.4
What Makes Ice Water Hash Different from Other Concentrates?
Cannabis enthusiasts are always innovating new ways to consume their favorite plant. If you’re confused by all of the different products available, here’s a quick reference.
Ice Water Hash vs Bubble Hash
There actually is no difference between ice water hash and bubble hash.1 They are two names for the exact same product—hash created using ice water, agitation, and patience. Other nicknames for bubble hash include ice wax and cold water hash.
Hash vs Bubble Hash
The difference between hash and bubble hash is how they are made. Hash is made by sifting the kief from flower. Once the kief is collected, the trichomes are compressed by hand to be formed into a brick or ball. Bubble hash is collected using ice water. The collected kief is then dried and compressed using a hash press.
Kief vs Bubble Hash
The difference between kief vs hash is the final product.1 Kief is the name we give to the dried trichomes from cannabis flower. Some cannabis enthusiasts collect kief using their grinder and a kief catcher. Bubble hash is a product made by extracting kief from flower using water, ice cubes, and a series of screens. The flower is agitated when it is stirred in the bucket. As it’s agitated, the cold kief breaks off the flower and gets caught in a series of screens. Once collected, the kief is compressed and formed into bubble hash.
How Do You Smoke Bubble Hash?
Smoking bubble hash allows you to appreciate the flavors and aromas of the product. In general, there are three ways most cannabis enthusiasts enjoy bubble hash. They include:
- Dabbing: Dabbing is probably the most popular way of consuming bubble hash. All you need is a dab rig rig or dab pen. The bubble hash is placed on the hot nail and the vapor is inhaled.
- Infusing a pre-roll: Whether you roll your own joint or prefer to purchase pre-rolls, you can infuse your roll with bubble hash. Most cannabis enthusiasts simply dip the tip of their pre-roll into their bubble hash before lighting it.
- Adding to flower: If you prefer smoking flower from a hand pipe or bong, you can still enjoy bubble hash. Simply add a bit of the bubble hash to the ground flower in your bowl. Then, light it and enjoy.
Answering Bubble Hash FAQs
As cannabis enthusiasts learn about bubble hash, we get a lot of questions. Here are just a few that we regularly answer:
Is bubble hash stronger than typical concentrates?
While bubble hash is full of terpenes and cannabinoids, it is not as potent as other concentrates on the market like distillates.
Is ice water hash the same as dry sift?
No. Ice water hash is a hash that’s made using ice water in a bucket with flower and a collection of screens. Dry sifted hash is a hash made by rolling flower over screens to collect the kief before pressing it into hash.
Is full melt the best?
Full melt bubble hash is considered the highest quality, suitable for dabbing, vaping, and pressing into rosin.4
Do you dab ice water hash?
Yes, you can dab ice water hash.5 In fact, it’s one of the preferred methods of consuming hash.
Purchasing Bubble Hash
When it comes to bubble hash, you have two options—purchase it premade from your favorite dispensary or make it at home. If you make it at home, you’ll still need to purchase flower, but it can be a fun way to create your own cannabis product. If that feels like too much work, talk to your budtender. They’ll take the work out of enjoying bubble hash by showing you what they have in stock to purchase that’s ready to be consumed.
Sources:
1. “Bubble Hash,” Leafly, https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/bubble-hash
2. “What is Bubble Hash & How Is It Made?,” Cannabis Training University, https://cannabistraininguniversity.com/cooking/what-is-bubble-hash-how-made/
3. “Ice Hash,” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/learn/dictionary/ice-hash
4. “Full melt,” Leafly, https://www.leafly.com/learn/cannabis-glossary/full-melt
Recreational cannabis is not available in all states. Cannabis is for medical use only and may only be used by certified patients in Pennsylvania. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and certified patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.