Cannabis Tea: How to Make It and 5 Marijuana Tea Recipes

Cannabis tea is beginning to make a splash in kitchens across the country, as people become aware of how pleasant these drinks can be. The scrummy benefits of edibles have been around for a while, popularized with cannabis cooking shows and recipe cookbooks. But cannabis teas can stand up just as well in terms of flavor, aromas and of course, mind-expanding effects. Read on for a glimpse into the world of cannabis tea, and try out a few of these recipes for yourself.  

Why Drink Your Cannabis?   

Cannabis drinks are becoming more popular by the day. One report found the weed bevvy market to be booming, projecting the global market to reach USD 2.8 billion by 2025. With legalization in many states, it’s easier than ever to find weed drinks of all kinds – coffee, cocktails, kombucha, oh my! – which can be infused with cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or both. 

Cannabis tea is a method of consuming cannabis that is effective, inexpensive, pleasant, and easy to do in the comfort of your own home. 

What Are The Benefits Of Cannabis-infused Tea?   

One of the more obvious benefits to drinking cannabis tea is that it doesn’t involve any of the inhalation required of joint smoking, vaping and so on. Drinking tea is much easier on the throat, and is ideal for folks suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma. Drinking cannabis tea also enables people to avoid inhaling the chemicals used in certain vape products which may have negative health consequences. 

Yet the benefits of cannabis tea extend far beyond this. There are many reported health benefits associated with cannabis products containing CBD, including resolving symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, depression, migraines and inflammation. THC can be helpful in suppressing nausea and vomiting, particularly in regards to chemotherapy treatment. It’s also been linked to helping increase appetite. 

As with other marijuana edibles, cannabis tea provides a much longer high than when consumed via inhalation. This can be desirable, particularly for those who are consuming cannabis for medical or wellness purposes. 

Does Cannabis Tea Get You High?       

There are two primary conditions that must be met in order for cannabis tea to get you high. First, you must be using a strain of cannabis sativa that contains THC, the cannabinoid primarily responsible for psychoactive effects. Industrial hemp, for example, will not get you high when used in a tea, nor will leaves or flowers from a strain of cannabis that has only trace amounts of THC. 

Second, even when using a THC-heavy strain of cannabis, in order to achieve psychoactive effects the bud must first be decarboxylated. This is a process whereby marijuana is slowly heated up at a low temperature, without being burned. This heating process is what transforms the cannabinoid THCA, which will not get you high, into the THC we know and love. 

How To Calculate The Potency Of Marijuana Tea    

As with all marijuana products, calculating the precise potency of cannabis tea can be tricky. Concentrations vary based on the strain of cannabis, as well as the individual plant, each of which produces naturally-occurring variations in concentrations of THC. 

There are other factors that can affect the potency of your cannabis tea. As with regular teas, the longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be. Also, when making tea, you can use either the leaves or flowers of the plant. Leaves will have less THC content than flowers. 

How Long Does Weed Tea Take To Kick In?       

The effects of cannabis tea take a longer period of time to kick in than methods like smoking, due to the fact that the cannabinoids must be digested and absorbed by the bodys’ digestive tract. Digestion times vary between people, based on multiple factors including body weight, the speed of metabolism, and hydration level. Generally, you can expect to begin feeling the effects anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after consuming the first sip, with effects lasting anywhere between four to eight hours. It’s wise to wait until you feel the effects before consuming any more than your initial dose.

5 Cannabis Tea Recipes   

Below are five cannabis teas to try out. A commonality between these recipes is the necessary step of adding a fatty substance such as butter to your tea. While this might seem strange, it is important not to skip this step because THC is not water soluble. Combining with a fatty substance separates the THC from the plant, and allows you to digest it. 

And remember: to get high from the recipes below that use flowers, you must first decarboxylate your bud in order to convert THCA into psychoactive THC.

1. Simple Marijuana Tea   

Simple marijuana tea can be made in any flavor you wish, by adding another tea bag during the last three minutes of simmering. This recipe makes two cups of tea; for one cup, simply halve all ingredients.  

Ingredients

1 gram of dried cannabis flowers

1 teaspoon of butter

3 cups water

Sweetener of choice (brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or stevia all work well)

Instructions

1. Grind the cannabis flowers. This can be done using a regular grinder, a mortar and pestle, or a knife. Be sure not to grind too finely. Final form should be the same consistency as when rolling a joint; avoid powdering the buds. 
2. In a bowl, combine the weed with the butter, ensuring the plant matter receives an even coating. 
3. Pack weed mixture into a steeping vessel. This can be a metal tea ball, or an emptied-out tea bag. 
4. Place steeping vessel into simmering water. Ensure the water does not come to a boil. Simmer for around 30 minutes. 
5. Remove from heat and pour into cups. 
6. Stir chosen sweetener, and enjoy!

