Cannabis Tea Recipe: A Complete Guide to Weed Teas

In Thailand, cannabis has a long history in medicine. Now, cannabis tea combines old traditions with new ways

Cannabis tea is a unique drink that blends the medicinal and psychoactive elements of marijuana. It is perfect for those seeking an alternative method of taking weed. The tea provides a gentle yet effective way to unlock the therapeutic potential of this versatile plant without smoking.

In this article, we will teach you how to make your own cannabis tea. From exploring the most common recipe to using the leaves and stems of the plant, this is your comprehensive guide to making marijuana tea.

How to brew cannabis tea – the boiling water method

The boiling water method is simple and doesn’t require added fats like butter or oil. This method is less about extracting THC and more about enjoying the herbal essence of cannabis. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients

• 1 gram of ground cannabis flowers – you can buy it from a dispensary or online
• Water – 250 ml
• Tea leaves (1-2 tea bags worth) & sweetener of your choice

Recipe

1. Boil water: Start by bringing water to a boil in a kettle or a pot.
2. Prepare cannabis: Grind your dried cannabis flowers coarsely. This increases the surface area, enhancing the release of flavours and aromas during steeping.
3. Steep the cannabis: Put the ground cannabis in a tea infuser or wrap it in cheesecloth. Steep it in the hot water for about 5 to 10 minutes. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavour will be.
4. Add tea leaves for flavour: If desired, add your choice of tea leaves or herbal tea bags to the infusion. Depending on your taste preferences, this could be anything from classic green tea to soothing chamomile.
5. Strain and serve: Remove the cannabis and tea leaves from the water. You now have a cup of cannabis-infused tea with the plant’s natural flavour and aroma without major psychoactive effects.

This method is ideal for those who enjoy the herbal taste of cannabis and are looking for a non-intoxicating experience. It’s a good choice for a relaxing evening or a calm start to your day, offering the aromatic qualities of cannabis in a gentle, soothing tea form.

How to make cannabis tea – the butter method

Mixing weed with butter first can help you make a psychoactive cannabis tea. Here’s how you brew it:

Ingredients

• Cannabis buds: 1/2 gram of high-quality cannabis strain
• Tea leaves: 1 tablespoon or 1 tea bag – optional (Green tea, chamomile, or any other flavour)
• Flavouring agent: Honey or other sweetener as desired
• Water: 2 cups (500 ml)
• Coconut oil or unsalted butter: 1 teaspoon – 15 ml (to help THC absorption)

Fats like butter or coconut oil are essential for this recipe. THC is fat-soluble; it binds to lipids found in fats. It does not dissolve in water. You need a binding agent, like oil or butter, to successfully infuse THC into your tea.

This recipe will produce approximately two cups of cannabis tea. The exact THC content can vary based on the THC percentage of the cannabis buds used. Assuming an average potency of 20% THC in the cannabis bud, this recipe would have roughly 100 mg of THC in total (20 percent of 1/2 gram is 100 mg).

Thus, each cup would contain approximately 50 mg of THC.

Note that this is the yield of a very high-potency tea. To reduce the dosage, consider adding more water or reducing the buds you use.

Preparation: Decarb the weed

Decarbing turns THCA, a non-active compound in cannabis, into THC, which gives the psychoactive effects many seek.

Skipping this step means you’re missing out on unlocking the full potential of your cannabis – especially the psychoactive effects. Check out our dedicated article on weed decarboxylation for a deeper understanding of its science and how to do it effectively.

Recipe

Here’s a simplified version of brewing marijuana tea at home:

• Grind the cannabis buds into small pieces using a grinder and decarb it to activate the THC. (Skipping this step will result in less activated THC, reducing the psychoactive effects.)
• Heat the coconut oil (1 teaspoon) over low heat.
• Add the ground cannabis buds to the oil and stir it on low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Pour water into the teapot and bring it to a boil.
• Add the cannabis oil mixture to the boiling water in the teapot. Reduce the heat and stir for about 5 minutes on low heat.
• Add the tea leaves and let it steep for 5-6 minutes. At this stage, you can also add a sweetener if desired.
• Strain the tea using a strainer and serve hot.

An alternative method involves combining all ingredients in the same pot. That is, bring water to a boil and add the fat. Add the ground flowers and tea bag, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Then, strain.

How to make weed tea with stems & leaves?

Many cannabis tea recipes also call for using trimmings and waste of the plant – the non-smokable bits – like stems and leaves.

The process of making the tea is more or less similar to that of using flowers.

