Cannabis is playing a big role in quarantine coping methods right now. But while a non-addictive, hangover-free herbal remedy is ideal during these times of increased, sedentary anxiety, the act of smoking is not. The solution? Don’t smoke your weed. Drink it.

How to Get a Healthier High With DIY Cannabis Tea

Cannabis-infused tea takes out the loads of sugar and fat that usually come with eating edibles, while still providing a full infusion of cannabinoids from flower. It also gives your lungs a break. If you happen to have cannabis butter, infused honey, or a tincture on hand, your work is essentially already done. Just add to your tea of choice the same you would any honey or sugar.

If you don’t, no worries. All you need is a gram of ground flower and about 20 minutes to spare.

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide as simple as possible when it comes to that whole pesky decarboxylation thing. You, unfortunately, can’t just drop some weed in a tea bag and start steeping (unless you love the taste of soggy weed and don’t really want to get high). But you don’t have to go all out to make a quick single-serving of decarboxylated buds either. You got this.

Ingredients

• 1 gram of ground cannabis (Sour Tangie or any citrus-scented strain works well)
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter or coconut oil
• Teabag of your choosing (classic English Breakfast is always good)
• 4 cups of water
• Any other ingredients for flavor such as honey, milk, sugar, cinnamon, etc.
• Cheesecloth or a fine strainer 

Makes about three regular mug-sized cups of tea. Recommended dosing: one cup per person, and not within two hours of heading out to drive or operating serious machinery.

Instructions

Step 1: Boil 4 cups of water in a medium-sized pot. Once it’s boiling, add the tablespoon of butter or coconut oil and allow it to completely dissolve. THC needs something fatty to stick to under high heat — that’s how we separate the good stuff from the plant material.

Step 2: Add your gram of ground cannabis into the boiling pot, and turn the temperature down to a simmer.

Step 3: Allow this mixture to simmer for fifteen minutes. For really great weed or really passionate cannabis-foodies, it can be worth it to simmer at as low a temperature as possible for a longer period of time in order to preserve the more nuanced flavors of that strain. Terpenes are the first to burn off when things get too hot, too fast.

Step 4: Now it’s time to strain out the little bits of cannabis. There’s too much water to strain straight into your mug (unless it’s enormous), so grab a bowl or ideally an empty teapot. If you’re using cheesecloth, secure it around the top of the teapot or bowl with a rubber-band or string. You can always ask your quarantine mate to hold the cheesecloth in place around the top, or solo chefs can anchor it on all sides with something heavy. Carefully and slowly pour the boiling mixture through the cheesecloth and into your chosen vessel. You can always just use a metal strainer, but it needs to be a fiiine strainer unless you’re cool with leafy bits in your teeth. 

Step 5: Add your teabag into the teapot, along with any desired extras like mint, lemon, honey, or a cinnamon stick and stir well. It’ll help moderate that herby flavor. Steep for about three minutes.

Step Yay: Remove the teabag, stir well to incorporate the infused butter throughout, and pour yourself a cup.

There is going to be a subtle weed-y flavor no matter what, but you can add some more milk and sugar to balance it out. Many find pre-made chai has a strong enough flavor to complement the herbal notes. Remember that your body will still digest it like an edible, so be patient. Depending on whether you’ve eaten recently and your body’s metabolism, it could take up to an hour and a half to feel effects. 

Sip safely out there.

Cannabis tea—or weed tea— is easy to make and similar to any other edible. Some people prefer to make cannabis tea because it is a healthier alternative to other edibles like cookies, brownies or candy. Whether you want a relaxing cup of tea to enjoy while reading a good book, or you’re just looking for a fun project in the kitchen, weed tea is a quick and easy brew that is sure to lift your spirits. Like any other edible, weed tea is an effective way of consuming cannabis, a safe alternative to smoking cannabis, and will provide a potent and long-lasting high.

Steps To Making Cannabis Tea

The rule for any edible is to start small and work your way up gradually. Finding the right dosage for homemade edibles can be tricky at times, and it is much preferable to have a mildly underwhelming high than an overwhelming or overly intense high. Edibles can be extremely potent, especially if you have no prior experience with them. So be safe, enjoy responsibly, and have fun. This recipe will be using a ½ gram of cannabis, but if you would like to make stronger weed tea, you can use 1 gram of cannabis and 1 tbsp of butter instead of the quantities listed below.

Ingredients/Materials Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• ½ gram of ground cannabis flower
• ½ tbsp. of unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups of water
• Cannabis grinder (optional)
• Fine strainer or cheesecloth
• Teabag
• Flavoring (e.g., honey, milk, or cinnamon)
• Bowl
• Pot
• Mug
• Spoon

What To Expect After Drinking Weed Tea

As with any other edible, weed tea will take anywhere between 30-90 minutes to fully kick in. One of the most common beginner mistakes people make with edibles is thinking they haven’t kicked in yet when they are just taking some time to have an effect. For this reason, if you think your weed tea isn’t working as intended – WAIT FIRST. It may just need some more time to kick in and you don’t want to be feeling a double dose if you consume two servings in a short time period.

The effects of your cannabis tea will typically last up to about eight hours and it’s recommended that you wait a full two hours before consuming more tea after your first serving.

Speak To A Recreational Cannabis Dispensary

We pride ourselves in giving adult consumers the information to help them make the best choices for their individual needs. Our easy-to-use menu includes THC percentages and gradings that guide you toward your desired effect. Looking for a calming variety? We have you covered. Something to energize? No problem. In need of pain relief? We have something just for you. Many cannabis users report positive benefits such as increased appetite, reduced anxiety, better sleep, improved mood, and less pain and inflammation. Contact us today.

We always recommend starting with the lowest dose, so you can feel comfortable trying out a new product. With all the stats from how long effects last to when you should start to notice effects, we take the guesswork out of adult-use marijuana. Think of us as your cannabis sommelier. Whether you are a first-time cannabis user looking to explore the benefits of marijuana use or a long-time connoisseur, Pure Oasis is focused on your needs and making your shopping process smooth, efficient, and enjoyable. Our coffee-shop style dispensary is designed to make shopping a breeze and our knowledgeable staff is here ready to guide you through our many choices.