2. Cannabis-infused Chai   

This cannabis-infused chai recipe will make a whole batch that you can store in the refrigerator for a week. The whole spices add richer flavors and many nutritious benefits to this marijuana tea experience. Also note that the fat component of this recipe comes from the coconut milk instead of butter or oil; be sure to purchase full-fat for best results. 

Ingredients

Spices: 

8 whole black peppercorns

4 inch piece of cinnamon stick

2 allspice berries

1 whole star anise

15 whole cardamom pods

6 cloves

Other ingredients: 

2 tablespoons of loose-leaf black tea of your choice (Earl Grey, Ceylon, etc.)

2 cans full-fat coconut milk

3 teaspoons brown sugar

1 inch piece of sliced fresh ginger

⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons cannabis flower

Instructions

1. Preheat a water bath to 185 degrees fahrenheit. A water bath can be done in a pot, crock pot or instant pot. If possible, check the water temperature with a thermometer. 
2. Warm a pan over medium heat. Add the cardamom pods and toast for around 3 minutes, keeping the pan moving to prevent the pods from burning.
3. Next, add the whole black peppercorns for an additional 3 minutes.
4. Add the rest of the spices, cooking for two minutes and continuing to stir. The spices should be getting fragrant by this point. Switch off the heat. 
5. In a sterilized glass jar with a lid that can provide a good seal, place the brown sugar, loose-leaf tea, cannabis flower, ginger, and vanilla extract. Then pour in the two cans of coconut milk.
6. Add the spices into the coconut milk, stirring to combine. 
7. Seal the jar and gently place into warmed water bath. Cook for 2 hours.
8. Strain the mixture using a wire mesh strainer or cheesecloth. 
9. Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon and enjoy!

3. Weed Tea With Rose And Chamomile   

This tea is perfect for those insomniacs out there looking for a little help in getting some shut-eye. The chamomile and cannabis combine to make a supremely relaxing and dreamy experience.

Ingredients

½ gram of cannabis 

2 tablespoons of loose chamomile, or one bag of chamomile tea

¼ cup of dried rose buds

1 cup of milk (note: if going dairy-free, use coconut milk or any other full-fat dairy alternative)

Sweetener of choice (honey recommended)

Instructions

1. Bring the milk to a simmer.
2. Add the cannabis, chamomile and dried rose buds
3. Simmer gently for around 30 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t go to a boil. 
4. Allow to cool slightly and pour into a cup. Add sweetener, enjoy, and goodnight! 

4. Marijuana Golden Milk With Medicated Coconut Oil   

This marijuana golden milk latte with medicated coconut oil is another perfect way to enjoy some relaxation anytime during the day, or before bed to help bring on the z’s. This quick, 10 minute recipe calls for weed-infused coconut oil, which you can make on your own, or purchase from a location near you. 

Ingredients

Spices: 

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1 pinch of fresh ground pepper

Other ingredients: 

1 cup milk (or any non-dairy alternative you wish)

2 tablespoons medicated coconut oil

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot.
2. Bring pot to a low simmer, over medium-low heat, for about 5 minutes. Ensure the mixture does not come to a boil. Whisk continually to ensure nothing sticks to the bottom. 
3. Switch off heat and season with additional sweeteners to taste. 
4. Pour into cups and enjoy!

5. Cannabis Iced Tea

This summery recipe includes fresh strawberries, but you can also swap these for other types of berries as is your preference. You can also leave plain and sweeten with simple syrup, honey or maple syrup. Makes about a gallon, so it’s perfect for sharing at a picnic with friends. 

Ingredients

2 eighths of dried cannabis flower

6 teabags of your choice of tea (we recommend caffeinated)

1 basket of strawberries

1 gallon of cold water

1 lemon for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare your ingredients: grind your bud and slice the strawberries. 
2. Place the cannabis and teabags into a large heavy-bottomed pot and cover with water. 
3. Bring pot to a simmer, and keep on a low to medium temperature for about 15 minutes, or longer. Remember, the longer you steep, the stronger it will be. 
4. Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine-mesh metal strainer. 
5. Add the sliced strawberries when the tea is still warm, and allow to cool. 
6. Pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon. 

Conclusion       

Teatime has become elevated thanks to the infusion of cannabis. As a perky pick-me-up or a nice wind down at the end of the day, cannabis tea is something you can enjoy time and again. And with a multitude of recipes to try, and a host of potential health benefits from cannabis and herbal teas, there’s no reason to limit yourself to exploring as many cannabis tea recipes as you like. Bottoms up!

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