What is charas: How is it produced and why is it so rare?

• What is charas?
• The history of charas
• Charas and regular hashish: same base, different production
• How is charas produced?
• Traditional vs. CBD hashish/charas
• How does charas affect the human body?
• Charas products
• Conclusion: hashish with a story
• FAQ

What is charas?

Charas is a type of hashish obtained by hand-collecting resin from fresh cannabis plants 🌱✋. It is a natural cannabis concentrate containing CBD, THC and other cannabinoids and terpenes.

In India, it is considered the most potent substance that can be obtained from cannabis 🔥 and is most commonly associated with the Punjab region. It is essentially a resinous secretion from the stems, leaves and flowers of unfertilised female plants.

History of charas

Chars is one of the oldest and most respected forms of hashish with a rich tradition and cultural significance. In Shaivism (a branch of Hinduism focused on the god Shiva), it appears as part of religious rituals ⛪ – so it is not primarily taken as an intoxicant here.

It is also often mentioned in connection with sadhu 🧝 (begging pilgrims in Hinduism), who traditionally use it as part of their spiritual practice.

The reputation of charas is based on "old-school" manual processing 🤲 – an ancient technique based on the art of resin collection and manual processing.

Charsas and regular hashish: same base, different production

Hashish (hash, hashish) is a cannabis product obtained from resin – i.e. from the trichomes of the cannabis plant, where the highest concentration of cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes is found 👃.

It is produced using various methods – from dry sifting and pressing to more modern extraction processes and manual rubbing of fresh cannabis – which is how charas, a specific type of hashish, is made 💨.

The fundamental difference between hashish and charas is in the method of obtaining the resin – regular hashish is usually made from dried (already harvested) cannabis plants 🍂, while charas is made from fresh, still-growing plants 🍃.

📌 Tip: There is more than one type of hashish. Other unique types have emerged in different parts of the world. Read about the differences between them and how their effects differ.

How is charas produced?

The traditional method of producing charas originates in India and the Himalayan region ⛰️. In these countries, hashish is processed from fresh cannabis plants, which are rubbed between the palms of the hands for several hours 👏.

The resin is then scraped off the hands and shaped (most often) into small balls 🧆. Finished charas is usually dark brown to black in colour, slightly sticky and remains soft at room temperature.

Traditional vs. CBD hashish/charas

Traditional hashish is psychoactive and can affect perception and mood 🌀 – it usually has a high THC content.

In contrast, CBD hashish is mainly based on CBD and contains only trace amounts of THC (up to 0.2%), so it is not psychoactive.

How does charas affect the human body?

Charas can affect everyone differently – it depends on sensitivity, experience, weight, current physical and mental mood 😊 and method of use, similar to other cannabis products.

The product itself is also important – the resulting effect depends mainly on the ratio of CBD, THC and other substances. For example, CBD charas usually induces relaxation, chill and a feeling of physical well-being without a significant "high" effect, because the THC content is only traceable (up to 0.2%).

⚠️ Even so, always check the composition, because it is the cannabinoid content that can best tell you how charas works. For some, it will be a bull's eye 🎯, for others, it will not be the right vibe ❌.

Charas products

Our range includes CBD hash from the brands Euphoria and Eighty8 with 40% CBD content and less than 0.2% THC.

CBD hash is a concentrated resin product with a high content of cannabidiol (CBD) – a non-psychoactive substance from cannabis 🌿. People often seek it out as part of their well-being: to calm down, chill out, relieve anxiety or improve sleep quality 😴.

📌 Tip: Concentrates are also suitable for vaporisation – find out the difference between budder, shatter and crumble.

Conclusion: hashish with a story

Charas is a specific form of hashish. It is dark brown to black in colour and has a typically soft consistency. 

It is still produced in the traditional way – by hand-rubbing the resin from fresh cannabis, and it is this old-school process that gives it its typical vibe 🌿. 

Sources:

• https://www.budsforbuddies.com/a/cbd-vs-hhc-hashish-what-is-it-how-is-it-made-and-how-does-it-work
• https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1896/ct/ct8966900539
• https://mood.com/blog/what-is-charas
• https://www.puffco.com/blogs/cannabis-knowledge-base/charas

Author: Lucie Schmidtová

Photo: AI

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