How far back does dry-cured cannabis actually go?

Breeder's Lab
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So in areas where cannabis has been endemic for a long time were there any cultures or areas that dry-cured cannabis the way we do today or is that a modern western invention?

The more I’ve learned about cannabis the more I’ve learned about the various processing techniques around the world.

In Afghanistan they dry the plant, sift the resin and work it into charas.

In Himalayan India and Nepal they rub the resin off the plant into charas and age it.

In Pakistan they dry the plant, sift the resin and stitch it into a goat’s stomach to age and cure.

In Lebanon and Morocco they dry the plant, sift the resin, press it into bricks of hash and allow the bricks to age and cure.

Then in Ganja producing regions they also process the product.

In Nepal they harvest the flowers, stuff them in bamboo, seal the ends with honey and allow the weed to ferment on a roof in the sun.

In Malawi they harvest the flowers, wrap them in corn husks and allow them to ferment in a thatched roof.

In SE Asia they compress the weed onto a stick and allow it to ferment in the humid jungle.

In Mexico they press the weed into bricks and bury it to ferment underground.

These days outside of hash production, dry-cure is seen as the only way, the be all and end all and outside small communities such as Tangwena’s legendary cobbing thread on IC Mag, the suggestion that weed should be fermented instead of dry-cured is considered laughable.

What this has led me to wonder is, did any OG cannabis producing regions dry-cure their weed or is it essentially an American invention?

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There is ongoing discussion in the Masisi thread and another related to black African magic. Many other threads detailing all of the things you mentioned.

I would say that it is going to come down to environmental conditions.

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There are still guys doing traditional cob ferments.

But probably as long as they had glass jars.

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I feel like most people are fermenting in jars when they think they’re “curing” too, Not really getting the needed air exchange. I also think curing is an “on the vine” process.

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Curing is when respiration is still happening with adequate moisture by keeping enzymatic action still happening after plants are harvested. It’s why tobacco when being cured is wetted, it’s why cobs or other fermented styles are wetted or have dew allowed to collect in the surface when curing. Once enzymatic action stops, it’s dried and curing can no longer happen. When flowers in jars can still be burped, they are curing. When the moisture levels drop enough so that enzymatic respiration action is halted, curing is effectively stopped.

Many traditional marijuana producing regions, even those who specialize in hash dry and cure their harvest over a year before sieving. Ganja has been dried for hundreds if not thousands of years. Can’t smoke weed if it’s too wet, and I think the best hash comes from dried and aged flowers which corresponds to techniques I’ve read about as referenced above with respect to sieving after a year or longer post harvest. Only hand rubbed stuff seems to be done on live wet living plants. Even during the process of making hash, water (and heat) is often added at various points in the process to create the ideal product.

The Indian Hemp Commission Report from the late 1800’s details many harvesting techniques and styles, many of which include drying. Many blessings and much love

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