Words by Ayuri Diana Luciano / Photography by Jennifer Thomas
For many, Cannabis tea is a guilt free beverage of choice. Brewed or iced – however you prefer it – Cannabis tea can essentially give you that feeling of “inner zen” throughout your day. However, a few questions still remain surrounding this concept. For instance, “How do I make it?!” Between you and me, if you’re a first time brewer and fear ruining your exotics, cook wear, or burning down your home, then you may just want to consider “The Philosophy & Rule” on your quest to become the ultimate “Cannabis tea Connoisseur.”
The Philosophy
“Just like anything in life, you get out of your tea what you put in.” This isn’t to say that using regular greens wouldn’t do the trick, but you certainly want the most out of your tea experience. Quality is always a priority when making infused tea. Consider THC levels in your selection: with high grade strains having THC levels as high as 23.20% and better, always make sure your selection is giving you the most for your brewing process. A gram of your favorite strain is usually best. Remember, Cannabis tea is always an infused drink. THC, along with other cannabinoids, are not water-soluble. This takes us to “The Rule.”
The Rule
“Always apply oil, butter, milk or cream. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Who wants butter or oil in tea?!” The truth is, these basic ingredients are the essentials in the process of creating Cannabis tea. It doesn’t take much, considering a cup of tea is usually 4 to 8 ounces. All one would need is a tablespoon of butter, coconut oil, or any fat-based solid oil that is favorable to the taste buds. Think about the consumption of regular tea, or even coffee at times. Many who prefer a more smooth-tasting tea, or even a cup of coffee, may prefer adding cream, milk or other fat-based ingredients to create a lighter taste. Cannabis tea follows the same strategy! And this leads us to “The Process.”
The Process
Start by grinding up a gram of cannabis and mixing it into your preferred fat-based ingredient. If you’re dealing with milk or butter, keep in mind that temperature affects freshness. For a more enriched potency, allow the mixture to sit overnight or at least for a couple of hours. Once the mixture has had a chance to acclimate, use a tea strainer to prevent the cannabis grinds from flowing into your tea mix (much like regular tea is in a tea bag for filtration). Apply hot water and allow your mixture to steam. Once your mixture has dissolved, you can spice up the flavor by adding some cinnamon, sugar or orange slices, to name a few options. Get creative with your taste buds!
