Charas is the oldest form of cannabis concentrate - the original solventless. Not only is it the oldest, it’s the simplest to produce, requiring only the flowering cannabis plant and a pair of human hands. Making charas involves a very intimate experience with cannabis, in which the hash maker literally rubs fresh resin right from the trichomes onto their hands. The resin accumulates into a blackish layer across the palms and fingers, then peels off like a second skin. 

First peeling, then rolling into a ball, hash makers collect the charas right from their hands. No press, no stress. 

This is a very special technique, passed down from generation to generation, withstanding the test of time. Charas has only survived this long because it works. And now, it’s gaining newfound appreciation in the cannabis community. 

In the world of solventless cannabis extracts, we certainly love our equipment, our “teks”, and our lab-grade precision. But there’s something refreshing about forgetting about the high-tech approach and simply (and quite literally) getting our hands dirty. After all, that’s what farming and extracting resin is all about. 

Charas originated in regions of Asia, including Pakistan, India, and Nepal. More specifically, we know that the Kashmir and the Parvati Valleys, where cannabis plants grow wild at the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains, is an area rich in the tradition of making charas. For thousands of years people have been making solventless cannabis concentrates following this process. There’s even a standard unit of measurement for charas, known as a tola, which is about 11.5 grams. 

There are several different types of charas, which have distinct characteristics derived from the region in which they’re produced. 

Is Charas the Same As Hash?

Although the two are very similar, charas is more like the second cousin of hash. And it’s a long way away from the loose resin that hash makers collect using the Ice Water Extraction Method, known as washing hash. 

The starting cannabis material is one major difference between charas and hash. While hash (bubble hash, temple balls, etc.) comes from fully mature cannabis flowers with resin that was harvested at peak ripeness, charas is made with the living cannabis plant, taken from flowers about 2-3 weeks before they’ve grown to full maturity. Charas comes from resin that did not yet reach peak ripeness. 

There are several different ways to make all kinds of hash, like ice water extraction, dry sifting, rolling temple balls, etc., but only one way to make charas - and that’s with your bare hands, and nothing else. 

How To Make Charas

Making charas is straightforward. It could be said that the hardest part is the patience that it requires - this is a time-consuming process. A good rule of thumb is getting just 7 grams for a full day’s work. It’s a bit arduous, but the end result is uniquely worthwhile. 

Step 1: Clean your hands. Dirty hands make dirty charas. Your hands must be free of oil and completely dry. 

Step 2: Remove the fan leaves from around the cannabis flowers.

Step 4: Pick any plant matter out of the resin that’s collecting on your hands.

Step 5: Continue gently rolling the flower between your hands, moving onto the next flower once all the resin is rubbed off of the flower and onto your hands. 

Step 6: Press and turn your thumb on the most resinous part of your opposite hand, then snap the resin off. Repeat the process until your hand is clean and the entire resin mass is on your thumb.

Step 7: Transfer the collected resin from one thumb to the other and repeat the process on the other hand.

Step 8: Continue this process, moving from one flower to the next, then one cannabis plant to the next. Rolling, caressing, collecting, this is the process of making charas. 

Conclusion

Making charas is one of the most intimate experiences one can have with the cannabis plant. It’s borderline mystical, as the resin seeps into your body through the pores in your hands, lifting your energy to a clean, cerebral, vibrant state of bliss and relaxation.  

Charas stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between humanity and cannabis, embodying a tradition that has persisted for thousands of years across regions like Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Its simplicity, requiring only the hands and the cannabis plant, speaks to its timeless appeal and intimate connection with nature. 

While modern techniques and equipment dominate the cannabis extraction landscape, charas offers a refreshing return to basics, emphasizing the importance of hands-on craftsmanship and patience. Charas honors a legacy that transcends generations, reminding us of the fundamental connection between humans and cannabis that continues to endure.

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