It’s safe, simple and clean: ice water extractions are some of the favorites not only in flavor, but in practicality too. Here, we’ll tell you the secrets and tips to perfect this process.
Ice, ice water hash, ice-o-lator or even bubble hash... all those different names mean the same thing: a delicious and fresh concentrate capable of holding all the plant’s greatness. It is made without the use of solvents, which makes both production process and consumption much safer.
Besides being one of the safest extractions, it is a true expression of the quality of the plant. Therefore, all the love for those who dedicate their time, love and heart to grow!
With the advancement of technology and the establishment of regulated markets, strategies for making this type of concentrate have developed. Here, we’ll try to address simpler tips and ways to improve your bubble hash processes. After all, a good hash starts with quality, but requires a few other complements to be a perfect six-star full melt.
What’s ice water hash?
Ice water hash or bubble hash is the result of a process that separates trichomes from buds or trim using only ice, water and filter bags. This type of process is known as one of the most effective ways to preserve terpenes and to extract hash with a sensational flavor. Remember that trichomes and cannabinoids are not soluble in water, so they are not damaged by the right amount of agitation — don’t go in too hard, but also don’t worry about being a little rough with the plant!
The idea of using filter bags with different microns is to be able to separate different sizes of trichome heads and also to separate this resin from the rest of the plant matter. The combination of cold water, ice and agitation makes the heads of these trichomes (filled with oil) freeze and detach more easily from the plant.
There are different ways to carry out this procedure, either with machines or even by hand, with a spoon and a bucket. If you do not have a specific machine, the best option is to use what you have available.
Making an extraction is an art — each hash maker will have their own recipe and make it their own favorite way. Cycle time, type of strains, ways of agitating, drying — it all can vary a lot, but there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid, and that’s our focus today.
You’ll need a really cold room!
When you start the stirring process, low temperatures are essential for your trichomes to be separated intact from the rest of the plant material.
The colder the environment, material and equipment, the more stable the trichome is. The higher the temperature, the greater the chance that the trichome membrane will break, the oil will come out of the trichome’s head and stick to everything. This makes the process difficult due to handling and also wastes material — and then the yield decreases!
The colder the air, the lesser the oxidation — for this reason, hashes made with fresh frozen using this technique can be very light. When the goal is to consume fresh hash, think about slowing down oxidation as much as possible.
- Leave all the objects you will use to handle the hash in the freezer before starting the process.
- Wait for a freezing cold day or improvise a cold room — a Cool Bot ensures the air conditioner does not turn off at its limit temperature. Keep the room between 35 and 55°F.
- Use dry ice in a larger bucket, placing your separation bucket inside it. Thermal insulating materials help keep water cold and slow your ice from melting.
Filter bags and their concept
The different microns in the screens that filter this hash are what makes it possible to separate the different sizes of trichome heads — and also your full-melts from your not-so-full-melts.
The system filters the plant matter in the largest microns, usually takes the best and ripest trichomes to the middle bags, and leaves the immature trichome heads and other impurities in the lower bags with the smallest microns.
Usually, they’re separated by color — the highest microns are at the top and the lowest at the bottom. You can read more about them in our guide, Hash Quality: Understanding the Different Microns. You can choose not to use the complete kit when your goal is to make rosin, but it’s still necessary to use the cleaning bags so you won’t have as many contaminants in your samples.
Dry material or fresh frozen?
- Dry and cured buds/trim: using dry plant matter, it is possible to take advantage of what is left over from your harvest period, like trim or smaller buds. For true quality, cured flowers are a great way to go — the traditional choice for bubble hash. At higher temperatures this material gets tricky: trichomes can burst and resin will stick to everything (especially the bags).
- Fresh frozen: work with the freshest trichomes — the plant is harvested, excess leaves removed, and it’s frozen immediately. Take it out of the freezer right before you wash. Frozen trichomes remove more easily while preserving their properties, but this material is more challenging in hot places — hence the need for a good cold room.
Remember one of the main rules of bubble hash: quality in, quality out. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s great quality material. Yields can vary widely — some well-grown strains simply don’t produce the types of trichomes this extraction needs.
The best water to use: RO
Tap, filtered, distilled… in our opinion the best water for ice water hash is Reverse Osmosis (RO) water — ultra-filtered water purified under pressure to remove contaminants, solids, large molecules and minerals. It’s much cleaner than regular filtered water.
Basic RO filtration systems can be installed for under $500, and they’re a great addition to your solventless setup — you can also use RO water to make clean ice.
The process can vary and there are many ways to reach the same beautiful results, but these tips will help you achieve your prime ice water hashes. Choose your best materials and equipment, and you’ll do an excellent job!
