Have you tried the most ancient way of consuming cannabis? Cannabis tea is easy to prepare and accessible to everyone. What is simpler than boiling water and steeping tea? Prepared correctly, Cannabis Tea can deliver the same benefits as smoking, but without having to burn your lungs. In this post we visit the original Cannabis preparation.
Why we Love Cannabis Tea
In its essence, it is the simplest recipe there is. We love cannabis tea not only because of its simplicity, but also because it is a good way to get introduced to cannabis and its effects. It is easy to dose and it engages the senses with beautiful aromas and flavors.
Since it’s a whole bud preparation, you get to experience what is known as The Entourage Effect. This effect refers to the additional benefits you get from consuming the whole plant, versus consuming processed extracts. The combination of cannabinoids, active compounds, and terpenes are thought to provide benefits greater than the sum of its parts.
Cannabis tea is also a great way to get to know different strains; it’s all about flavors and aromas of the plant. If you’re not sure what to try the Strain Finder is a great resource that is continuously updated by our Bud Connoiseur JJ Smoak.
What is Cannabis Tea
Cannabis Tea is an aromatic full spectrum beverage made by boiling Cannabis leaves in water. Some recipes combine aromatic herbs and spices with a sweetener, like honey. This drink recipe has been around for thousands of years as medicine and as a healing beverage.
Technically Cannabis Tea is really a Cannabis Infusion, as tea refers to green tea, the camellia sinensis plant. You can also make a decoction, which is a stronger brew made by boiling cannabis in water for an extended period. Below you’ll find our recipe on how to make the best cannabis tea.
Origins of Cannabis Tea
The origins of cannabis tea run deep as this plant has been cultivated for thousands of years. I dug around searching for the origins of Cannabis Tea and found that every website mentions the same TIME article.
This article claims Emperor Shen Neng (Shennong) of China as the creator of marijuana tea and dates it back to the year 2737 B.C. For context, Shennong is the mythical first emperor of Ancient China famous for inventing agriculture, tea, medicine, the hoe, the axe, wells, irrigation, money, the calendar, and much more.
Mentions of cannabis tea appear all around the world, according to this UN Report on Cannabis. Cannabis tea appears on ancient Egyptian papyruses, in Indian medical literature, and folk medicine across Africa, America, Central Europe, and The Middle East. The preparation was generally used as an antiseptic or antibiotic, but today we know much more about the benefits of cannabis. We also know how to properly extract THC and CBD for the full effect.
Needless to say, Cannabis tea has been around across the globe for thousands of years and its endless uses back up its fame.
CANNABIS TEA RECIPE
| Prep Time 25-30 minutes for decarboxylation | Cook Time 15 minutes | Total Time 40-45 minutes | Serves 1-2 servings | Calories 1 per serving |
Cannabis Tea Ingredients
- Cannabis Bud
- Water
- Sweetener or milk of your choice (optional)
Buttercream Instructions
- Decarboxylate your bud*
- Coarsely Grind your decarboxylated buds and place in a heat proof pot.
- Simmer on low for 15 minutes. You can add spices of your choice to give it more flavor.
- Sweeten with honey or add a splash of your favorite milk.
15 minutes is the magical number, a big thank you to the Italian Ministry of Health who did the science! You can store your tea for a maximum of two days in the fridge, but keeping it any longer will significantly reduce its potency.
NOTES
*While boiling Cannabis leaves in water will get you a healthy tea, if you want the full effect of the CBD and THC you’re going to have to decarboxylate the bud beforehand. It’s simple, you’re going to toast the buds for 25-30 minutes in an oven at 225℉. Check out our Decarboxylate guide for the full instructions.
WORKS CITED
- Pacifici, Roberta et al. “Evaluation of cannabinoids concentration and stability in standardized preparations of cannabis tea and cannabis oil by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.” Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM), De Gruyter, 16 Feb. 2017, https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2016-1060.
- Hazekamp, Arno, et al. “Cannabis tea revisited: A systematic evaluation of the cannabinoid composition of cannabis tea.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 113, no. 1, 2007, pp. 85-90. ScienceDirect, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874107002401?via%3Dihub.
- Stack, Patrick, with Claire Suddath. “A Brief History of Medical Marijuana.” Time, 21 Oct. 2009, https://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html.
- Kabelik, J., Krejci, Z., & Santavy, F. “Cannabis as a medicament.” UNODC Bulletin on Narcotics, vol. 3, 1960, pp. 5-23, https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/bulletin/bulletin_1960-01-01_3_page003.html.
