Are you trying to chase away the inevitable summertime sadness that sets in when the season is ending? So are we. That’s why we’ve been exploring the world of cannabis-infused summertime smoothies and mocktail recipes, to celebrate summer’s freshest harvests and cheers to the few last weeks of warmth.
Keep reading for everything you need to know on the benefits of cannabis-infused smoothies and simple mocktail recipes to make.
Why Sip on Weed?
Beyond the pure enjoyment of sipping on weed legally, there are a few distinct benefits of consuming cannabis by drink. Especially when using raw ingredients, or raw cannabis leaves. In raw form, cannabis leaves like fan leaves are chock-full of THCA and other phytonutrients. Taking the raw food trend to all new heights.
‘Raw’ cannabis refers to cannabis leaves or flower that have yet to be decarboxylated. Or, the fancy word for activating cannabinoids with heat (like a lighter, torch, or oven for making edibles).
When heating weed, THCA converts into THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that delivers weed’s euphoric effects or ‘high’. However, when consuming THCA in its pure form and without heat, the cannabinoid delivers its own unique benefits.
Early studies show that THCA is highly neuroprotectant and has the potential power to:
- Relieve inflammation and pain
- Treating arthritis, lupus, and seizure symptoms
- Treat certain conditions like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease
- Stimulate the appetite in treatment of eating disorders
- Slow down the proliferation of cancerous cells
Beyond sipping on raw THCA, you’re probably already aware of the many health benefits that THC and cannabis can produce.
When adding decarboxylated weed to your summer drinks or simple mocktail recipes, you’re able to experience these benefits just like you would with any edible. Meaning, a key benefit is they’ll be long-lasting, and typically potent, depending on your dosage.
Top Recipes for Cannabis-Infused Smoothies
There’s nothing better than a summertime smoothie, especially when it’s elevated with THC or THCA effects. So below, are two simple smoothie recipes that incorporate both cannabinoids to reap their individual benefits.
Green Smoothie (Raw for THCA Effects)
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 4-5 spinach handfuls
- 1 half of a cucumber
- 2-3 leaves of kale (or any other green)
- 1 apple cut up
- 7 medium-large sized cannabis fan leaves
- Juice of half of a lemon
- Your choice of fruit or honey for sweetener
Once you’ve collected all of your ingredients, throw them into the blender and mix! Keep the following tips in mind, for optimal results:
- Blending can be more beneficial than juicing. During the juicing process, many cannabinoids from the cannabis fan leaves can deteriorate.
- Adding a blended vegetable juice can cut back on the bitterness of the raw cannabis leaves.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Vegan & THC infused)
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 1 ½ cups of frozen strawberries
- 1 frozen & peeled banana (medium-sized)
- ¼ gram kief, hash, oil, or tincture – decarboxylated
- 1 cup coconut milk
- ½ cup orange juice
Once you’ve collected all of your ingredients, throw them into the blender, mix, and enjoy.
Top Recipes for Cannabis-Infused Mocktails
Cannabis-infused mocktails are the perfect drink (and conversation starter) for any end-of-the-summer party or gathering. Or, they can be made year-round and customized to your liking once you understand the basics of making simple mocktail recipes.
Here are two of the top summer mocktails to try mixing up at home.
Cannabis-Infused Mojito
Sticking with the fresh herb theme, there’s nothing more refreshing and crisp than a cannabis-infused mojito.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Mint
- Sugar
- Lime
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Soda water
- Simple syrup (boil water + sugar to make yourself!)
- Cannabis tincture (glycerin-based is best)
- Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, like with any classic mojito you’ll need to ‘muddle’ the mint. Do this by adding a spoonful of sugar, a squeeze of lime, and a few mint leaves to your glass. Using a ‘muddler’ or the end of a rolling pin, crush the ingredients until you can smell mint.
- Add ice to the glass.
- Pour ½ cup of the lemon-lime soda into the glass. Followed by ½ cup of soda water.
- Add ½ oz simple syrup and 1 full syringe of your cannabis-infused tincture.
- Stir to taste, and add more sugar, simple syrup, or lime if necessary.
- Garnish with lime, a sprig of mint, and enjoy!
Cannabis-Infused Sangria
There’s nothing better than a batch of sangria to please a crowd, as a summer mocktail that’s been cannabis-infused. Serve in mason jars, for an extra nod to the weed world.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 4 cups of white grape juice
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1 lime
- 1 cup of blueberries
- 1 cup of strawberries, cut in half
- 2 oranges, cut into pieces (peel on)
- 2 peaches, cored and cut into pieces (peel on)
- Cannabis tincture
- Cut all of the fruit (except blueberries) into bite-sized pieces.
- Add all of the fruit to a large pitcher.
- Add grape juice, orange juice, the juice of 1 lime, and your cannabis tincture (1 full syringe, or more depending on strength desired).
- Stir and mix thoroughly.
- Let chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving.
Get Mixing with Marijuana
So now that you have these simple summertime smoothies and summer mocktails in your recipe collection, it’s time to get mixing with marijuana. If you home grow, now you know to save all those fan leaves and put them to good use.
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