Don’t know if it’s the stuff you’re thinking of, but due to a large combination of droughts in afganistan and surrounding regions the ground in hash making lands became more aride, and the grounds nutrients changed heavily. This is usually what people mean when they say modern hash isn’t anything like it was before. It’s because, sadly, it isn’t.
That tends to be more black/dark brown though. Brownish hashed tend to be morrocan or isreali
Personally, I’ll put some herb in the hole. Not ground up just pull a small bit off, squeeze it a bit, stuff it on.
Smoking hash is an art of course. If it’s too good you’ll never be able to light it properly. Best way I’ve done it is to let the fire stay just above (using hemp rope, not a butane lighter, for the taste) while slowly inhaling careful not to let the flame touch. This bleeds out some of the oil into the herb beneath it so the hash itself can light. With that method though I will grind some herb up to add on top of the plug so it absorbs a bit better. If you have a piece with a choke only cover it a bit.