If smoking marijuana isn’t for you but you’d still like to enjoy the benefits, weed tea could very well be the way to go. Making weed tea isn’t anything new. The Chinese have been doing it since around 2000 B.C. Weed tea has its medicinal advantages but some choose it just for a healthier way to relax. The tea can be easily made at home using ingredients commonly found in the kitchen anyway. It only takes about 20 minutes to make and even the weed stems can be used.
Tea can be made from the weed stem for a mild flavour and experience or for something a little stronger, including some leaves. Weed stem tea alone contains approximately 9.2% THC which is enough to induce relaxation and maybe even sleep.
The big question people want the answer to is “how is eating or drinking cannabis different than smoking it?” The short answer is that it has to do with the method of absorption. Here’s a very bare-bones example that most of us can relate to…Caffeine is a dietary staple for most adults and beverage consumption seems to be the preferred method of ingestion as documented by the willingness to pay four bucks for a cup of it.
So, how would the experience be different if a person put a spoonful of coffee beans in one’s mouth each morning? The body would then have to break down the beans before feeling the effects of the coffee. Instead, we take the path of least resistance and grind the bean and brew it in hot water. The body is able to absorb the liquid faster than it would digest the whole bean. We get the added benefit of adding dairy products and sugary condiments to it for a more palatable flavour.
The same concept applies to consuming weed stem tea. The body finds it to be more “user-friendly”. There’s also the effectiveness…edible cannabis creates a longer-lasting, more “full body” feeling than smoking. Depending on who you ask, edible cannabis is also safer since there are risks involved in smoking it. Effects of consuming weed stem tea or any other edible cannabis product can take 30 to 90 minutes to kick in and last 4 to 8 hours. This is important to keep in mind if you’re making weed stem tea for the first time.
The next question that comes to mind is “what will it taste like?” Well, it will taste like weed. However, those of us whose primary experience has been to smoke it, will be pleasantly surprised to discover that edible cannabis has a milder flavour than smoking it. I like to describe the flavour as “marijuana-infused”. Garlic is often used as a flavour enhancer to olive oil and leaves behind only the taste without it being overpowering. Weed stems will do the same for tea- it will leave behind the essence without being too strong.
Recipes for how to make weed stem tea are easily accessible online. Most recipes for how to make weed tea with stems have similar ingredients and brewing methods but this one from Leafly.com offered some variations on how to make weed stem tea that accommodates dietary preferences or food allergies and that’s why it was chosen over others.
Weed Stem Tea Recipe
Serving Size-6 ounces
Number of Servings-4
Since THC isn’t water-soluble, fat is used as a binding agent. Some commonly used fats for weed stem tea are whole milk, butter, half and half or for a really rich tea, heavy whipping cream. If you’re vegan or allergic to dairy, you can substitute it with coconut oil or coconut milk. Leafly.com suggests using a measurement of one of the following:
– ½ cup milk, half, and half, heavy whipping cream or coconut milk
OR…
– ½ Tablespoon butter or coconut oil
Once you’ve settled on a binding agent, you’ll need these remaining ingredients:
– ¼-½ cup ground stems -I like to use a coffee grinder to grind the stems. Adding some leaves or bud will make it more potent.
– 3 cups water
– Coffee filter for straining
– Additional flavoured tea of your choice is optional.
Bring the water to a boil then add your ground stems and one of the fats and boil for 7-10 minutes. Expect the water to turn brown.
Once the ingredients have boiled, carefully pour the mixture through the coffee filter and into a mug. The coffee filter acts as a strainer catching the ground stems as you pour. If you are a loose-leaf tea drinker anyway, a metal tea ball or a tea diffuser can be used and the coffee filter won’t be necessary.
To further enhance the flavour of the weed stem tea, add honey, sugar or other sweeteners, a lemon wedge, mint leaf, or cinnamon stick. Pretty much any condiment used in tea or coffee will do. The remaining servings can be refrigerated in a closed container and reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
There are many health benefits to drinking weed stem tea; alleviating nausea, inducing sleep, and reducing stress. Medical research is only at the beginning of discovering what can be treated or even cured by cannabis and smoking isn’t the only way to enjoy those benefits.
Sources:
https://www.leafly.com/news/food-travel-sex/how-to-make-cannabis-infused-tea
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/medical-marijuana-uses
