How to make Cannabis Tea & why you should or shouldn't
I first started making cannabis tea or "Bhang," they call it in India about three years ago when my journey with cannabis fitness just started getting juicy! Which you'll be able to read all about in my book, The High & Healthy Human coming out this year! :)
In my first batch of Bhang, I didn't use enough cannabis and didn't feel much, but I liked the cannabis flavor. The second time was when I first visited San Diego, and wow, was it memorable!! From the mental clarity to the body buzz, my 10+ hours was an adventure on land & sea! Hanging at sunset cliffs, hiking Cowels mountain, and pleasure cruising on scooters through the city, I realized this tea is excellent for a day of exploring.
The 4th time I made this tea was when I had an awful trip from using black market cannabis, which turned me off from it for a while.
Last Friday, I declared I needed an Adventure day, so I took one and decided to share my recipe, experience, and pros/cons of making cannabis tea for exploration.
Before I dive into the recipe, I want to be super upfront on the pros & cons, so let's cover them.
The Pros:
You will get lit. I repeat you will be very high if you're using a potent THC flower. I used a 1-1 ratio of CBD to THC on the recipe below, which I was still significantly elevated for 10+ hours. Other great strains I used before are Harlesin & ac/dc. Try a hemp flower strain like silver linings if you don't like the effects of THC. A few months ago, it made a great batch of relaxing, yummy tea without the elevation gain! lol
Creativity, Focus, Clarity- During my hike on Friday, I felt like a moving meditation. You will feel very much in the present moment with this tea. It was easy to find clarity in my thoughts, focus on one subject, and still receive new creative ideas, all while just walking through the forest enjoying the view.
It's fun to drink it with someone! You can undoubtedly do a solo adventure, but this tea (I think) is best paired with a partner or best friend. Bhang is tricky, you won't feel it come on for a while, or it might creep in quickly. Consider having someone to navigate your experience with so you'll know how high you're getting or the opposite, which happened to me, and thank goodness we had each other!
It's best used outdoors. The third time I made this tea, I went to an all-day movement conference in SD. It was an inside event, and my partner and I were sipping on the tea. I remember we took a handful of trips outside because being inside with over 100 movement professionals that were mostly doctors of Physical Therapy, was HEAVVVY. We still had a great time learning and giggling, but man, if we were only outside the whole time!! Being in nature helps with anxiety/paranoia if you're prone to that or don't like being high around many people, especially indoors. (aka. ya girl!)
It's humbling. Cannabis is medicine, no doubt. It offers mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits at times when we least expect it. If you have a high tolerance to THC or don't experience that love at first sight anymore like you did when you started smoking, this will take you there. It'll break down your walls, open your heart and clear your mind. Use it with caution, though, respect it and DRINK IT SLOWLY. I cannot recommend this enough. I drank a cup & a half on Friday over three hours, using an eighth of 1-1 CBD/THC, and the effects lasted 10+ hours. humble as a bumblebee roaming freeeee lol
The Cons:
It's a 10-hour commitment. Be ready to ride for the day, and prepare yourself for a few bumps. Even though this tea is relatively gentle, it still has its moments of ups & downs. Be sure your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual energy tank is full. You don't want to be upset, tired, or just feeling off when you consume this beverage because it can take its toll on you. Set & setting is essential, and make sure you aren't driving or doing something you need to be 100% there for. Go on foot, ride a bike (unless you are uncoordinated when your sober, lol) take an uber, get a ride from a friend. Make a plan for the day, so there's no extra stress on the logistics. Also, eat well before, during, and after consumption. Don't forget to drink water FYI :)
You might have a bad time. The one time I made this tea from a sketchy buy at a head shop bit me right in the bum! You know, a friend of a friend that says they have good stuff. Mmmmm. NO! To this day, idk what was in my weed, but whatever it was or grown with was just toxic. It tasted fine, but about three hours after drinking half of the tea, my partner and I were thrown into the eeriest space I've ever been. You all probably know what it's like to be too high now times that by 100 and mix it with the end of the world vibes. It was terrrrrible. So please, be safe and know where your bud is coming from. You don't want to be that person that calls 911 cause you got too high, you feel me?!
It'll cause your whole place to smell like mary jane. Personally, I don't mind the smell, but if you're trying to be discreet, make it somewhere you don't have to worry about it.
Alright, now that you understand the yay's and nay's, let's get to the recipe!
What you'll need:
An eighth of cannabis
A tablespoon of coconut oil
1 liter of water
Step 1: Get yourself an eighth of some fine, quality cannabis. I used a strain called Midnight for this batch, but as I mentioned above, harlesin, ac/dc & silver linings have also been great strains for making cannabis tea.
Step 2: Grind it up!
Step 3: Put your water on the stove, add the coconut oil and bring to a boil.
Step 4: Add your ground cannabis to the water, stir and reduce it to medium heat for a light simmer.
Step 5: Simmer for 45 mins. Checking on it and giving it a stir occasionally.
Step 6: Strain it.
Step 7: Let it cool and drink a little at a time.
Step 8: Go on an adventure & enjoy!
I went for a day hike with my pups & then headed to Miami that evening with my Boyfriend to meet a friend visiting from LA. Talk about an adventure day!
btw, look at that panther paw print compared to a dog print! woahhhh!