What is Cannabis Tea?
Weed tea can be a nice alternative to smoking cannabis or eating edibles. It is especially suitable in the wintertime when flu season seems to kick us down and all we feel like doing is staying indoors with a warm cup of tea.
If you already drink tea, why not make it cannabis-infused? It is not only used among those with chronic illnesses, but those who seek relief from stress and anxiety as well. It is well known that marijuana can elevate the mood by interacting with the cannabinoids in the brain, much like dark chocolate does.
There are a few different ways to determine the potency of your cannabis tea. Naturally, using cannabis leaves steeped in your tea will produce the mildest effects, while simmering the buds will give you a much stronger brew.
If you are seeking an even stronger concoction, you can first decarboxylate your buds by placing them on a tray and baking them slow and low. You can refer to our previous article on how to make edibles to find out more on decarbing you buds.
There is no right or wrong way to make cannabis tea, you simply need an open mind and a taste for experimentation. With these two things, the possibilities are endless. And why stop with tea? You can also infuse your coffee or add some ice and honey to make iced-tea.
Chai spice simmered in milk and weed leaves will give you a special chai treat and a cinnamon stick will give it that extra kick. Your cannabis tea infusions have no limits. So get exploring!
Aside from the gentle euphoric feeling that is felt in the body, weed tea can offer many other benefits including;
- Relief of nausea (great for morning sickness)
- Relief from indigestion (hot water eases constipation)
- Elevated mood (stress & anxiety)
- Alternative to smoking cannabis when that may not be an option
When seeking stress relief, we recommend making a weaker tea by using pot leaves rather than the cannabis flowers. This will give you a more subtle effect in the body, known as a ‘body high’, similar to that of smoking a pure indica strain. It can also aid in easing an overactive mind where anxiety stems from. Check out our cannabis strain comparison article for the different benefits & effects you can expect from using sativa, indica, or hybrid cannabis strains in your weed tea.
If you have chronic pain or any pain at all, we suggest making a stronger tea and using decarbed buds mixed with a carrier oil. We have covered this below.
For everything in between, or simply just to relax and fall asleep, using regular buds will suffice.
The long-lasting results similar to that of edibles is an attractive 4-8 hours. This appeals to those with chronic illnesses because frequent dosing isn’t necessary when taking weed edibles or drinking cannabis tea.
Just remember that it can take between 30-90 mins before the effects are felt. For those with more body mass and/or slower metabolism, it can take up to 2 hours.
How to make cannabis tea
Before making your cannabis-infused tea, think about what flavours you’d like to have compliment it. You can use your favourite tea bags, tea leaves & infusions, you can add milk and honey, or sugar and cream. If you want to strengthen the effects, or avoid using cannabis strains or leaves, you can simply add THC infused honey oil to your tea. You can get fancy and simmer an orange rind or cinnamon stick in boiling water. Looking for a bullet-proof option? Consider adding some organic THC coconut oil as a cream or milk replacement.
Chocolate is another complimentary ingredient that goes well with cannabis, not just flavour wise but medicinally wise. The antioxidants from dark chocolate offer a powerful tonic when mixed with the mood enhancing properties of cannabis.
Below, we share a basic cannabis tea recipe that we’ve left as a blank canvas for you to paint however you would like. This recipe is made with decarboxylated marijuana and will produce a very potent brew.
Ingredients & materials
- a few cannabis buds, a baking tray, parchment paper, a pot of hot water, tea bag or loose leaf tea, butter or coconut oil, strainer
Method
- Spread your cannabis on a parchment-lined baking tray and bake at 240 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. You can bake a large batch to use in your tea all week.
- Bring the pot of water to a light boil and add a teaspoon of butter, coconut oil or cannabutter
- Add a few buds to the boiling water mixture. Simmer on low for 15 minutes
- Turn off the heat and add your choice of tea. Steep for another 3 minutes
- Strain and enjoy your homemade cannabis tea
With this basic recipe, you can dress it up however you like. In place of regular butter, some folks like to use cannabutter which you can make yourself. Visit our previous article on how to make cannabutter.
Another effective way to activate the THC in your flower is to coat the decarboxylated nugs with butter or coconut oil and place them in a tea ball with your loose leaf tea. Simmer the tea ball for 15 minutes and enjoy without straining.
When simmering the tea ball in milk instead of water, you can make weed milk which can then be mixed into any drink you like. Add your choice of sweetener to taste and share it with a loved one on a cold morning.
If you are new to cannabis or even just new to ingesting it, the suggestive serving size is ½ a cup of tea to start. You can always work your way up from there. Remember that it has to go through the digestive system first before the effects are felt, so allow room for this before drinking more.
This is another good reason to drink it with a fat soluble substance such as butter. The fat from the butter helps to absorb the THC and the hot water allows for smooth digestion.
If you wish to make a less potent tea than the one above, take some weed leaves and simmer them for 15 minutes in a mixture of water and your choice of butter or coconut oil. Then add your tea bag, loose tea or anything else your heart desires. Strain and sip away. It’s that simple.
If you prefer coffee and would like to experiment with a weed infusion, you can make a ‘bullet proof’ coffee by making and adding cannabutter. Simply blend your coffee with a teaspoon of cannabutter, some sweetener and milk of your choice and enjoy a frothy morning treat with a twist.
Blending your cannabis tea with different flavours is a way of celebrating the versatility of the marijuana plant. When you mix it with chai, chocolate or citrus you suddenly have an excuse to serve your loved ones with a cup of something wholesome. Buy all the marijuana ingredients you need from Online Dispensary Canada and start your brewing today.