How To Make Cannabis Tea

Key Points

• Marijuana tea has a long history of use across different cultures.
• This brew offers a long-lasting and intense high.
• Discover delicious recipes, from lattes to chai options.
• Get introduced to the best strains to make that perfect cup!

You may have heard of magic mushroom tea from your psychonaut friend, but have you heard of cannatea before? Smoking and vaping are fine ways of getting your dose of cannabis, but some people can’t physically handle hot smoke or vapor running through their airways.

So, if you’ve been looking for a way to enjoy weed that’ll soothe your throat rather than aggravate it, marijuana tea may be a welcome addition to your routine.

The Benefits of Marijuana Tea

While you might suspect the benefits of cannabis-infused tea to simply line up with those of cannabis in general, there’s something to be said about consuming it specifically as a tea.

Relaxing Sensation

To start, if you find that enjoying weed and sipping tea relaxes you, imagine the soothing sensations you’ll experience when enjoying both simultaneously. Since you don’t have to worry about quickly inhaling any hot smoke or vapor, you’ll be noticeably more content in the moment. The drink may be hot, too, but slow sipping and adding ingredients like butter or milk should make that manageable.

You may find yourself even more relaxed if you sip a tea that’s free of caffeine, peppermint, or ginger. We’d also suggest utilizing a strain with terpenes like myrcene and linalool to enhance those effects.

Digestion

Alongside relaxation, some teas are traditionally used to soothe the stomach, especially following a hearty meal. Researchers are currently exploring the potential beneficial impact of cannabinoids on gut health^[1]. Herbal teas such as peppermint and ginger are considered especially effective for post-meal digestion.

Soothing the Throat

Smoking and vaping take a toll^[2] on the throat over time, and users often wake up with throat discomfort after a heavy session the previous night. Marijuana tea offers a gentler alternative for the throat, especially when combined with a teaspoon of honey and herbs such as chamomile and green tea.

Nightcap

Researchers are still investigating the complex relationship between cannabis and sleep. However, anecdotally, some users swear by a joint before bed for improved rest. But not everyone wants to hit the hay with the taste of smoke on their tongue.

Marijuana tea offers a comforting alternative to blazing. It goes down considerably well when combined with chamomile—a herb touted for its ability to relax the body and mind at bedtime.

How To Make Marijuana Tea: 4 Methods

While it isn't as simple as putting a tea bag in a cup, making your marijuana tea is pretty straightforward. You just need a few essential ingredients, including some ground marijuana, additional herbs, and a fat source to help bind with the cannabinoids in your plant material.

However, before making any form of marijuana tea, you’ll need to decarboxylate your weed. This seemingly complex term simply refers to heating your bud to a temperature that “activates” it.

Cannabinoids exist as cannabinoid acids in raw weed. To harness the effects of marijuana tea, you’ll need to grind up your bud and heat it in the oven at 240°F for 40 minutes to convert those molecules. Now, you’re ready to make some tea!

1. The Cannabutter Method (Easy & Convenient)

Grab the following ingredients and hardware and follow the simple instructions to make a delicious cannabutter tea.

Ingredients

• 0.2 oz ground marijuana
• 1 herbal tea bag (whatever kind you prefer)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or cannabutter
• 18 fl oz water
• Honey, sugar, or cinnamon (optional)

Hardware

• Saucepan
• Tea or coffee strainer

Directions

1. Boil some water in your saucepan on the stove.
2. Add butter (or coconut oil) into the water and stir thoroughly.
3. Add your ground, decarbed weed into the butter/oil and water mixture.
4. Lower the temperature and leave the pot simmering for at least 15 minutes. Like regular tea, the longer you leave it to infuse, the stronger it will be.
5. Place the strainer over the top of your mug/teapot of choice.
6. Pour your desired amount of tea from your saucepan.
7. Add your tea bag of choice for your preferred flavor and optional effects.
8. For flavoring, add extra ingredients like sugar, honey, cinnamon, milk, etc.
9. Leave the tea alone so it can properly steep.
10. Enjoy!

2. Marijuana Tea Latte (Great for Gatherings)

Why not treat your taste buds to a scrumptious marijuana tea latte? Grab the required equipment and ingredients, and follow the easy directions below.

Ingredients

• 0.2 oz finely ground bud or 0.3 oz trim
• 0.5 oz butter or 1 fl oz coconut oil
• 13.5 fl oz full-fat milk or almond milk
• 13.5 fl oz ml water
• Tea leaves
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp honey
• Pinch of ground cinnamon

Hardware

• Tea infuser
• 2 saucepans
• Sieve

Directions

1. Add your water, plant matter (buds or trim), milk, butter, or coconut oil to the saucepan and place it over low heat. Bring it to a simmer and let it infuse for 30 minutes.
2. Remove your solution from the stovetop and strain the liquid into another saucepan using the sieve.
3. Place your tea leaves into your infuser and let them diffuse into the mixture for two minutes.
4. Add honey, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Give the mixture a thorough stir.
5. Pour your tea into mugs and enjoy!

