BUBBLE HASH: WHAT IS ICE WATER HASH AND HOW IS IT MADE (2023)

Interested in the famous Bubble Hash that Girls in Green loves so much? This is the perfect post to clear all doubts and remain a pro in this subject.

Last week we started talking more about a topic that interests our followers a lot:different types of hashish and how they are made. Because hashish is rich in trichomes and terpenes, it is the preferred form of consumption for many! Today we're going to talk about one of the crowd's favorites: bubble hash (aka ice, ice-o-lator, melt, water hash) and the different ways to make it.

Bubble hash has this cute name because it creates little bubbles when heated – which is also how you can judge its quality. It is made without the use of solvents, making your production process and consumption much safer. After all, as you already know, the focus should always be on harm reduction - not only in relation to the consumption of the substance, but also in its production.

Bubble hash is our favorite type of hash. We believe that besides being one of the safest extracts, it is a true expression of the quality of the plant - after all, good hash only comes out when the flowers, the washed substance is good! So kudos to those who grow plants, they are the real talents of the cannabis world - long live the grower. It's a different world when it comes to growing resin, not necessarily smoking dried flowers - there are countless other characteristics to consider, in California it's called: resin growers or resin farming.

With the advancement of technology and the establishment of regulated markets in some countries, such as the US and Canada, strategies have been developed to create this form of distribution. In our post, we will try to deal with easier and homemade ways to make bubble hash at home, but we will also say something about things that are happening in the world. ByFrench Cannoliwith its traditional hash and much of what we see in Brazil, to the famous white ice wax in California and Colorado to vape or give!

Would you like to know more about this fascinating universe of resin concentrates? We'll tell you!

What is bubble hash or also known as Water Hash

Bubble hash is the result of separating the trichomes from the buds (flowers) or pruning them using only ice, water and filter bags. This form is known as one of the most effective ways to preserve terpenes and extract sensational tasting hashish. Keep in mind that trichomes and cannabinoids are not water soluble, so they won't be damaged by mixing - so don't worry about roughness with the plant!

The idea of ​​using different micron filter bags is to be able to separate trichome heads of different sizes and also to separate this resin from the rest of the plant material. Cold water, ice and mixing, on the other hand, cause the heads of these trichomes (filled with oil) to have a harder and less sticky consistency, so they are easier to separate from the plant and remain loose in the hash water - therefore the whole process will be very cold - brrrrr!

There are several ways to do this process, either by machines (such as camping washing machines) or even by hand with a spoon or shovel (here in California we use a canoe paddle) and a bucket. If you don't have a specific machine that can be used specifically for this, it's best to use what you have at your disposal.

Are you a bit confused by so many variations in such a process? No problem. It is important to say that hash is an art - every artist, in the case of a hash maker, has their own cookie recipe that they hash in their preferred way. There are some common mistakes (such as not guaranteeing low temperatures during the process), but the cycle time, the type of strains, the bags they use, the methods of shaking, drying can vary enormously - and that's the charm of this universe .

So in this text we try to cover that process for you: from the roots all the way to nutella!

They're coming with us!

Filter bags and their concept

The several microns in the sieves that filter/sifter this hash allow the different sizes of trichome heads to be separated, as well as the "creamier" (less contaminated with plant matter) and "less creamier" (more contaminated) material.

The system filters the plant material in the highest microns, takes the middle pockets of cream and leaves the immature trichome heads and other impurities in the lower micron pockets.

They are usually separated by color - the largest microns are at the top and the smallest at the bottom. The 220u is the one that separates all the plant material from the rest, so it is often used separately, such as a bag in the machine or a bag that you use to shake the material into a bin. See an example in the video we made with Overgrow Shop:https://www.instagram.com/tv/Bu2H-NLFcR7/.

Here is some useful information about these bags found onICExtract bags

• 40 micron bag (medium quality trichomes)
• 70 micron bag (high quality trichomes)
• 90 micron bag (usually the best quality trichomes)
• 104 micron bag (high quality trichomes)
• 120 micron bag (low quality trichomes)
• 150 micron bag (often the waste is filtered)
• 190 micron bag (often waste is filtered)
• 220 micron bag (often the waste is filtered)

It is important to have at least 1 bag per layer, we recommend:

40 / 45h + 70h + 150h + 220h to hit – but yes, it is ideal to have a complete set.

