Before you heat up your cannabis consumption with your very own weed tea, let’s learn more about cannabis infused tea, how to make cannabis tea and why it’s back to trending again.
From Sea to Sea – The History of Weed Tea
Although cannabis is making a resurgence with the progression of legalization, weed tea is a well-known and world-renowned, ancient medicine. Stemming from some of the oldest civilizations, including areas like China, Egypt and India, cannabis infused tea is nothing new.
In fact, some say both tea and cannabis use originated from emperors of the Chinese civilization. From an accidental occurrence, where a servant didn’t notice a leaf fell into a cup of boiling hot water.
In India, a ‘homebrew’ tea known as Bhang dates back to 1000 B.C. The hot tea combines crushed cannabis buds and leaves, milk, ghee butter, and spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Often mixed with honey and sugar, like normal teas, today.
To add, an old wives tale from Jamaica shows that weed tea, or what they call ‘ganja-tea’, was often given to children by mothers in the country. It was said that this was a normal practice in rural farming areas, to boost children’s health from tough labor they were subjected to on farms.
Although from a time far away, history shows ancient civilizations were not far off from knowing cannabis’ medicinal properties, that we’re re-discovering today. With that said, let’s further discover the benefits from drinking weed tea in the world today. And how cannabis infused tea can help soothe modern day stresses, or aches and pains, too.
Sip on This – The Benefits of Cannabis Tea
Like consuming cannabis in flower, or oil form, cannabis tea provides a plethora of beneficial effects. Many seeking therapeutic effects through cannabis are turning to weed tea, as a more gentle and healthy method of consumption. Especially those sensitive to smoking, or those seeking edible effects in a more soothing, or lower-calorie manner.
Speaking of edibles, the effect onset time of cannabis infused tea is very similar. Meaning, unlike smoking, effects aren’t immediate but build gradually over time. This is why those suffering from chronic pain, chronic conditions, anxiety or depression can benefit from weed tea’s potent and long-lasting effects.
Generally, after finishing your cup of weed infused tea, effects become apparent in 30-90 minutes. And these warm, therapeutic cannabis tea benefits last for 4-8 hours. This is due to the digestive tract absorbing liquid ingredients at a gradual rate.
In addition to the chronic conditions like pain, multiple sclerosis, anxiety or depression that cannabis infused tea can help throughout the day…other effects are achieved through your sip, too. These weed tea benefits include –
- Fights nausea – Nausea is a common condition that can appear intermittently, or chronically with certain conditions or medical treatments. And THC not only shows to reduce symptoms of nausea, but also stimulates appetite, as well. Another positive benefit for those who suffer from a lack of appetite due to medications, or conditions, too. The soothing nature of tea, combined with cannabis can ulta soothe tummy troubles.
- Non-irritable bowels – Along with queasiness, cannabis addresses symptoms of bowel disorders like Crohn’s Disease or IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and even more with weed infused tea. Studies show that cannabis interacts directly with cannabinoid receptors found in the digestive tract. It can reduce muscle spasms, and pain associated with the bowel system. And with cannabis infused tea being absorbed through the digestive tract, weed tea further targets these specific areas of aches and stomach pains.
- Improves lung health – Cannabis, and specifically THC acts as a bronchodilator rather than a bronchoconstrictor. And what does that mean? That cannabis can increase airflow and decrease respiratory resistance. By sipping THC through weed tea versus smoking, this only elevates lung health benefits from the cannabis plant.
- Healthy hearts – Cannabinoids are proving to improve circulation in tissue, and lowering blood pressure, too. As you may know, blocked arteries, and high blood pressure can cause heart issues, specifically heart attacks. But cannabis compounds show to relax the arteries, causing them to widen and open. Smoking cannabis normally heightens the users heart rate initially, but sipping cannabis tea further promotes heart health by avoiding this side-effect.
- Prevents Alzheimer’s – Beta-amyloid proteins are a main cause of Alzheimer’s disease. And recent studies are showing that THC in small doses (like cannabis infused tea) effectively slows the production of beta-amyloid proteins. Cannabis is also neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory in nature, key factors in preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s effects.
Along with the variety of health benefits, and soothing therapeutic effects that cannabis infused tea can provide – it also delivers a conscious cannabis experience in fine-tuning flavors and dosages, too. Now that we know more about how weed tea delivers cannabis therapy, let’s find out how to infuse our own.
How to Make Weed Tea
There are a few basic ways to infuse tea with cannabis. One, involves a method of infusing oil or butter with cannabis, first. Another uses ground cannabis simply steeped in hot water. Lastly, a mild and more repurposed method includes tea infusion with cannabis trim, leaves or stems. Here, we’ll review the most user-friendly recipes for how to make weed tea with these techniques.
How to make weed tea with cannabis butter, coconut oil, MCT oil or vegetable glycerin
Ingredients & Materials
- Cannabis butter, cannabis coconut oil, cannabis MCT oil or cannabis vegetable glycerin.
