♦RubyLeeSchembari.blog♦

Written and edited by Ruby Lee Schembari

This time on Red Eye Files, I’ll show you how I press my hash using the Frenchy Cannoli technique, why I press it, and tell you a little about what I pressed. But before we dive into that, I want to offer you a brief look into my history with this wonderful medicine.

When I lived in sunny Santa Cruz, California, I had been tinkering around with different methods of making hash in bulk for a while. I tried making dry sift with a pollen box and a grinder, but it never produced anything meaningful or worthwhile. That all changed when I decided to try out the ice water method, which, in case you’re unfamiliar, is a form of extraction only using ice and water to remove the resin heads from the flower and filtering them through a series of different-size screens.

I’d buy pounds of trim from growers and would make bubble hash at least twice a week. I was regularly washing strains like Runtz, Gelato, and Ice Cream Cake. Some washed better than others, and some definitely pressed better than others.  This time I’ve purchased six grams of premade Full-Spec Cured Hash from Decible Farms budget brand, Forte.

I chose this brand because I have been pressing their stuff for a few months now, and it’s always been consistent in quality. In this tutorial, I’ll be working with Tiramisu #6, a cross of Wedding Cake and Gelato #45. At the end of the article, I’ll give a review of the hash I pressed based on the scent, taste, and high it gives.

Before we start pressing, you’ll need to gather a few items. To do this right, you’ll need:

• An empty wine or glass bottle.
• Gloves.
• At least two cloth hand towels to hold the bottle when it’s filled with hot water.
• A way to boil water.
• Reynolds turkey bags or other food-safe cellophane.
• A safe place to press and roll
• Scissors.
• Dab tool or any other tool to help lift hash.
• Bubble Hash or kief.

Once you gather all of your tools and find a safe place to roll and press, we can move on to the first step, which is to prepare your workstation.

STEP 1: Prepare your turkey bag or food-safe cellophane

In this step, you’ll want to measure and cut how much of the turkey bag or food-safe cellophane you want to use. I don’t have any exact measurements that you should use, as I just usually eyeball it based on how much hash I’m pressing.

For example, since I am only pressing six grams, I have cut my turkey bag into quarters with a little under two feet in width and about six inches in length. If you’re pressing a large amount of hash, feel free to use as much of the bag as you need.

STEP 2: Remove hash from jars and place between the two sides of the turkey bag or food-safe cellophane

When placing the hash into the bag or cellophane, I find it easier to split it up into individual two-gram clumps rather than one large mound. This makes it easier to press but also allows for even distribution of heat, which allows the THC-A to convert into THC. Also, you’ll probably want to use a dab tool to help get it out of the jar. Or you can be like me and use a metal chopstick since I lost my dab tool.

Once your hash has been placed and organized within the turkey bag or food-safe cellophane, you can move on to step 3.

STEP 3: Press firmly on the hash with your palm to flatten it

Put all of your body weight into pressing it down with your hand, as it’ll create more pressure and heat, which will not only flatten the hash but warm it up a little to make it more malleable. Depending on the quality of your hash, you may notice the color and consistency change after doing this; that’s a good sign of what’s to come next!

STEP 4: Boil some water, let it cool, and then pour it into a glass bottle or jar that can be sealed

It’s important to note that while you want hot water, you don’t want scalding hot water, as it could destroy heat-sensitive cannabinoids like terpenes. I boil my water with an electric gooseneck kettle, and once boiled, I take the lid off and let it sit for about five minutes.

The water will cool a little more when you pour it into your glass vessel. Once it’s filled up about 75%, you can seal it, put on your gloves, grab your towels, and move on to step 5.

STEP 5: Put the bottom of the hot bottle on top of the hash that’s inside the turkey bag or cellophane

This step is to help warm that hash up gradually to make it more malleable before you start pressing and rolling. Once you’ve heated up your individual clumps of hash, you can move on to the next step.

STEP 6: Wrap or fold the hand towels around the neck and feet of the hot bottle and begin to press and roll your hash

On this step, make sure you hold onto the bottle firmly and apply pressure from above the bottle so you maintain total control of it. If you’re working on a table or counter that’s higher than your waistline, I’d recommend working on a lower surface because the bottle can shoot out from under you and hit you in the stomach. It’s happened to me before; it burns really bad.

But as you’re pressing, you’ll notice that your hash will begin to darken and develop a shine on its surface. It’s important that you don’t over-press; I recommend only pressing and rolling your hash two or three times total to make sure you aren’t cooking the terpenes.

Once the first side is pressed and rolled, go ahead and flip it over and repeat what you just did, but on the back side of the hash. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to the next step.

STEP 7: Collect and remove hash from the turkey bag or cellophane and begin compressing with your hands

While the hash is warm and gooey, begin peeling it off your bag or cellophane and place it in your hand. Once in the palm of your hand, take your other hand and compress the hash between your two palms. While doing this, I like to rub the hash between my palms. This is to ensure that the hash sticks together. After a minute of compressing and massaging the hash, place it back in your bag or cellophane and repeat step 6 on both sides.

After your second go of pressing and rolling, you’ll notice that your hash is darker and it smells stronger than before. Depending on how it’s looking, I usually take it out of my turkey bag and play with it in my hands for a little while to see if it’ll compress and roll into a nice oily temple ball.

It’s important to note that not all hash will react the same when pressing it. For example, I’ve pressed multiple strains from Forte like Crazy Grandma, 8-bit Applez, Garlicot Bubblegum, Cafe Smacks, and Tiramisu #6 prior to this article. Out of all those strains, they all pressed and held differently. Look below to see examples:

Why do I press bubble hash into chunks, balls, and puddles?

I like pressing hash for a few different reasons. For starters, I think the act of taking a raw material and refining it into something else is really cool, but I also find the process of pressing and rolling to be relaxing. I put my headphones on, I vape a bowl, crack open a beer, and get to work!

Another reason I love pressing hash is that it develops a much more complex smell and flavor when it’s processed in this way. For example, this Tiramisu #6 had a much lighter smell prior to pressing. Now it smells of sugary citrus fruits paired with a doughy sweetness. Pressed hash also has flavors you can’t always find with flower.

But I also find the high to be more relaxing and sedative than the most potent indica flower on the market, which helps a former opioid addict like myself quit the junk.

Tiramisu #6 – Wedding Cake X Gelato 45 – Indica-leaning hybrid – Decible Farms

Scent: After being pressed and sitting in its jar to cure for a day or two, this hash smells of lemon and orange juice paired with a doughy sweet dessert like a donut.

Taste: When paired with some Strawberry Cough that was grown by Skunk Valley Farm, this hash tastes of fresh dirt and fruit with hints of musk.

I know in the past I have tested hash in a special pipe, but I decided to discontinue the piece due to safety concerns.

High: Very relaxing head high that allows me to decompress and be creative without anxiety. However high doses can cause a bit of anxiety.

Final Thoughts: I love this hash. I’ve bought, pressed, and vaped this specific strain quite a bit now, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of its flavor, scent, or high. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to explore the world of hash and all that it has to offer, as there’s so much to learn!

Thanks for reading!

♦