Nasha Keeps Hashish Traditions Alive In Humboldt

I first discovered Nasha's pressed bubble hash in 2020 on a ski trip in Lake Tahoe (shout out to Winter Greens!). The oily, coffee-colored ball of OG Blood Diamond hashish came in a blue-labeled box, indicating the company's highest available melt grade at the time. All I had to smoke it with was a one-hitter and some joints that I sprinkled it into, but from the rich minerality and palate-staining gassiness I intuitively knew I was tasting Forever Honeydew Farms' unique Humboldt County terroir. Having always heard growing up that the best cannabis on earth comes from the Emerald Triangle region of NorCal, and Humboldt in particular, I finally got to experience it firsthand in the form of that temple ball. Now, no trip back to the Golden State is complete without a few grams of Nasha hash.

Nothing like some good OG

Classic for a reason

The brand's Red Label hash is still plenty bubbly, but leaves more residue than the Blue (though a bit less guilt about throwing into some flower). These two grams, Grape Pancakes and Bacio Mintz, came from Happy Dreams Genetics' Shively-based dry farm on the banks of the Eel River. Both had an undertone of that classic "hashy" taste, deeply herbal and slightly metallic, but stacked with distinct floral, minty, and funky notes, each an expression of what the late Frenchy Cannoli would call "ze land and ze geneteek". Nasha's choice to process material exclusively from local and sustainable Humboldt County farms is good for the environment, the farmer, and the consumer who gets to enjoy all-natural, sun-grown resin in a format that transcends generations. Dad did it with a hot knife, grandpa with a thumbtack under a glass, and now we can smoke old-school hash in some heady boro that matches the contemporary refinement of ancient techniques.

Like a fine natural wine, some sediment is to be expected, not feared

Layers of pressed resin heads

Sweet bubblin' crude

Enter Rosin

By 2022, Nasha had added rosin SKUs to its repertoire, which I of course had to try after savoring these choice pellets of traditional hash. I grabbed the three varieties available from local retailer Ashe Society and discovered substantial textural degradation, with production dates 4-6 months prior to the grams winding up in my hands. Whether due to processing techniques, storage methods, or both, I knew these rosins were not quite as representative of the farmers' efforts as they could have been. Still, for what they lacked in freshness, these solventless concentrates made up for in full-bodied potency.

Frozen bubbles of funk

The savory GMO funk was strong with this Modified Grape from DEM Pure-certified Alpenglow Farms, even if the grapes had left the building some time ago. What was once clearly a sappy gram of fresh press had fully buddered, making it a great candidate for badder tech. Pungent and a little cheesy, the power of regenerative inputs and the full-spectrum rays of the sun came through to create a weighty, dazed high.

All about body positivity, especially when it comes to dabs

Next was the Fatso from Whitethorn Valley, another regenerative farm located along Humboldt's Lost Coast. The marbling that had occurred as the rosin oxidized created an impression of a wave-smoothed stone on the beach, ideal for skipping on the water. This GMO cross brought more shroomy umami flavor, with an added bit of astringent chem from its Legend OG parent, and was useful for taking back and shoulder tension down a few notches.

Budder late than never

The third flavor in my mini-haul was Clear Water Farms' Strawnana, apparently a budder to begin with, though its consistency was nearly identical to the very first gram of Blue Label hash I had tried a couple years prior. The smooth bubblegum sweetness was still very much intact, offering a taste of Mattole Valley's sun-splashed native soil. Waking and baking with a dab of this rosin was like donning an aura of light that was impenetrable to the day's tribulations.

A welcome addition

Visiting California once again this January, I was thrilled to see a new addition to Nasha's product line: pressed live hash. It was the perfect pairing of the brand's tried-and-true tech with the vibrant terpiness of live-washed material, and arguably the truest presentation yet of resin at peak maturity. Thankfully, there was no question about these Onyx Label grams being handled and stored properly, as I got to hand pick them from the dispensary fridge.

Cherry nice to meet you!

Hashy's Comet

A peak in the valley

Obligatory booty shot

The Cherry Valley Glow from Alpenglow was the standout flavor of this bunch, with beautifully congealed, shiny resin that behaved like fresh press rosin. Notes of tart cherry limeade, grass clippings, and dark berry came through loud and clear. The Nasha name is a Sanskrit word meaning "the state of transformed consciousness, exhilaration or excitement of the mind", and this cultivar embodied that feeling more than any other so far. If I can count on the DEM Pure family for one thing, it's uniquely intense terpene profiles, and this gram is no exception.

Get wavy with G-MOB

Welcome to planet Hash

Partial eclipse

Go ahead, take a bite

Sticking to reliable and familiar territory, this coin of G-MOB from Mattole Valley Sungrown packed a raunchy breath of garlic gas backed with dark-roasted coffee and just a hint of sweet pine. Ideal for unwinding at the end of the day and embracing the natural isolation in Topanga Canyon, the pressed hash resembled the planet Jupiter and had the consistency of clumped brown sugar. Call it placebo effect if you want, but something about regeneratively-grown resin just hits so clean and feels so wholesome in the body.

Last but certainly not least

Clean scoops

Officially a Bandwagon fan

Like dulce de leche

The last stop on my terp travels was Bandwagon Farms in Three Creeks, by way of this caramel-like Coup D'Etat hash. A cross of noted Hashwriter favorite THC bomb and Governmint Oasis, its woodsy musk and buoyant euphoria had my fist in the air, shouting "viva la resin-lution!" Compared to the other Onyx label grams, this one was the easiest to handle, with a creamy give when scooping a hit.

Can't wait to be back for more! Let us know in the comments which Nasha products have been your favorites to try.