Bhang lassi packs quite a bang just as the name suggests! The process of making bhang lassi involves quite an amount of cannabis. The twist in making this potent drink is that it involves a mixture of cannabis and genuine lassi. This blend of bhang lassi is guaranteed to get you higher than a kite and definitely happier than a lark! Marijuana is known as bhang in India, and it has been in circulation for thousands of years.
In India, the culinary experts have found some very creative uses for this plant, and the bhang lassi drink is just one of the more delicious uses of the plant. Bhang lassi is prepared in much the same way as milkshakes. It is served at some cultural celebrations, like the festival of colors called Holi, and the festival held in honor of the Hindu god, Shiva, also known as Maha Shivaratri. Bhang lassi is used during Maha Shivaratri as a one of the spiritual pathways to the god. Beat the summer heat by packing your favorite Lassi in an insulated flask and enjoy the chilled lassi on the go!
Health Benefits
Marijuana or cannabis is a safer alternative to other addictions like alcohol and drugs. Some researches suggest that marijuana helps depression. As per studies, marijuana supposedly helps people with lung cancer and also regulates seizures. When in doubt, it is best to consult your physician before you consume this bhang lassi.
Bhang Lassi Recipe
- 15 gms (1/2 oz) bhang (cannabis)
- 2 Cups warm whole milk
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1 tbsp Coconut milk
- 1 tbsp Almonds, chopped
- 1/8 tsp Ginger, powdered
- 1 Pinch garam masala
- 1/2 tsp Grenadine
- 1 Cup water
How to make Indian bhang lassi
- Take a pan and bring water to a boil
- Now add bhang to it.
- It it simmer for about 7 to 10 mins and close the flame and strain it.
- With the help of a 2 tblp of milk grind the strained bhang. Repeat this process several times.
- Add some more milk to the bhaang and grind it along with the almonds. Repeat this several times.
- Strain this mixture and pour the milk, coconut milk, grenadine and boiled water into a pan.
- While stiring add ginger, sugar and garam masala to the above prepared bhang mixture
- Cool it in the refrigerator for few hours before serving the bhang lassi
Bhang Lassi, cannabis milk shake
Bhang Lassi is a very popular drink in India both for its aromatic smell and relaxing, spiritual effect. It is an ancient cannabis preparation enriched with seeds, spices, honey and milk which has been used for centuries in this amaing country. In this article we explain you how to easily prepare it at home!
The popularity of this beverage has its origins in the Hindu religion and is associated with the cult of Shiva: the followers of this goddess used – and still use today – to smoke Bhang (which means “cannabis” in Hindi language) in the temples dedicated to Shiva, also charas (which is hashish obtained by rubbing fresh plants with the hands). Without a doubt, sadhus are the most famous among the followers of Shiva, religious “holy men” who wander along the temples with their traditional clay chillums.
Bhang Lassi and other cannabis derivatives have been traditionally used in religious ceremonies to connect men with Shiva and be purified from their sins. But the popularity of Bhang Lassi skyrocketed when the first tourists interested in recreational cannabis visited India (during the 70’s and onwards) and discovered the traditional cannabis milk shakes, which is to say, Bhang Lassi.
Since the popularity of this drink throughout the territory is huge, you can find many variations of Bhang Lassi in India. In this way, the recipe we explain here may be adapted according to the ingredients you have at hand or your personal preferences.
Recipe of Bhang Lassi, cannabis milk shake
The most commonly used ingredients to make Bhang Lassi in India are:
- A dozen grams of medium quality cannabis buds (it would be a shame to use top grade nugs for this purpose)
- 2 cups of whole milk (the fatty matter will retain all cannabinoids)
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of coconut milk (which also contains fatty matter and provides unctuous texture)
- 1-2 tablespoons of seeds: almonds, cashew, pumpkin, melon, cannabis…
- Spices: ginger, garam massala, black pepper, fennel, nutmeg…always depending on your personal taste
- Honey
Preparation of Bhang Lassi
Two hours prior to preparing the recipe, soak the seeds you’re going to use in water to rehydrate them and facilitate the extraction of their juice later on.
First, fill a small pot with water and heat it. Add the weed and boil it for 10 minutes to infuse the buds. Once done, you can throw away the water (it mainly contains chlorophyll and small amounts of terpenes). This step allows you to decarb the weed so that all cannabinoids will be active and have an effect in your body (otherwise, the effect would be very mild, if there is any).
Put the weed in a strainer or muslin and let it drain. Then, put it in a pestle with a couple tablespoons of hot milk and use a mortar to crush the mix (you can also use a blender). Thoroughly mix the ingredients and use a muslin to drain it again (this time you’ll keep the extracted and filtered liquid).
Remove the weed from the pestle and fill it with the seeds and spices you want to use. Crush the seeds and the spices while adding the milk (and the filtered liquid you got from crushing the weed with the milk) until you get a homogeneous mix. Filter the mix and you’re almost done! Now you just have to add some honey (or sugar), coconut milk and some fruits if you want.
CAUTION: As happens with any cannabis edible, it is important to start with small amounts (or low doses) and gradually increase them to meet your personal taste. The effects of ingested cannabis take a bit longer to appear, and are normally more intense and long lasting than smoked buds. It’d be a pity to turn a wonderful, spiritual experience into a bad trip!
Enjoy your drinks!
I tried bhang lassi when visiting India couple years ago. For me It took 30 mins to take effect, that’s pretty quick when comparing to my edible experience before.