We get this question all the time, and the truth always surprises the person asking. In this guide, we’ll give you a run down of the difference between kief and hash, how they’re made, and which, ultimately, is better. We’ll answer a variety of questions, including:

• What are Kief and Hash?
• How Are Kief and Hash Made?
• How Are Hash and Kief Consumed?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Before we begin to understand the difference between kief and hash, cannabis consumers should have an understanding of each product.

If you’ve ever handled a marijuana flower bud (especially premium flower), there’s a good chance you’ve seen kief and might not even realize it. The crystal-like hairs you see on a flower bud are called trichomes, and kief is what we call the trichomes that have fallen off of the flower. (Which is why you’ll often see them at the bottom of a grinder.) Because of the high concentration of trichomes and cannabinoids, kief packs a powerful punch.

Hash is a cannabis product made using kief. Once the kief is removed from the cannabis plant, it can be processed with heat and pressure. This process will create a hash product, which can be soft and creamy or hard as a brick. 

In general, kief and hash have similar potency and effects. Kief ranges anywhere from 50-80% THC, and hash can contain up to 90% THC. This means that both will create strong psychoactive effects because of their potency. You should always start slow, and with a low dose when consuming kief or hash. 

The way in which kief and hash are made is how you can tell these are two different cannabis products: hash is made by applying heat and pressure to kief until it’s a more solid product. So how is kief made? 

Technically, kief is made by the marijuana plant. As cannabis plants evolved, they developed cannabinoid-rich trichomes which helped protect the plants from a variety of different predators. In fact, some industry experts believe that THC is actually a psychoactive chemical originally designed to confuse and disorient predators, preventing the plant from being completely eaten. Because the trichomes also contain terpenes, which are responsible for the smell and flavor of the plant, trichomes are likely also responsible for attracting pollinators.

To collect kief, cannabis enthusiasts typically use a multi-layered grinder with fine mesh screens to ensure they catch and filter all the kief that falls off the flower. Hash is then made by heating kief. This causes the resin glands in the kief to break open, releasing cannabinoids and changing the kief into hash. This product is then pressed into a brick-like shape or rolled into a ball. It can also be more malleable and soft, depending on the product. Hash is easily made using something as simple as a pollen press.

There is also a product called bubble hash. This hash is typically made using cannabis flower that is placed in near-freezing water, so the trichomes freeze. Then, the flower is agitated using bubbles, which causes the kief to break off the flower. From there, the kief is filtered out through a series of mesh bags, dried, and either consumed or pressed to make bubble hash. While you can attempt to make this at home, the process is quite difficult so we recommend visiting a licensed dispensary to purchase bubble hash.

Consumption methods for these two concentrates are quite similar. However, please remember that adding hash or kief to anything will make it much stronger. 

Pipe - Hash can be placed in a cannabis pipe and inhaled like flower. Kief can be sprinkled on top of flower that is placed in a pipe (sometimes called “crowning a bowl”).  

Pre-Rolls - Also known as “joints,” most cannabis consumers sprinkle the kief or hash on top of the marijuana flower, then roll both into the paper.

Edibles - Both hash and kief can be used in cannabis edibles. This method is the most popular for hash, as it was consumed in food and drink for thousands of years prior to today’s inhalation method. 

What Is The Difference Between Bubble Hash and Kief?

Like regular hash, without kief, bubble hash doesn’t exist. To make bubble hash, marijuana flower is placed in water that is just a few degrees above freezing. This freezes the trichomes. The flower is agitated with bubbles, and the kief breaks off the flower. The kief is filtered, dried, and then consumed as bubble hash. 

What Is the Difference in Cost Between Kief vs. Hash?

The cost of kief and hash depends on a variety of factors, including how a licensed dispensary chooses to set their price points and the taxes the state places on a marijuana purchase. Because kief can be harvested by anyone from trichome-rich flower, it’s possible that kief is ultimately less expensive than hash, especially if you’re not paying for premium flower. In general, however, kief and hash are both similar in pricing. 

Can Kief Make Hash?

Yes, it can. In fact, you need kief to make hash. Without kief, hash doesn’t exist!

For cannabis enthusiasts who love potent products and experiencing the effects of cannabinoids in the body, kief and hash are great products to try. We recommend purchasing both kief and hash from a licensed dispensary to learn more about the products and try them for yourself.