What Does Hash Look Like?

Hashish, or hash, is a more potent form of cannabis, made from the resinous trichomes found on the leaves and buds. These stalked resin glands contain psychoactive ingredients, such as THC and other cannabinoids, and when separated from the plant matter, become a substantially more potent product than the original marijuana flower.

Hashish can be solid or resinous, according to how it is made.  Pressed hashish is usually solid, while water-purified hashish, or “bubble melt hash,” is usually a pasty substance with consistencies running from hard to very soft. The colours of hash are usually light to dark brown, but can also range from transparent to yellow, tan, black and red.

Afghani hash is black inside and out, with a pungent smell. Charas are traditional hash balls rolled by hand in Nepal and India – they are dark and gooey, like soft dough. Charas can be as black as Afghani hash but often with green undertones.

With a black exterior and a dark-brown interior, Nepalese stick hash has a distinctively sweet aroma. Moroccan slate hash is green-brown in colour, with a mild taste and light aroma.  Lebanese hash comes in two varieties: yellow Lebanese and red (reddish-brown).

Spicy Kashmiri hash is black on the outside and brown-greenish inside, often with white lines. Pakistani hash is soft and is black outside and dark brown inside, and sometimes has a greenish colour.

Hash concentrates, as the name suggests, are more potent forms of the drug, with higher levels of THC, extracted with solvents such as butane.

Hash oil is generally sticky and stringy like honey, though it can also be harder, even solid, brittle or crumbly. It can range in colour from light to dark green or brown. Wax is made by whipping hash oil and is sometimes called “earwax,” because it has the same colour and consistency.

Shatter is a more refined version of BHO (butane hash oil) and is semi-transparent, usually yellow or amber. It also generally comes as a thin cake that “shatters” when you break a piece off, giving it its name.