Want to try cannabis differently? Are you trying to get the most out of your leftover stems? If you’re interested in making weed stem tea, stick around to learn about its history and how to make it.
Table of Contents
History of Cannabis Stem Tea
Marijuana tea has been around for centuries. Chinese emperor Shennong was one of the first to use weed tea for its medicinal benefits over 4,000 years ago.
The tradition of using cannabis stems to make tea for medical and recreational purposes spread to Egypt, India, and the Caribbean. Many Jamaican mothers use cannabis tea to relieve pregnancy-related symptoms like nausea, muscle aches, and anxiety.
What is a Cannabinoid?
Cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant and are produced naturally by the human body. We have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that internally produces cannabinoids.
The two most commonly known cannabinoids found in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The word cannabinoid can refer to THC or any chemical that acts on cannabinoid receptors.
What Does a Cannabinoid Do?
Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant have been used for hundreds of years to alleviate symptoms of different health ailments. They act on and bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body and trigger different responses.
Specific receptors can be used to manage medical conditions when using cannabis. For example, they have been known to help with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, chronic pain, and cancer by reducing inflammation.
Cannabinoids mimic a natural endocannabinoid system like anandamide, which are fatty acids that activate cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids bind themselves onto fat-soluble molecules that enter a cell’s lipid bilayer.
Cannabinoids then attach themselves to what are called CB1 and CB2 receptors. When the proper connection between cannabinoid and receptor is made, the body is stimulated to have a detailed response.
Psychoactive Effects Of Cannabinoids
The effects of cannabinoids vary from person to person, depending on an individual’s biology and cannabinoid receptor type. Not everyone experiences the same results when consuming cannabinoids, and the intensity of those effects also varies.
Some people feel relaxed and happy after cannabinoid consumption, while others may feel sleepy or tired. It is important to remember that cannabinoid use should be approached cautiously, as it can have adverse side effects, especially when consumed in high doses.
If you are thinking of trying cannabis or its cannabinoid chemicals, it is best to speak with a healthcare professional who can help you determine which strain and dosage would be best for you.
What are the benefits of infused tea?
If you enjoy a daily wake-and-bake session, mixing caffeinated tea could take that high to the next level. Weed stem tea offers those same benefits, but you don’t have to smoke to get them.
A good thing about cannabis-infused tea is that it’s discreet. You can pour it into a travel mug to drink on the way to work or sip throughout your day, stirring occasionally. Depending on your plans, you can adjust the THC content to provide calm and focus rather than put you in a fog.
Alternatively, certain weed tea brands are made for nighttime use, which can help you relax, like rolling up a joint before bed.
Are there risks?
Mixing cannabis with tea doesn’t have any specific adverse effects that have been reported; however, people experience varying reactions. If you’re generally not so good with handling THC, it could create feelings of anxiety and paranoia, which would offset the desired effect.
Nevertheless, if you love hot or cold tea, adding cannabis to your morning routine might enhance its energizing. CBD strain options are also available if you’re mainly looking for flavor enhancement.
We recommend reading labels beforehand and asking a healthcare professional about your exact dose. Allow at least half an hour before you increase the dosage to see if it’s for you before going all in.
Monitoring your personal effects allows you to reflect on your feelings during and after the experience. Keeping track will enable you to analyze whether weed stem tea is good for you.
What are binding agents?
Cannabinoids aren’t water-soluble, so they need to bind with another chemical to be absorbed into the human body. As the name suggests, binding agents absorb cannabinoids and transport them throughout your body.
Without a binding agent, cannabinoids can’t get into your bloodstream or brain. Luckily, binding agents are easy to find around the house or in a local grocery store.
Here are five of the most common binding agents:
- Butter
- Whole milk
- Half-and-half
- Coconut milk
- Coconut oil
Weed Stem Tea Recipe
If you have leftover stems, you can follow this simple recipe for weed stem tea.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of cannabis stems
- 1 Tbsp of a fat-soluble binding agent (coconut milk, whole milk, etc.)
