Cannabis Tea: Easy to Make, Healthy To Drink

Do you know what’s better than a warm cup of tea on a cold night? 

A warm up of cannabis tea on a cold night. 

Just like jasmine, lavender, or peppermint, cannabis is a plant that makes a great addition to tea. Unlike jasmine, lavender, or most other plants, adding cannabis to tea can give you a great buzz. Adding cannabis to your tea is easier than you think, and helps to boost the health benefits found in your cuppa. Learn the different ways to add cannabis to your tea and get brewing! 

Health Benefits of Cannabis Tea 

Even if you don’t add cannabis, a cup of tea at the end of the day can improve your overall physical health. Many studies suggest that regular tea drinking can:

• Improve heart health and reduce the risk of stroke
• Prevent cavities
• Boost immune system health 
• Regulate the digestive system 
• Promote weight loss

If you are looking to reach certain health goals, do a little research into what types of herbs and spices may be most beneficial in your cuppa. Ginger tea, for example, is an excellent option if you tend to have an upset stomach after big meals. If you want to prevent cancer or improve brain function, a cup of green tea a day will go a long way. Lavender and chamomile tea can help to fight insomnia. 

When you add cannabis to tea, you can enjoy a longer list of health benefits. Consuming cannabis can:

• Reduce different types of pain (joint pain, neuropathic pain, etc.) 
• Eliminate excessive inflammation 
• Reduce anxiety 
• Improve sleep 
• Regulate appetite 

Talk to a healthcare provider before you use cannabis or mix it into tea. 

CBD vs. THC in Tea 

If you want to make tea from cannabis flower, you will have to check to see if your strain contains THC or CBD. These are two of the most sought-after parts of the cannabis plant, and for good reason. 

THC is the cannabinoid that gets you high. Once it’s properly broken down from THC-A (the cannabinoid in raw cannabis,) it will travel toward the brain and give you the giggles. If you want to get stoned, make sure you have THC in the plant or oil that you’re putting into your tea. 

Strains that are high in THC typically don’t have a lot of CBD. CBD offers a long list of full-body health benefits without any intoxicating effects. It’s safe to have a cup of CBD tea and drive a car – as long as you don’t have THC in your cup, you will be able to drive or operate heavy machinery. 

If you prefer CBD over THC, look for medical strains that have a high concentration of CBD. You can also add products like CBD oil or tinctures to your tea for a soothing, healthy cup. 

What Strains Work Best? 

Have some cannabis growing in your closet? That’s all you need to make cannabis tea. No one strain is better than another to make cannabis tea – it’s all up to how you prefer to go about your day. Indicas work best if you want a cup of tea at night. The flavours and aromas from each strain may also help to complement the tea that you have ready to mix with your cannabis. Play around with different strains to see what works best for you. 

How to Make Cannabis Tea

There are three main ways to approach making cannabis tea:

• Adding “decarbed” stems/buds to loose leaf tea 
• Mixing a tincture or oil into your tea
• Using a cannabis-infused butter to make cannabis tea

Each of these methods can be used with cannabis that contains THC or CBD. 

Adding Stems or Buds to Loose Leaf Tea 

Sprinkling in a gram or two of cannabis into loose leaf tea can really hit the spot. But before you mix the cannabis, make sure it’s decarbed. This helps to bring out CBD and THC from the raw plant. 

Decarbing is pretty easy. Lightly grind up your cannabis and spread it evenly on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Stick it in the oven at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes. (You can also use the toaster oven!) Remove from the oven and let cool before adding it to loose leaf tea! 

The cannabis will have a slightly herbal taste but goes well with most types of loose leaf tea. 

Mixing a Tincture or Oil Into Your Tea 

Concentrates also work well in tea. In fact, cannabis tinctures and oils work well in any beverage! Whether you like a cup of tea or a fruit smoothie in the morning, you can get a little extra out of your drink by adding concentrates. 

Simply drop a dropper or two’s worth into your tea and mix. Oils might add a slightly slimy texture to your tea, but mixing it evenly will prevent the beverage from separating. 

Try different flavoured tinctures to find one that complements your tea. 

Using a Cannabis-Infused Butter to Make Tea 

It’s possible to use another “edible” to make cannabis tea. Cannabis-infused butter (or “cannabutter”) is easy to make and a great addition to tea or coffee. If you prefer to keep animal products out of your diet, you can also use cannabis-infused coconut oil instead. 

One way to add cannabutter to tea is to simply take a scoop of cannabutter (around one teaspoon) and put it at the bottom of your cup. Cover with boiling water and let the tea of your choice steep. The cannabutter will dissolve and then it’s time for a drink! 

How to Safely Enjoy Cannabis Tea 

Even though cannabis tea may contain flower or concentrates, it should be treated like an edible. THC and CBD go through the digestive system before they reach the bloodstream and the brain. 

Wait 60-90 minutes after your first cup of tea. You might not feel the effects of the THC right away. Drinking cannabis tea offers a more mellow high than smoking or vaping, but it still pays off to be careful and patient before ingesting too much THC. 

Play around with different flavours, strains, and methods for making cannabis tea. Enjoy!