What Is Bubble Hash?

What is bubbler hash, how is it made, and how is it used?

In the world of cannabis extracts, bubble hash has gained a reputation for being a clean, solventless concentrate. Often referred to as ice hash or ice water hash, bubble hash gets its name from the way it bubbles when heated.

Like traditional hash, bubble hash is made from the resin glands of cannabis.

Whether you're a dabbing enthusiast or someone new to concentrates, understanding bubble hash can enhance your appreciation for solventless extracts and how they differ from other cannabis products.

What Is Bubble Hash?

Bubble hash is made from cannabis trichomes, which are the resin glands found on the buds of the flower. These trichomes look like little mushrooms and are rich in cannabinoids like THC and aromatic terpenes.

The goal of making bubble hash is to extract these trichomes using cold water and ice. This creates a pure concentrate without the use of solvents like butane or ethanol.

Bubble hash is valued for the simplicity of the extraction and for producing a cleaner product.

Bubble hash can range in color from light golden to dark greenish-brown, with lighter colors generally indicating higher quality.

The History of Bubble Hash

Bubble hash was the most commonly used cannabis concentrate before the rise of solvent-based extracts like shatter and live resin in the mid-2010s.

Bubble hash is relatively new compared to the traditional hash that has been around for centuries. Californian cannabis enthusiast Sadhu Sam discovered the extraction technique for bubble hash in the early 80's. By the 90s, the first two-bag filtration system had improved processing, and it is still the same system used today.

Due to its solventless processing and purer form, bubble hash has started to make a comeback in recent years, especially as the legal market in many states allows for home cultivation, and bubble hash is a cheap and safe way to process cannabis.  

How Is Bubble Hash Made?

Making bubble hash is a straightforward process that involves three stages: ice water, agitation, and filtration.

Ice-cold water and cannabis: Fresh frozen cannabis is mixed with water and ice, which helps dislodge the trichomes from the plant material. As the trichomes freeze they become brittle. 

Agitation: The mixture is stirred, causing the brittle trichomes to break free from the cannabis. This agitation can be done by hand or with mechanical equipment. 

Filtration: The trichome-rich water is then filtered through bubble bags with different screen sizes to separate the trichomes by size. What's left is a sticky, powdery concentrate known as bubble hash.

The method is repeated washing and filtering the flower a few times over to extract all the trichomes. The result is a product composed almost entirely of cannabis trichomes, giving it a potent concentration of THC and other cannabinoids. This YouTube video will give you a better idea how to make bubbler hash from hemp. 

How to Use Bubble Hash

Bubble hash is versatile and can be consumed in a variety of ways:

Smoking: It can be sprinkled on top of cannabis flower in a joint, bowl, or pipe.

Dabbing: Full-melt bubble hash, which fully melts when heated, can be dabbed using a rig.

Vaping: Many users prefer to vape bubble hash in a dab pen vaporizer.

Edibles: Bubble hash can also be decarboxylated (heated) and used in edibles to create potent cannabis-infused foods.

Rosin Press: Some cannabis enthusiasts press bubble hash to create rosin, another solventless concentrate prized for its purity.

How Is Bubble Hash Different from Other Cannabis Extracts?

Bubble hash stands out because it's solventless. Other popular extracts use solvents in their extraction processes, which can impact both the purity and experience. Here's how bubble hash compares to a few other well-known cannabis extracts:

Live Rosin: Like bubble hash, live rosin is a solventless extract. However, rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to fresh cannabis or bubble hash. This process results in a concentrate with a thicker, waxy texture. Bubble hash, in contrast, is created with ice water and remains more of a crumbly powder or paste.

RSO (Rick Simpson Oil): RSO is a potent, full-spectrum extract made using a solvent like ethanol. It's typically used for medicinal purposes due to its high concentration of cannabinoids. Unlike bubble hash, RSO includes plant matter, which gives it a dark, syrupy consistency and a strong taste.

BHO (Butane Hash Oil): BHO is made using butane to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis. This method creates a highly potent concentrate like shatter or wax. While BHO can contain up to 90% THC, the use of solvents makes it less appealing to those who prefer cleaner products like bubble hash.

Characteristics of High-Quality Bubble Hash

The quality of bubble hash can vary depending on the cannabis strain and the extraction process. Here's how to spot the good stuff:

Appearance: High-quality bubble hash tends to be light blonde or golden. A darker greenish-brown hash often indicates that more plant matter is present, reducing its purity.

Consistency: Bubble hash is typically softer and crumbly, unlike traditional hash, which is often pressed into bricks. The higher the quality, the finer and stickier the hash.

Potency: Good bubble hash can contain up to 60% THC, making it much more potent than cannabis flower but not as strong as solvent-based extracts like wax or shatter.

Storing Bubble Hash

Proper storage is essential to preserve the quality of your bubble hash.

When exposed to air, heat, or light, bubble hash can degrade over time, leading to a loss of potency and flavor. Ideally, store it in airtight glass containers in a cool, dark place. If possible, freeze full-melt bubble hash to extend its shelf life even further.

When stored properly, bubble hash can retain its quality for six months to a year or even longer.

Final Thoughts

Bubble hash is a pure, potent, and versatile cannabis extract that offers a clean alternative to solvent-based concentrates. Whether you prefer to smoke, dab, or bake it into edibles, bubble hash provides a balanced experience, offering more potency than flower but without the overwhelming strength of other concentrates like shatter or BHO.

Its solventless nature and ability to preserve the natural terpenes and cannabinoids of the cannabis plant make bubble hash an attractive option for both recreational and medical users. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned cannabis consumer, bubble hash is worth exploring for its unique balance of purity, potency, and versatility.