Charas: what is it and how to make it?

The exciting world of cannabis concentrates is trending. Continuously, new extraction techniques such as BHO, rosin, or Ice-O-lator, among others, emerge; this is the result of a constant search for different methods of cannabis consumption, both for recreational and medicinal purposes. However, amidst this avalanche of innovations, it’s important not to forget the older concentrates, which is why this article is dedicated to charas, a term every cannabis enthusiast should know and an essential concentrate to savor.

What is charas?

Many people confuse charas with hashish, considering them synonymous, although the difference has recently been explained. While there are different types of hashish, in general, the term refers to the resin from cannabis plants in a solid state that comes from harvested flowers. In contrast, charas is obtained from still-living plants, that is, before being cut. Both are produced by extracting cannabis, but the process is different.

Charas, one of the purest concentrates, is made manually and is commonly found in the form of small balls or sticks. Additionally, this substance has a dark brown color and contains cannabis resin with cannabinoids and terpenes.

Origin of charas

Today, ‘charas’ refers to resin derived from living cannabis. However, purists claim that true charas comes only from its country of origin. But, where does charas come from?

Neither the origin nor the date of appearance are entirely clear. The earliest mentions of charas appear in the work “Pharmacographia” in 1874, where it is suggested that the Himalayan region in India, especially the village of Malana in the Parvati Valley and Kashmir, produced charas from indigenous cannabis plants growing in the mountains at over three thousand meters in altitude. In fact, Indians dedicated the use of charas to spiritual rites and numerous Hindu practices.

How to make charas?

Below are two ways to produce charas, like Hash Charas CBD GB; we will start with the old method used for decades, and then the version adapted to our days.

Traditional method

The first, known as the traditional method used by Indians, involves dedicating an entire harvest to charas production. In this case, fresh cannabis flowers are taken and vigorously rubbed with clean hands, squeezing them. The final appearance of the flower may not be ideal, but it can still be used for other types of concentrates.

Gradually, the hands will begin to be covered with a brown and sticky layer which is the resin with trichomes and cannabinoids. When the layer on your palms is significant, simply rub one against the other to recover it and deposit it in a glass or silicone container; and thus, the charas is ready. Repeat the process until you obtain a satisfactory amount.

Other methods

Regarding the other option, the most common one today, mainly because when grown at home, after all the effort, it may seem use the flowers only to generate charas. That’s why charas is usually an ‘extra’ in bud harvests. To make it, simply take advantage of the resin that results during the pruning/harvesting of cannabis plants; that is, to harvest, small scissors are used to manicure the leaves and cut the flowers. Well, the resin with all the components that remain stuck on the scissors and fingers is what should be recovered and enjoyed.

In light of the above, aiming for good yields, suitable potency, as well as a delicious experience, it is advisable to choose cannabis genetics rich in THC or CBD, according to the desired effects, as well as strains covered in trichomes.

Traditional uses of charas

Hindu monks, known as “sadhus,” use special pipes called chillums to consume charas. Additionally, it is common for them to prepare “Bhang,” a special cannabis-based drink used in religious ceremonies, similar to the sadhus. In India, unlike modern Western societies, cannabis does not have a negative connotation; on the contrary, it is closely linked to tradition and is considered a tool for achieving enlightenment and, consequently, to Shiva.

Marijuana is frequently used by sadhus as a means to facilitate meditation and introspection, due to the moments of clarity it provides. Additionally, cannabis grows naturally in these regions of Asia, making it abundant in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Although traditional in Hindu culture, charas can also be consumed in the form of thin sticks mixed with tobacco or dried cannabis to smoke in a blunt, or more conventionally in a bong or pipe.

Original charas is produced from cannabis varieties that grow on the shores of the Himalayas and have been cultivated in Asia for centuries. However, outside of these areas, other strains known for being great resin producers can be used, such as Kush varieties, which are excellent for extractions and come from similar regions, or any other type of cannabis rich in trichomes.

It is important to be cautious with this product due to its high THC concentration. Now that we know what charas hash is, it is worth remembering that it is advisable not for those new to the cannabis world, but rather for those with experience in potent marijuana strains.