What’s the Difference Between the Main Types of Hashish?

Hashish is a concentrated form of the sticky crystals, called trichomes, taken from marijuana flowers and pressed into bricks. In Spanish cannabis clubs, members can find three main types of hashish: Dry Sift, Semi Dry, and Resin. There is also a variety of more concentrated extracts like BHO.

What is the difference between these types of hash and BHO? Read on to learn more.

How Each Type of Hash Is Made

All types of natural hashish is produced from the resin of cannabis buds. However, the production method affects the flavor, texture, and potency. There are 3 main types of production:

• Dry (Dry Sift)
  Made by sifting dried cannabis flowers over a fine mesh screen. The falling trichome dust, known as kief, is collected and pressed into bricks. This is the most traditional way of making hash.

• Semi Dry
  Made the same way as Dry, but with buds that are fresh-frozen or lightly cured. Additionally, some high-end types are cleaned with static electricity for better terp preservation and better flavor. This type is also known as Static Semi.

• Resin (Bubble Hash)
  Made from buds that are deep frozen and then washed in ice water. The trichomes break off, get caught in micron screens, then dried and pressed.

• BHO extracts and concentrates. BHO stands for Butane Hash Oil, and it is not technically hashish. It is a highly concentrated cannabis oil extracted chemically from buds using butane. BHO is presented in different textures like Wax, Shatter, Crumble, and Live Resin.

Dry Sift Hashish

Dry Sift hash is usually light brown to golden green in color. It is crumbly and not sticky.

• Aroma and Flavor: herbal and earthy with hints of pine, citrus, or spice
• THC level: 40–60%
• Effect: chill, muscle relaxing
• How to Check the Quality: it should crumble easily and should not be sticky nor greasy. The color should remain light, with no black spots.

Semi Dry Hashish

Semi Dry is more elastic and stretchy, while its color can vary and not always be even.

• Aroma and Flavor: bright, fruity, and full-bodied
• THC level: 60–65%
• Effect: uplifting, euphoric
• How to Check the Quality: it should feel tacky but not wet. The smell should be natural and rich — never artificial or chemical. Color can range from honey-brown to deep amber.

Resin Hashish (Bubble Hash)

Also called Water Hash, it can be dry or oily, depending on how it’s made. Both are good if made well: texture doesn’t define the quality of resin hash.

• Aroma and Flavor: terp-rich — could be fruity, gassy, even skunky, depending on the strain
• THC level: 65–70%
• Effect: euphoric, can even be borderline psychedelic, especially at high doses
• How to Check the Quality: look for "1st Pull Resin Hash" on the label — it means it was the first extraction of trichome resins from cannabis plant material and it is the best quality one. Good Resin melts fully and leaves an oily dot behind, and it should smear like butter between fingers.

Butane Hash Oils

These are not hashish — they are powerful cannabis oils made with butane. People usually consume them by dabbing or vaping.

• Aroma and Flavor: terp-loaded — from citrus and berry to diesel and gas
• THC level: 85–90%
• Effect: very fast, extra intense and cerebral
• How to Check the Quality: pure BHO shouldn’t have any chemical or solvent-like aroma. The taste should match perfectly the strain that it came from. Texture can be different depending on the type (wax, shatter, etc.)

How to Find Out If Hash Is Natural or Fake

There are a few tips:

• Ask the budtender: most cannabis clubs in Spain allow you to smell or touch the hash before you get it.
• Aroma is very important: if it smells like gas, plastic, or rubber — don’t smoke it. That might be fake or cut hash — hash that has been mixed with chemicals.
• The texture should match the type of hash: Dry Hash is crumbly, Semi Dry is sticky, Resin is melty.