Hash terminology mixes process names, shapes and quality claims. Bubble hash describes separation with cold water and screens. A temple ball describes a consolidated form. Full melt describes claimed melt behavior. A product can carry more than one of those labels without contradiction.
Keeping those layers separate makes the vocabulary useful instead of turning it into a prestige ladder.
How the material was separated
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bubble hash / ice-water hash | Resin-gland material separated using cold water, agitation and filtration, then dried |
| Dry sift | Resin-gland material separated by dry screening and, in some products, further refinement |
| Kief | A broad term for loose resin-gland material; the amount of other plant material can vary |
| Hash rosin | Rosin produced by pressing hash; a different finished product from the hash input |
Lowtemp's format overview covers those mechanical distinctions. A process name tells you how the material was separated. The finished batch still needs its own description.
Form and grade
A temple ball is a rounded, consolidated piece of hash. The shape doesn't verify its geography, age or ingredients. A slab is likewise a form, not a grade.
Full melt describes hash that melts readily with very little solid residue under suitable conditions. Six star commonly names the upper end of an informal melt-rating scale. Neither is an independent laboratory certificate.
Microns describe mesh dimensions or fractions. Stars describe an assessment. Those are different kinds of information, and the grading guide explains why a smaller number on a bag can't guarantee more stars.
History and source deserve actual names
Regional names and traditional forms can carry meaningful history, but a label shouldn't invent a place of origin. Ask who made the product and what material went into it. A California-made product inspired by a tradition can say exactly that.
Frenchy Cannoli's biography is one introduction to the connection between traditional knowledge, teaching and contemporary California hash. It's a story about people and craft, not a certification for every product using similar language.
What the glossary can't tell you
Knowing the terms won't tell you the condition of a particular jar. You still need batch information, the producer's intended use and storage directions. If a product is being recommended for a device, check compatibility instead of assuming every hash behaves like rosin.
For the rest of a dispensary menu, the rosin glossary covers finishes and source claims.