A cannabis concentrate in which trichomes are frozen and broken off of the plant using ice water and physical agitation, then poured through mesh bags to sift out non-resinous plant material. Ice water hash is also called bubble hash, ice wax, and cold water hash, and is usually dabbed but can also be sprinkled on top of flower. Quality is rated on a scale of one to six stars, indicating refinement and meltability, with low quality at one star and high quality at six.

“I only dab six-star ice water hash.”

“I made some bubble hash after my harvest this year and it turned out great!”

What is ice water hash?

Ice water hash is made by putting cannabis in ice water, which freezes trichomes, and then agitating the mixture, which breaks off the trichomes. The mixture is then filtered through a series of mesh bags called “bubble bags,” which allow water and trichomes to pass through while holding back plant matter. Several bags are usually used with finer and finer meshes, refining the hash with each bag. 

Quality and meltability of ice water hash is measured in stars—one star for less refined, lower quality, up to six stars for more refined and higher quality. Freshly frozen flower that has not been cured or dried often produces high quality ice hash.

How is ice water hash different from extracts or live resin?

Ice water hash is great because it doesn’t use chemical solvents, only water and mesh bags. Live resin and other extracts use a chemical solvent such as butane, propane, or CO2 to strip trichomes and resin from the cannabis plant. 

The mechanical extraction process in making ice hash does not chemically impact the concentrate, and ice water hash is thought to preserve the flavor of the original strain more so than extracts.