Ingredients

• A handful of decarboxylated cannabis stems/leaves
• Tea leaves (optional): 1 tablespoon or 1 tea bag (e.g., Green tea, chamomile)
• Flavouring: Honey or sweetener, as desired
• Water: 2 cups (500 ml)
• Coconut oil or unsalted butter: 1 teaspoon

Directions

1. Decarb: Bake stems and leaves at 220°F (104°C) for 30-40 minutes to activate THC. You can skip this step, too, as some say decarbing stems is unnecessary.
2. Infuse: Melt the coconut oil or butter in a pan on low heat. Add the decarbed stems and leaves, simmering for 10 minutes.
3. Prepare Tea: Boil 2 cups of water. Add the infused oil or butter mixture. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Flavour & Serve: Add tea leaves, steeping for 5-6 minutes. Incorporate sweeteners if desired. Strain and serve.

How to make cannabis tea more potent

Try the following to make your weed tea more powerful:

• Consider the strain potency: Higher THC strains will naturally yield a stronger tea.
• Buy quality flowers: To maximise your marijuana tea experience, opt for top-shelf, AAA-grade buds and buy from reputed cannabis stores.
• Add kief to your flowers: Kief is cannabis flower dust, rich in trichomes – the powerhouse containing cannabinoids & terpenes. Add a pinch to your ground flowers before putting them in the tea.
• Add THC or CBD oil: You can up the potency by adding 1-2 drops of THC concentrates, like full-spectrum cannabis oil. Be mindful of the dosage here to avoid increasing the potency a lot.
• Add RSO (Rick Simpson Oil): RSO is another potent THC extract which contains a host of cannabinoids and terpenes. This full-plant cannabis extract can add a nice element of potency and medicinal benefits to your cannabis tea.

What is cannabis tea?

Cannabis tea, also called weed tea or marijuana tea, is a drink made by steeping parts of the cannabis plant in hot water – just like your regular tea. The active compounds in cannabis, such as cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), are extracted into the water during the steeping process.

Cannabis tea is an excellent alternative to edibles. You consume far fewer calories than sugar in gummies and baked goods. The tea is also easy to make and does not require much time.

THC vs. CBD tea

THC tea will give you the euphoric high associated with cannabis use. It is perfect for recreational users. Its medicinal benefits include easing nausea, pain, improving sleep, and boosting appetite.

If you are looking for the medicinal benefits of cannabis without getting high, you should consider adding CBD flowers or oils instead.

CBD tea is recommended for people with anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, and sleep problems. CBD tea doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects of THC, so you can go about your day without feeling stoned.

Can weed tea get you high?

Cannabis tea can get you high. It largely depends on the type of cannabis used in its preparation and the prep work done.

• If the tea is made with a strain rich in THC – which has been decarboxylated and mixed with butter – it will induce a high.
• If you are using non-decarboxylated weed flowers, you will not experience any psychoactive effects.
• You will not get high if you add weed buds to boiling water – without any decarbing or mixing it with fat.

Conversely, if the tea is made with a CBD-dominant strain of hemp, which contains negligible amounts of THC, it should not get you high.

How long does it take for cannabis tea to take effect?

Generally, you can feel the effects within 30 to 90 minutes after consumption. However, the full impact might not set in until 2 to 3 hours after drinking the tea.

The onset time for cannabis tea can vary depending on several factors, such as your metabolism, an empty or full stomach, and the potency of the tea.

This slow onset time is due to the THC being processed in the liver before entering the bloodstream. This is also why you must wait some time after taking the tea before upping your intake. You should be mindful of the THC dosage when dealing with marijuana-infused drinks and edibles.

How long do the effects last?

The effects may last from 2-4 hours or more, depending on the amount of THC in your tea. The high from weed tea is typically more subtle and longer-lasting than what one might experience from smoking or vaping cannabis.

Benefits of cannabis tea

Cannabis tea offers several benefits for people who use marijuana as medicine. Its benefits include:

• Lasting pain relief
• Reduced inflammation
• Reduced anxiety
• Better sleep
• Improved appetite
• Eased nausea

Unlike smoking cannabis, drinking cannabis tea is less irritating to the lungs and throat. It also offers a longer-lasting effect than smoking cannabis.

Side effects of cannabis tea

The side effects of consuming cannabis tea are similar to those of other cannabis products like edibles, smoking, and vaping. The side effects may include:

• Drowsiness
• Diarrhoea
• Dry mouth

This is above and beyond the side effects you may generally experience from marijuana use.

Conclusion

Cannabis tea is a great way to get the benefits of marijuana without smoking or inhaling it. It is easy to make at home with simple ingredients and recipes. THC tea is great for recreational and occasional users, while CBD tea is ideal for people who need the medicinal benefits of cannabis without getting high. 

Be sure to closely monitor the dose you use, as the effects can be longer-lasting and more pronounced than with other methods of use.