Dry material or fresh frozen

The first step in deciding is how to prepare this material for washing. The options are:

• Dry and dried buds/pruning: By using dry plant material it is possible to use what is left over from the harvest period. And yes, if you have a nice amount, release some buds, especially the well-known popcorn (small buds). This is the material most often chosen to make hash in the most traditional way. In Brazil it's a great option because of the high temperatures, it's easier to wash and collect in bags without sticking and losing trichomes along the way
• Fresh frozen: this is the method with the plant still alive and fresh trichomes. The plant is harvested, the excess leaves are removed and immediately frozen. To wash, just take it out of the freezer when doing this process. Working with this material is more of a challenge in warm countries like Brazil, the heads are greasy and stick more to the bags. Here in California we use cold stores that reach 5°C to ensure the quality of the final product.

Traditional water hash (Francuski Cannoli i Dank Duchess stil)

For washing you need:

• Plant material (buds, decorations)
• Filter bags (in the style of Bubblebags, which can be found in Brazil atthis link)
• 1 or 2 buckets (preferably 2)
• Washing machine (optional)
• Cold, clean water
• A hose (if connected to cold water) or a hand pressure sprayer (it's super handy to put water with lots of ice in it!)
• Collection surface (plate, bowl)
• pergament papir

Root extraction is done with the same materials: a bucket/machine, a set of special filter bags, clean water, ice, a mixing tool and the material with trichomes. Remember that the ice and water must be extremely clean and the cannabis must be of good quality. The better the quality of the material, the better the result of the process.

About the bags: We use the 220 bag individually, in the machine or in the bucket we use for crushing hash. It makes cleaning a lot easier, so remember this tip from someone else to use it separately!

The first step is to put one of the bags in a bucket and add ice and the whole flowers or trimmings in scattered form. There should be enough ice to submerge the amount of cannabis. Wait 20 minutes to start mixing, during that time make sure the temperatures are low - this is the time for the trichome heads to harden so they can be easily removed by mixing.

As for mixing, both by machine and bucket,pay attention to the SOUND, it must be almost like the song of water with ice, not the sound of breaking ice. If you hear this very loud noise, stop and add some cold water, as you may be crushing the plant material and leaving pollutants in small particles.

In the first cycle, mix briefly and make sure there is little contamination. We recommend about 5 minutes. And remember: if you're doing it by hand, don't be afraid to shake it up!

After mixing, this water full of trichomes must be poured into filter bags. Leave them prepared and organized in the trash to be forwarded to make this collection easier. Pour in the water and wait for it to empty completely – if it takes too long, you can rock!

Collect the hash from these bags separately (as you can see in our IGTV video) – remove excess water! This helps to dry faster. Make sure you wash the bags well and don't leave any trichomes along the way. After taking the hash out of the bags, place it on parchment paper and write down what's what.

Repeat these cycles until you feel the hash is already green. We recommend 4 washes, first cycle 5 minutes, second cycle 6-8 minutes, third cycle 10 minutes and fourth cycle 15 minutes. This will help you lose as few trichomes as possible along the way!

We'll talk about drying at the end of the post, so hold on!

Final color: After drying, the effervescent hash usually takes on a golden yellow color. If it is very green, this could be a sign of excess plant material in the center of the trichomes, reducing the quality of the product.

The North American way to make Bubble Hash

The latest technological extraction style encompasses the same idea as the process, but makes greater use of technology and structure. Firstly the environment in which the process is carried out - usually cold rooms - helps to ensure the freshness of the extraction and does not allow the terpenes to evaporate in the middle of the process, after all terpenes are super volatile which is why so be careful when working with them .

How to dry hash:

How to air dry your hash:

There is a simple and practical way to dry hashish at home. But how long it will take can vary depending on the temperature and humidity. To go back to the previous step, immediately after the hash has been taken out of the bags, it must be taken to the freezer. Wait a few hours to make sure it's frozen, then take the hash out of the freezer and grate it onto parchment paper - ideally this sand has as much contact surface with air as possible so it dries faster.

This is the easiest part of this procedure, the rest is to control the humidity and temperature of the environment. It is ideal to have at least one dehumidifier to reduce humidity and an air conditioner to continue this cold process, which is the extraction of high-quality hashish.

Wait a few days and always check the consistency of your hash until you notice it is dry. It is important that it is dry before storing it in the jar to start the curing process.

Once the hash is dry, you can start pressing it to make it more like chocolate. Instructions can be found on the Hashweek we createdon our website.

