If you follow the hash scene, you’ll have seen the word piatella everywhere lately. This creamy concentrate, born in Italy and perfected in Spain, has become the most sought-after format among extraction enthusiasts. But what exactly is piatella, and how does it differ from traditional bubble hash? We explain.
What is piatella?
Piatella is a cold-cured ice water hash. Its base is top-quality bubble hash (sifted through mesh of between 45 and 120 microns), which is then lightly pressed in vacuum-sealed bags and cured cold for weeks, at fridge temperature. That slow curing is what transforms the texture: the trichomes melt together and the result is a creamy paste, almost like butter, with a far more intense aroma than traditional hash.
The name comes from the Italian piatto (plate), after the flattened shape the block takes inside the bag during curing.
Piatella vs bubble hash vs Iceolator: how they differ
All three start from the same technique: extracting the trichomes with ice and water, solvent-free. The difference lies in what happens next.
- Bubble hash: the base extraction. Trichomes sifted, dried and ready. We walk you through the whole process in our guide what is bubble hash.
- Iceolator: a high-purity bubble hash, sifted through very fine mesh to keep only the trichome heads. You’ll find the details in what is Iceolator.
- Piatella: top-quality Iceolator or bubble hash that goes through vacuum cold curing. It isn’t a different extraction, it’s a different cure: the cold cure preserves the most volatile terpenes and completely changes the texture and aroma.
You could say piatella is to bubble hash what a mature cheese is to milk: the same raw material, transformed by time and conditions.
Why it’s become so popular
Piatella has taken off thanks to a mix of genuine quality and culture: the most respected hash makers on the European scene work with this format, and its creamy texture has become synonymous with a well-made extraction. Because it’s cured cold and under vacuum, it keeps aroma profiles that conventional hash loses within a few weeks. For many enthusiasts, it’s now the benchmark format for judging an extractor’s work.
How to store piatella
The cold that creates it is the same cold that keeps it. Piatella should be kept in the fridge, ideally in its vacuum packaging or in an airtight glass container, away from light. At room temperature it loses its characteristic texture and the terpenes degrade quickly. Stored properly, it keeps its qualities for months.
Is there legal CBD piatella?
Traditional piatella is made from THC cannabis strains, and since THC cannabis isn’t legal in most European countries (each country has its own rules), it only circulates on the unregulated market there. Some European brands have started producing CBD piatella from industrial hemp, although it’s still an uncommon format.
If this kind of concentrate appeals to you, the closest thing you’ll find legally in many European countries is CBD hash made with ice and water: in our shop you’ll find bubble hash and other CBD hash with less than 0.3% THC, made using the same craft techniques. Bear in mind that each country has its own rules, and in some, such as the UK, hemp flower and the hash made from it are controlled even when they’re low in THC.
Frequently asked questions about piatella
What is piatella?
It’s an ice water hash (high-quality bubble hash) that is vacuum-pressed and cold-cured for weeks. The result is a creamy, highly aromatic concentrate, considered one of the highest-quality formats on today’s scene.
Are piatella and bubble hash the same thing?
They start from the same extraction, but they aren’t the same: piatella is bubble hash that has been through vacuum cold curing, which gives it its creamy texture and a more intense aroma profile.
How do you store piatella?
Always cold: in the fridge, vacuum-sealed or in an airtight container, and away from light. At room temperature it loses texture and aroma within a few days.