- Tea bag or loose leaf tea with an infuser
- A pot or kettle
- Water
- Tea add-ins, like milk, cinnamon, honey, etc. (optional)
- Mug & spoon
Recipe
- Start off by putting one teaspoon (or your choice of dose) of cannabis butter or coconut oil, into the mug you’ll use for your weed tea.
- Next, add the tea bag or loose leaf tea infuser into the mug, too.
- Begin boiling water in your pot or kettle.
- Once boiling, pour the water into the mug. Stir the content with your spoon, until dissolved completely.
- Add your desired add-ins, and try until your tea until you’ve reached your desired taste.
- Let your weed tea steep for up to 3 minutes, then remove the tea bag or infuser.
- And enjoy!
How to make weed tea with ground cannabis
Ingredients & Materials
- At least a gram of ground cannabis
- 1 tablespoon of butter (unsalted preferably) or coconut oil
- Tea bag or loose leaf tea with an infuser *see alternate method if using a cannabis infused tea bag, or adding cannabis with loose leaf tea in an infuser.
- A pot
- 4 cups of water
- Tea add-ins, like milk, cinnamon, honey, etc. (optional)
- Mug & spoon
- Cheesecloth and a rubber band or a fine strainer
Recipe
- Bring your 4 cups of water to a boil, in the pot. Once boiling, add the tablespoon of butter or coconut oil, allowing it to dissolve completely. Boil 4 cups of water in your pot.
- Add the gram of ground cannabis into the pot, and turn the oven to low for a simmer.
- Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes.
- To strain the cannabis out of the infused weed tea, you’ll use your cheesecloth or strainer. With a cheesecloth, secure it on top of the mug with the rubber band and pour the boiling mixture over it. The tea will drain into the mug, while leaving the cannabis on top of the cheesecloth. With a fine strainer, do the same. Place the strainer over your mug (or other pot if you have too much liquid to fit in your mug) and pour the boiling mixture into it.
- Once your mug is full of hot cannabis infused water, you’ll place your tea bag or loose leaf tea infuser into the mug, too. Let steep for 3 minutes, then remove the tea bag or infuser.
- Add your desired add-ins, and try until your tea until you’ve reached your desired taste.
- And enjoy!
*Alternate Method – If you have a cannabis infused tea bag, or prefer to add your ground cannabis to the loose leaf tea infuser simply pour the hot water from step 1 into the mug with your cannabis infused tea bag, or loose leaf tea infuser with cannabis. After steeping for 30 minutes, remove the tea bag or infuser and enjoy!
How to make weed tea with cannabis trim, leaves or stems
Ingredients & Materials
- 1-5 grams of trim, leaves or stems (depending on your dose/potency)
- 2 cups of water
- Fat for binding agent – ½ cup of milk (any type) or creamer or ½ tablespoon of butter/oil
- A pot
- Cheesecloth and a rubber band or a fine strainer *see alternate method if you prefer to add cannabis directly to infuser or bag.
- Tea bag or loose leaf tea
- Tea add-ins, like milk, cinnamon, honey, etc. (optional)
- Mug & spoon
Recipe
- Bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add your milk/butter or oil and reduce the heat to a low simmer.
- Add the stems, trim, leaves and loose leaf tea or bag, and cover the pot. Let simmer for 30 minutes – 1 hour, adding more water if necessary. Stirring occasionally.
- Once complete, turn the heat off and strain the mixture, using your cheesecloth or fine strainer.
- Pour your infused cannabis tea into your mug, and add any desired add-ins.
- And enjoy!
*Alternate Method – If you prefer, you can add the cannabis trim, leaves or stems to the loose leaf tea infuser (or tea bag) and simply pour the hot water from step 1 into the mug with your loose leaf tea infuser or tea bag. After steeping for 30 minutes, remove the tea bag or infuser and enjoy!
Cannabis tea is served
Cannabis infused tea is serving more than just high times at tea time. With an infusion of cannabis effects into soothing hot tea, mindful cannabis users are exceeding health benefits. Through sips of a tasty and carefully dosed weed tea treat. Keep connected with our Do It Yourself Series, for upcoming editions covering more conscious cannabis tips and tricks for therapeutic effects.
Or, if you’d like to find out more about infusing weed tea into your life for cannabis therapy effects, stay tuned to our upcoming PotCast on Thursday at 4pm. Learn more on weed tea benefits, and how to use the soothing drink for ultimate relief at 4 pm EST, by joining us on YouTube or Facebook. Don’t forget – connect with us socially on Instagram, for even more conscious cannabis content.
And, lastly, join the Craft Cannabis Club for an authentic, live craft cannabis experience. You’ll join a group of local cannabis enthusiasts passionate for cannabis education and advocacy. With exclusive access for member-only social events, and resources, too. What are you waiting for? Find out more about the Craft Cannabis Club, today!
