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Red Eye Files: How to Roll a Middle Eastern-Style Spliff

Written and edited by Ruby Lee Schembari 

Rolling and smoking hash spliffs is an art form practised in many places across Europe and the Middle East; Yet in America it’s not a very popular method amongst cannabis enthusiasts stateside. That doesn’t mean that tobacco isn’t used by stoners in the West; it’s just used differently. 

For example, one of the more popular ways to use cannabis flower in North America is to roll it in a tobacco leaf like a joint and smoke it. That’s called a blunt, in case you’re unfamiliar. 

Yours truly smoking a hash-laced blunt on Mt. Umunhum, California – Photo taken by Maria Munoz de Alba

The main difference between a blunt and a hash spliff is that spliffs are rolled with paper and a 75% tobacco and 25% hash mix. These percentages can vary, but the 75/25 ratio is common. This is to prevent clogging and canoeing (uneven burning).

In this article, I’m gonna show you how to roll a Middle-Eastern style spliff and review the mixture based on the high and flavor. If you’re under the age of 21, I do not recommend trying this at home, as nicotine is an extremely addictive substance that’s hard to quit. 

How to Roll a Middle Eastern Style Spliff

To roll a spliff, you’ll need the following items: Hash, tobacco, papers, and a place to roll. Everything else is optional. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 1: Gather your ingredients 

To roll this spliff, you’ll need the following items: 

  • Rolling papers
  • Hash – you’ll need anywhere from 0.1 to 0.5 grams
  • Tobacco – Any brand; I’m using American Spirit Blues
  • Filter – You can use cardboard, glass, cigarette, etc. 
  • A place to roll 

Once you find a comfortable place to roll, we can move forward to the next step. 

Snap or cut the cigarette a little under an inch from the filter if you plan on using it. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 2: Break the Cigarette  

To start, you’re going to snap the cigarette about an inch away from the filter. This is to save the filter for later. If you don’t plan on using it, feel free to throw it away now. 

Gut and skin the cigarette, and push the innards into a clean pile. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 3: Remove the tobacco from the paper 

This step is straightforward. Once the tobacco is removed from the paper, push it into a pile. 

Grind or cut your tobacco finely and put it into a pile. Break down hash and sprinkle on top of tobacco. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 4: Grind up your tobacco 

Once the tobacco is lumped together, you can grind it by hand, or if you want to do it like me, you can simply mince it finely with a knife. 

STEP 5: Break up and sprinkle your hash on top of the tobacco

Grab your hash and begin breaking it up between your fingers. Ideally, you should do this above the tobacco so every little crumb makes it into your spliff.  

Once combined, start mixing the hash and tobacco together. I like to use my thumb, index, and middle finger to smoosh it around. Beware, it does get sticky. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 6: Mix em up! 

I like to mix my hash and tobacco by rubbing it between my thumb, index, and middle finger. You’ll want to mix for about 20 – 30 seconds. You can wear gloves to do this if you want to avoid getting your hands sticky. 

Grab your paper and filter or crutch and position them like this. I like to use the cigarette filter because of how harsh tobacco can be without it. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 7: Get your paper and filter ready (if no filter, then get a piece of cardboard to create a crutch or something filter-shaped so it’s easier to roll) 

Notice where my thumb is pressing down on the paper and filter? That’s how you want to pinch it. This creates a nice snug tuck that makes it so that side of the paper doesn’t come loose. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 8: Pinch your paper onto the filter and roll it around the circumference to get it snug 

This is to create a nice and snug cone-shaped spliff.

STEP 9: Lick the edge of the paper connecting to the filter 

This allows your paper to stay in place for when you do the next step. 

Lick the sticky side of the paper and roll it over the filter to create a snug roll. It should look something like this. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 10: Lick the adhesive on the opposite side of the paper and roll it over the filter 

In this step, I like to take the corner edge of the sticky side and wrap it around the filter at an angle to create a snug wrap. 

SPLIFF CHECK: Before we go any further, does your spliff look something like this?   

Your paper should look something like this. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari
Begin stuffing the paper up, but make sure not to pack it too tightly. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

STEP 11: Begin packing your spliff with your mixture of tobacco and hash 

When packing your spliff, don’t pack it too tightly, as it will reduce airflow and cause it to burn unevenly.  Use a pencil or a pair of metal chopsticks like I did to pack it into the paper.

STEP 12: Tuck and roll the mixture, then lick to seal the adhesive along the seam of the spliff.

Make sure to roll with both hands, it’s much easier. Also, when rolling, you’ll want to tuck the edge of the paper under the tobacco and push anything that could block your roll. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari
This is what your spliff should look like at this point. Start packing it down and stamp it to finish it off. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

Pack till full and stamp down or twist the end of the spliff to close it off. 

Personally, I like a nice stamped-down spliff.

STEP 13: Smoke it. 

Go outside, spark that baby up and take a walk. Enjoy the fresh air, soak up some sun.

Admire your work as you smoke, as rolling is a skill. – Photo taken by Ruby Lee Schembari

Tropsanto 4* Bubble Hash – Sand Castle Hash Co. – home-pressed hash –  American Spirits Light Blue – Rolled in an OCB paper 

High: Despite being mixed with hash, this spliff delivers a mellow, relaxing head high that allows stress to melt away.   

Taste: The smoke tastes earthy from the tobacco with hints of oily sweetness from the Tropsanto hash I bought and hand-pressed in my kitchen.

Final Thoughts: I really liked smoking this spliff. This was a fun treat for me, but in all honesty, I don’t see myself smoking these long-term due to health reasons. Additionally, smoking cigarettes or loose-leaf tobacco can be addictive and can cause serious health issues like cancer. It’s better never to start at all than to try to quit.   

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