- Your loose leaf tea of choice
Directions:
- Decarb your stems before steeping or grind them before boiling, depending on your preferred brewing method.
- Boil 1 1/2 cups of water
- Add the binding agent to the water before inserting the stems with your tea into the infuser.
- Steep the infuser in hot water for ten minutes. You can steep the tea and stems in separate bags or put one in a coffee filter machine to avoid combining the stemmy flavors.
Best Store-Bought Cannabis Tea Brands
- Mello Mint Stillwater
- KIKOKO Organic Chamomile Lemon Myrtle
- Skyline Boulevard Co
- Honey Lemon by Canna Tea
- TopLeaf Canada
Best Strains to Make Cannabis Stem Tea
The best cannabis strain to choose depends on the effects you’re looking for; however, some strains have sweeter seeds and better flavor profiles than others, making them ideal for cannabis-infused drinks.
Cannabis strains are considered a pure or hybrid genetic variation of the plant Genus Cannabis. There are three species: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Ruderalis.
Industry experts report nearly eight hundred unique weed strains worldwide, which has increased steadily. Different strains are created yearly as botanists experiment with crossing classic marijuana strains with hybrids to change their genetic qualities.
Here are ten of our favorite strains of different THC and CBD varieties:
- Purple Kush
- White Widow
- OG Kush
- Trainwreck
- Blue Dream
- Pink Kush
- Super Lemon Haze
- Skywalker OG
- Sour Diesel
- Red Hot Cookies
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Dosage Information
Please follow this guide if you’d like to learn the math behind dosing for cannabis-infused recipes.
Using this handy THC hack is your best bet because you won’t have to come up with your own formula:
1 – 2.5 mg THC
This dosage will yield a mild, mellow effect. This dosage can positively affect stress, anxiety, and body pain—suitable for first-time or occasional users who want a casual experience.
2.5 – 15 mg THC
This dosage will moderate to a strong effect. A more substantial impact on stress, anxiety, pain, etc. Suitable for those with pain or looking for help with sleeping.
30 – 50 mg THC
This dosage will produce a more robust, more intense response for those not ingesting cannabis. For others, this may be the perfect dose, depending on body chemistry and tolerance.
50 – 100 mg THC
This dosage range is very high and will result in a powerful, quite intense experience. Often these doses are for very experienced consumers or those with medical conditions such as cancer and severe chronic pain.
Can I Use Weed Stems to Make Cannabis Chocolate Pudding?
Yes, you can use weed stems to make cannabis chocolate pudding. By simmering the stems in milk and then straining, you can infuse the milk with THC. Use this infused milk to make cannabis chocolate pudding for a delicious and potent dessert.
How to Infuse A Caffeinated Tea
Most of us know how to use at least one tea brewing method. Next, you’ll need some weed-infused butter or coconut oil. Check out our cannabutter guide for making your own.
What you’ll need:
- One tablespoon of cannabis butter or cannabis coconut oil
- Two cups of hot (not boiling) water
- ⅓ cup of loose leaf tea
- Reusable Tea Bag (optional)
Directions:
- Boil the hot water
- Gently stir in your loose leaf tea and cannabutter or coconut oil
- Let the mixture steep for four to five minutes
- Remove from the burner, pour the hot tea into your favorite mug, add some sweet cannabis milk, and enjoy!
Is Cannabis Infused Tea Right for You?
Drinking weed tea may be an excellent addition to your best morning or nighttime ritual. With this unique combination of chemicals’ heightened cerebral and body effects, you may feel on top of the world.
Take a sip, then a deep breath, and allow yourself to become centered before beginning the day’s challenges or to relax after a long day. If you try it, it also may not be for you. That’s okay too! The point is to work towards self-care and inner peace, so it’s worth taking a chance on cannabis tea.