Freeze dryer and how this mysterious machine works:

It is a very complex subject and that is why we decided to interview a very special person. Flynn Abeln, COO of Fullymelted, a legal solvent-free company in California.

A freeze dryer is a machine adopted from the food industry, usually used to freeze dry foods for long-term storage. The hash community saw it as a tool to dry resin in an easier way! This machine dries hash by sublimation, when the wet hash is placed in the freeze dryer, the machine creates a vacuum on the hash and controls the temperature rise and fall. This allows for sublimation and helps turn the water from a solid into a gas so it can be removed from the hash. This drying method also disinfects the hash, which is why it is so good for long-term food preservation.

If you are using a freeze dryer, it is important to know what settings you want the machine to run at. Sublimation takes place best when the hashish is exposed to as much open space and surface as possible on freeze drying containers. This means that when you take your hash out of the bags, you want to scoop it out in the shape of a pancake, with a lot more water than traditional patties that you would strain or microsieve and then air dry. There are three basic settings on a freeze dryer; freeze time, final dry time and rack temperature (we recommend reading the manual to learn how to adjust these settings and set the defaults to the desired levels).

When the freeze dryer runs a full cycle, it begins the freeze cycle, which is used to freeze the product and bring the chamber up to temperature. The machine then begins the main drying process, which can take anywhere from 10 to 16 hours, depending on the amount of water to be extracted. However, when this cycle begins, the system usually displays a 24-hour countdown. Once the system notices that it is not drawing much water from the material, it will enter the final drying cycle and run for a period of time. When looking at the settings for running a freeze dry cycle, the rack temperature is one of the things to look out for and check every time you start the system, the factory setting is 125F, too hot for hash, and the batch will definitely kill if not changed, so check out how to change the default temp to something around 45-50 so you don't have to remember it every time! The shelf temperature setting is the highest temperature the shelves will also warm up before turning off and the freezer allowing the product to cool down again. 45F to 50F is a good starting range for high quality fresh frozen material. Lower shelf temperatures may be best when drying a more unstable resin or oily resin quickly and easily where higher temperatures (50F-55F) can be used. However, keep in mind that lower temperatures will require a longer final drying time. Final drying time is a variable experience that will help the most. The last drying cycles are started when the machine detects that less water is being extracted from the product. A longer or shorter final drying time can be estimated based on two basic factors; the amount of hash in the freeze dryer and how naturally dry or greasy your resin is. A drier resin needs a slightly shorter final drying time and can be used at a higher temperature without sacrificing quality. More unstable resin may require longer drying times to fully dry the resin and lower storage temperatures to preserve the resin collar and prevent it from melting. Final drying times can always be adjusted to be longer after checking the resin, so the best strategy is to start low and work your way up. The freeze time is simply how long the machine stays at the lowest temperature before the vacuum and heating/cooling cycle kick in to dry the hash. Ideally, your hash should be completely frozen before starting this process to ensure more even drying of the hash. a pre-freeze drawer can help reduce this time, but without a pre-freeze two to three hours is usually enough to completely freeze even very full freeze dryers.

How is it used and what are the effects?

Bubble hash can be used in different ways: in a vaporizer, in a bong, in pipes and in the joint itself. It can be mixed with cannabis (don't forget to dose carefully due to the amount of THC) or with tobacco. Hash can also be mixed with butter to make edible cannabis, which is great for this pandemic season when smoking is discouraged.

The effect is the same as cannabis, but can be more intense due to its purity. Some of them can contain over 50% THC - and as we know, this substance, when used alone,can be a trigger for anxiety attacks.

A few important tips

• Whichever method you choose, low temperatures are essential to maintain the quality of the hash and lose fewer trichomes along the way.
• Pay attention to the filter order in the bags! For example, it can be disastrous to change the order from 150 hours to 45 hours.
• Making it at home is not expensive, but you need to invest in quality materials to get the best results.
• Use anything that has trichomes, discard large leaves that are full of water. They can be potential contaminates of your hash. Do this with the buds and flowers, and don't forget the leaves just below the flowers: they are full of trichomes too!
• We've said it before, but it bears repeating: dose wisely when using it. Surely nobody wants a "bad trip" with such a delicious extraction?

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SOURCES

https://gopurepressure.com/blogs/rosinpress-tips-tricks/4-pro-tips-for-making-phenomenal-bubble-hash

https://www.edrosenthal.com/the-guru-of-ganja-blog/water-hash-101-plus-6-methods-for-diy-water-hash