flower drying

From 1 to 6 stars: How can the hash be rated?

Written by : Benjamin Poirel Nadal

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Playback time 5 min

When you’re buying CBD, you might come across terms like “3 stars,” “5 stars,” or “full melt.” These terms refer to a rating system used to assess the purity of hash based on its ability to melt without leaving any residue.


Things to remember

  • The 1- to 6-star rating system evaluates the quality of the hash's merging.

  • The more trichomes a hash has and the less plant material it contains, the better it melts.

  • The 6-star level, known as “full melt,” sets the standard for purity.


Why is the hash rated using a star system?


A method developed by hash artisans


The star-rating system emerged in artisanal cannabis cultivation in North America before gradually being adopted by European producers specializing in high-end resins.


This system allows you toassess the quality of hash using a concrete, observable criterion. Contrary to popular belief, this rating does not measure the potency of the product, its cannabinoid content, or its flavor profile.


She is interested solely in the way the resin behaves when heated.


Melting as an indicator of purity


Why choose cast iron as a reference? Because plant material doesn’t melt. When exposed to heat, it burns and leaves black or charred residues.


On the contrary, trichomes have a composition rich in lipids, natural waxes, cannabinoids, and terpenes, which allows them to melt gradually.


Plus one CBD hash contains pure trichomes and fewer plant fragments, the better its melting properties will be.


For experts, the quality of the cast iron is therefore an excellent indicator of the purity of the extraction process.

Understanding the Role of Trichomes in the Quality of Hash


What exactly are trichomes?


Trichomes are tiny resin glands found on the surface of hemp flowers. Under a microscope, they look like tiny crystalline heads.

 

It is within these structures that the plant concentrates a large portion of its cannabinoids, terpenes, and numerous aromatic compounds.


Artisans who specialize in resins aim specifically to isolate these trichomes in order to produce hash that is as pure as possible.


Why are contaminants a problem?

Even the best manufacturing methods can result in the presence of small amounts of plant material.. These may include leaf fragments, chlorophyll, fibers, or cell walls from the flowers.


When these elements are present in significant quantities, they reduce the hash's fusion quality.


A significant amount of black residue after heating is generally a sign of higher plant contamination.


That is precisely what the star rating system aims to measure.

Mama Kana oils

How does the 1- to 6-star rating scale work?


1- and 2-star hotels


Resins classified in this category generally contain a significant proportion of plant material. They melt partially but leave a lot of residue after heating.


These products are still safe to consume but are not considered to be the gold standard for purity.


Two-star hashes generally offer better quality than one-star hashes, but contaminants remain clearly visible during melting.


3- and 4-star hotels


Starting at 3 stars, the purification level becomes more impressive.


Techniques for sifting or separating trichomes result in a product containing more resin and less plant material. The extraction process becomes cleaner, and residues gradually decrease.


Four-star hash is often considered a premium resin by many enthusiasts. They offer a good balance between craftsmanship, aromatic richness, and purity.


The 5-Star Hash Tags


At this level, the proportion of trichomes becomes particularly high. The fusion is remarkable and leaves very little residue.


Producers must select high-quality raw materials and have complete mastery of the extraction process to achieve this result.


Five-star hash is generally among the products most sought after by connoisseurs.


6-star hashes or “full melt”


At the top of the classification is the famous “full melt.” The term literally means “complete fusion.”


A true 6-star hash melts almost completely when heated, leaving only a tiny amount of residue.


This level of purity is extremely difficult to achieve. It requires rigorous selection of the flowers, optimal harvesting of the trichomes, and perfect mastery of separation techniques.


That’s why true full-melt wines remain relatively rare.


6-star hashes or “full melt”


Even the best technique in the world cannot make up for poor-quality raw materials. Flowers that are poorly grown, harvested, or stored will inevitably produce inferior-quality resin. The final quality therefore depends as much on the artisan’s expertise as on the quality of the hemp used.

Fresh Frozen and Resin Manufacturing


A highly sought-after raw material


Fresh Frozen is particularly popular for the production of premium resins. Producers use the frozen flowers as raw material to obtain aroma-rich concentrates.


Long associated with certain niche markets, the Fresh Frozen technique is now widely used in the legal cannabis market.


Producers are thus seeking to offer consumers higher-quality Frozen Hash resins and extracts.

Fresh Frozen and Final Product Quality


An aromatic richness that is often superior


Products made from frozen flowers often have aromas that are closer to those of the freshly harvested plant. This characteristic is particularly appealing to those who prefer natural flavors.


Improved preservation of certain compounds


In addition to terpenes, freezing helps slow down certain natural degradation processes that occur over time.


Although each process has its own specific characteristics, the Fresh Frozen method is generally designed to better preserve the flower's original composition.


A premium approach


Implementing this technique requires more organization, equipment, and logistics. This explains why it is generally associated with products positioned in a higher-quality segment.

Fresh-Frozen vs. Traditional Drying: Should the Two Be Pitted Against Each Other?


Two Different Approaches


Traditional drying remains essential in mostFrozen flower production processes. It ensures a stable product suitable for long-term storage.


Fresh Frozen's primary goal is to preserve the plant's maximum freshness for certain specific processing methods.


Each method has its advantages


Traditional drying gradually brings out certain aromas and remains perfectly suited for flowers intended for conventional consumption.


Fresh Frozen really shines when it comes to producing terpene-rich extracts or resins.


Complementarity Rather Than Competition


In practice, the two methods coexist. They addresssimply simply to different needs and both contribute to the evolution of quality standards in the CBD industry.

Benjamin Poirel-Nadal

Article written by Benjamin Poirel-Nadal

Passionate about natural well-being and plants with multiple virtues, I've been exploring the benefits of CBD and its various forms for several years.


My aim? To share with you clear information, honest opinions and practical advice to help you integrate CBD into your daily life with confidence and serenity.