Sitka’s Lebanese Gold dry sift hash. Photo credit: Sitka.
After another tough year, and treading through the holiday season, it’s important to remember to treat oneself. That’s why we’re winding down the year with high-quality hashish.
We tried Sitka’s Lebanese Gold dry sift hash. Sitka is a premier hash maker in Washington, which recently extended their reach into the California market. They currently offer a variety of hash-infused products, including infused pre-rolls, and Sikarillos — joints glued and wrapped with the company’s specialty hash.
What’s dry Sift Hash?
Hash making is an art that spans back thousands of years. It requires one to separate the trichomes from the plant matter, creating a concentrated, potent resin.
According to Way of Leaf, “trichomes are the resin-producing glands that cover the buds of the female marijuana plant and are laden with cannabinoids and terpenes. When these are separated from the plant matter, they form a dusty substance known as kief.”
There are various ways to separate the trichomes — some require chemicals or solvents, others use water, or heat and/or friction.
The hash-making process will determine its purity, and how it’s consumed. For example, some hash has a honey-like consistency, which users can dab. Other forms, like dry sift hash, are more like a hard puddy.
Dry sift hash is one of the purest forms of hash. Traditionally, it does not require any solvents — only friction to separate the trichomes from the flower.
Sitka’s products use traditional Middle Eastern and Moroccan hash-making techniques. After the hash-maker collects the trichomes, they then press it — forming a block.
Many call this “old school hash,” since it’s a process that spans back thousands of years, and is the more traditional type of hash which older consumers quickly recognize.
After this process is complete, Sitka’s hash-maker then adds an extra dose of fresh kief to it. This, they promise, adds more flavor from the fresh terpenes. They then use the hash in all of the company’s products, from pre-rolls, to Sikarillos and more.
Lebanese Gold Dry Sift Hash
MSRP $35 for 1 gram
The Lebanese Gold is the company’s sativa-dominant dry sift hash. They company also offers an indict-dominant Lebanese Red, Coastal Cream and strain specific versions of their dry sift hash.
Like most concentrates, the hash comes in a small jar, and is high in THC. According to the test results on the product, it contains 27.29% THC (or 1236.45 mg), and .10% (.50 mg) of CBD.
But unlike many of the concentrates available on the market today, this traditional dry sift hash is relatively hard — almost like a puddy — and dark (not light or liquidy like most varieties that consumers typically dab). When pulled apart, it also has a sort of fluffy texture. When warned up in the hand for a few seconds, it becomes more malleable.
We put this hash on top of a bowl of this season’s homegrown flower. To do so, we broke off a small piece of it, and flattened it with our fingers. We noticed it hardly smelled, was relatively malleable, and did not crumble at all.
When smoked, the hash was extremely smooth. It tasted very earthy.
After the first hit, we immediately felt incredibly high, the effects of which delivered both a cerebral and body high. While we felt a bit couch-locked (we don’t smoke hash too often, so we expected this), we were also focused and alert. It lasted for a few hours.
As one representative of the company explained to Destination Highway 420, it burns slow and low, “almost like incense.” We found that to be the case — it burned slowly, and incredibly smoothly, giving off a thick layer of smoke which filled and warmed our lungs.
Different Ways to Smoke dry Sift Hash
We smoked this hash in a pipe, but consumers can consume it using a variety of methods. First, they can throw it on a bowl of flower, like we did. Alternatively, pop it in a hash pipe by itself, use a “dome,” or even hot knives. Some types of dry sift hash can also be dabbed.
Herb gives a breakdown of the hot knives method using two butter knives, and a stove top to heat the knives before smashing the hash between the two and inhaling. Many use a straw or bottle to help catch the smoke.
For the dome technique, it’s best to pinch off or roll out a thin piece of hash, and place it on a pin. Then, light it like incense, and cover it with a glass dome (this can also be done in a mason jar). Wait until the smoke fills the chamber, then uncover it and inhale (for reference, here’s a video of the process using a dome). For the mason jar method, slip a push pin through the lid. Secondly, attach the hash to the pin, and light it. Close the jar until it fills with smoke. Then, slip the lid open just a bit, and inhale the smoke before closing it again.
Worth it?
Would we recommend this hash? That’s a resounding yes. This hash is tasty, and uses traditional methods that modern consumers should appreciate. Overall, it provides an excellent smoke, and a potent high (it’s also versatile). So, yes, consumers should definitely stick this in their pipes and smoke it.
At just $35 for 1 gram of hash, this is fairly priced, and on par with other dry sift hash on the market. However, when compared to other types of hash, like rosin, it’s very reasonably priced. Because it burns slowly, it lasts. This also makes it great for sharing!
Here in Oklahoma, I’ve tried about half a dozen hash and bubble hash products. All have been decent, but none have had that ‘hashish’ taste like the hash we had back in the seventies and eighties. Would really love to find that old hash taste I remember (I think) from the good ol days. Next time vacationing out there in the weed kingdom, I’ll try and procure some of Sitkma’s products. Peace and happy trails!