Cooking the Hashish Cookbook

A cult 1960s cannabis recipe book resurfaces—and commenters are side-eyeing the tiny preview

TLDR: The big news is that *The Hashish Cookbook*, a 1966 underground cannabis recipe book, is getting attention again as a colorful relic of sixties culture. But commenters were more fired up about the disappointing three-page preview, with one offering a library workaround and another turning the site’s slogan into an internet-worthy motto.

A groovy little piece of counterculture history just floated back into view: The Hashish Cookbook, first published in 1966 by artist and designer Panama Rose and put out by Ira Cohen in Morocco before becoming an underground hit in the United States. The book is packed with old-school cannabis recipes from around the world—think Tangier sweets, Indian bhang, and even Hash Fudge from Brion Gysin. On paper, it sounds like a deliciously chaotic time capsule from the wild, hazy sixties.

But in the comments, the real buzz wasn’t just about the book—it was about the frustration of trying to actually see it. One reader came in with a brutal buzzkill, calling the site “quite underwhelming” and complaining that it only showed three pages plus a link to Instagram. Ouch. Their hot tip? Skip the tease and go straight to Internet Archive, where you can actually borrow a copy and admire the artwork and recipes properly. That instantly turned the vibe from “far out treasure” to “why is this site making me work for it?”

Then came the unexpectedly wholesome side plot: another commenter got distracted by the author’s blog tagline—“Not building a wall but making a brick”—and said it sounded perfect for open-source software developers. So yes, the thread somehow went from psychedelic snacks to a life motto. Classic internet energy: one person wants the full book, another steals the slogan, and everyone else is left wondering whether the real recipe here is equal parts nostalgia, scarcity, and mild annoyance.

Key Points

  • *The Hashish Cookbook* was first published in 1966 by Ira Cohen.
  • Panama Rose, also known as Rosalind Schwartz, arranged and designed the entire cookbook.
  • Ira Cohen published the first edition in Morocco while he was in a relationship with Panama Rose.
  • A year later, Gnaoua Press published the book in the USA, where it became an underground bestseller.
  • The cookbook features international recipes including Tangier’s Majoon and White Cooky, India’s Ghee and Bhang, Andalusian candy, and Brion Gysin’s Hash Fudge.

Hottest takes

“quite underwhelming” — x______________
“shows but 3 pages of the book and a link to an instagram account” — x______________
“Not building a wall but making a brick” — neomantra
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