Introduction
Charas or hashish has a rich and varied history that stretches across time, space, and cultural and religious boundaries. Its popularity as a therapeutic, spiritual, and recreational tool has skyrocketed over the centuries since its first documented use. This article will guide you through the origins of the various names and explain why only Malana Cream is referred to as crème.
Historical Use
Historically, cannabis plants have been used as early as 8000 BC. From the Eastern corners of Japan to the deserts of Egypt, it was cultivated and used throughout Asia and the Middle East. Most people in the modern world know ganja for its inhibiting properties. In the old world, it was widely used not just for its psychoactive properties but also for its medicinal and industrial benefits(hemp ropes).
Chinese doctors recommend it for malaria, constipation, rheumatic pains, and as a surgical pain reliever. In India and Africa, it was used to cure dysentery, stimulate appetite, improve digestion, and cure fevers. You can read more about its medicinal history here. Growing them in different parts of the world created many landraces, each unique with their own features. But they would always be referred to by a single name: hashish and ganja or charas becoming the more popular names. The naming of various strains of hashish can be traced back to the heyday of the Hippie Trail in the 1960s.
Hippie Trail
Traveling by an overland route from Europe to South Asia, the Hippie Trail became a popular form of travel with the Westerners. The trip gave the hippies a chance to explore the world with minimal expense. At the same time, as the route covered many important hash making countries such as Morocco, Iran, Thailand, India, and Nepal, it allowed them to explore their unique cannabis cultures. Hashish was a widely used drug among hippies, and different strains of the drug were given unique names based on their characteristics and the cultures from which they originated.
Lebanon
The hippies began their journey in France and used hitchhiking and low-cost bus services that traveled the route to get from one place to another. Depending on their route, they could have stopped in Tehran or Lebanon: Tehran for its famed opium and Lebanon for its charas. Hashish from the famed Baalbek Valley in Lebanon was the first strain they encountered. In this area, cannabis plants are dried out in the field before being rubbed over a fine silk cloth. After this drying process, the hashish turns a yellowish-red color, earning it the name "Red Lebanese" or "Lebanese blonde."
The Hindu-Kush
Next came the Hindu Kush mountain region. The Indicas grown in this area are known for being small and bushy, with lots of trichomes. Once again, the same method of collection was followed here. Fresh hashish is pressed by hand with a touch of tea or water and passed through a silk cloth. Since it contained a lot of water, locals began referring to it as "Milk of Mazar" or "Shirak—Mazar" in Pashto. After sieving, the plant material was sealed within dead goat skins and buried 3 to 4 feet deep in the soil for curing.
The Hindustan Religious Angle
When the hippies finally arrived in India and Nepal, they found a very different cultural perspective on charas use. Kashmir and Teesa Valley in the Chamba district of Himachal are two examples of Muslim-dominated regions in India where sieved hash was and is commonly used. Since the Hindus and Nepalis considered the plant to be religious, hand rubbing remains the standard method of charas production.
As the name suggests, here, the resin is collected by gently rubbing the buds until a dark layer is collected on your palms. Veteran farmers will tell you that the early morning hours are the perfect time to rub in the 'Pahad'. Each village can have its own methods of collection and curing. Along with the varying altitudes, these factors play an important role in deciding the quality and taste of the hash. Among the hash-producing villages in Parvati Valley, the fame of Malana has stood the test of time.
Is it really THE Cream?
In handrubbing, quality is determined by three key factors:
Location/Genetics
As Himachal has developed and got more connected in terms of roadways/logistics, the illegal farmlands of Malana has gone into hiding. To reach them, one has to trek through the deep meadows along the Malana Nal for days. These prized possessions are owned by generational farmers, who have worked with the Europeans (aka Russian Mafia) for decades in this illegal business. Protection is ensured through armed security and well-paid bribes. These high-altitude locations, along with powerful genetics, create the perfect canvas for Mother Nature to create her magic.
First-rub/Second-rub/etc
When the plant is being rubbed for the first time, it is known as first-rub. This ensures the buds that are being harvested give out the creamiest resin with the least plant material. Second rub/third rubs are usually reserved to be sent to Indian cities, while a majority of the first rub will be exported directly.
Experience of the worker
The creaminess is determined by the amount of plant material that gets collected along with the resin. Lesser plant material makes the resin more softer and smoother. But all this is determined by the experience and patience of the worker harvesting it. For the hash to be considered Creme standard, a well-experienced worker can take 4-6 hours or more to collect less than 0.5g. This alone can give you an idea of how expensive the top tier Cream from Malana can cost.
Final Thoughts
Over the years, we have created and come across many new hybrids that some say are superior to landraces. We have found new hash-making techniques that are more efficient in extraction. But Malana Cream continues to thrive and is sold at a premium in all smokehouses around the world. The Cream will always come from only Parvati Valley and, subsequently Malana, thanks to its hardworking villagers and its magical atmosphere.