3. Golden Milk with Marijuana

Golden milk marijuana tea pairs the benefits of your favorite herb with the powerhouse turmeric. Discover how to make this potent beverage below.

Ingredients

• 17 fl oz dairy or plant-based milk
• 8.5 fl oz water
• 1–2 tsp cannabis-infused coconut oil
• 1 tsp turmeric
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup

Hardware

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Sieve

Directions

1. Add your milk and water to the saucepan over medium heat. Do not let it boil.
2. Whisk in your turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper.
3. Add your cannabis-infused coconut oil. Stir it in thoroughly.
4. Add honey or maple syrup, stir well, and let the mixture simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
5. Pour the mixture into mugs and serve warm.

4. Marijuana Chai Latte

Are you a chai latte fiend? We have the perfect recipe for you! Dive into a world of flavor with the recipe below.

Ingredients

• 8.5 fl oz dairy milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
• 8.5 fl oz ml water
• 1–2 tsp cannabis-infused coconut oil
• 1 black tea bag
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cardamom
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Hardware

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Sieve

Directions

1. Add water, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg to a saucepan on a medium heat. Bring it to a light simmer for five minutes to decoct the spices.
2. Add the teabag and let it steep at a low simmer for another five minutes.
3. Remove the tea bag.
4. Add the milk and cannabis-infused coconut oil, stirring thoroughly.
5. Stir in honey or maple syrup along with vanilla extract.
6. Pour the mixture through a sieve in cups and serve warm.

Types of Marijuana Tea

While we mentioned ground cannabis flower in the recipe, you can actually make tea with (practically) any part of the plant. You grew every part of your marijuana, so why not get some use out of each and every bit?

Buds

Marijuana buds, of course, should be your go-to when making cannatea. They contain the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, so infusing them will lead to the most potent possible cup.

The drawback, of course, is the fact that you don’t have an endless amount of buds, and using them exclusively can make your cannatea habit quite expensive in the long run.

Leaves

You’re going to have more leaves than buds on your hands come harvest time, and there’s usually no other use for them—but they work very well when making marijuana tea.

You can either add dried, decarbed leaves straight into the water or heat them in some coconut oil. If you go with the latter method, the oil should bring any present cannabinoids forward, making the resulting tea a good touch more potent than it would be otherwise. Even then, however, the relative scarcity of cannabinoids and terpenes on the leaves (relative to the buds) means weed leaf teas are weaker in general.

Ready-Made

If you don't want to make your own tea, you can buy a ready-made one. Cannabis-infused beverages will be everywhere pretty soon, and there are some teas already on the market. In particular, CBD-infused teas can be found in stores and online in many places, as the soothing cannabinoid makes a great complement to a warm brew.

Stems

We’re sure you’ve got stems piled up somewhere, and now you have a way to finally put them to use. While the recipes above use either buds or trim, you can also use marijuana stems to make weed tea. They’re much lower in cannabinoids but can still provide a relaxing and satisfying effect. If this has piqued your interest, explore our stem tea recipe.

Ingredients

• 0.4–0.5 oz cannabis stems
• 17 fl oz water
• 1–2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tea bag (green tea, ginger, peppermint, etc.)
• A natural sweetener (honey, maple syrup, agave)

Hardware

• Saucepan
• Spoon
• Sieve

Directions

1. Break or cut the stems into small pieces.
2. Bring 17 fl oz of water to a gentle boil and add coconut oil, stirring thoroughly.
3. Add the cannabis stems and reduce the heat. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.
4. Add the tea bag and let the mixture simmer for a further five minutes.
5. Strain the mixture through the sieve into mugs.
6. Add sweetener to taste and enjoy!

Marijuana Tea Mixers

When brewing your own tea, you have the luxury of choosing your mixer, which can notably alter the experience. Don’t overthink it; whatever you usually put in your tea will blend perfectly with your cannatea.

Water

You can keep your tea plain if you're looking for a mellower high. Sadly, cannabinoids aren't water-soluble, so the influence of your tea will be limited. However, if you’re not too particular about your dose and just want something quick and chill, plain cannatea is just fine.

Butter or Oil

If you want a stronger, longer-lasting high, we suggest you add butter, milk, or oil. Cannabinoids are lipophilic—meaning they bind with fat but are repelled by water. The fat in the butter or oil will combine with the cannabinoids, allowing a better uptake and enhancing the potency.

Tinctures

If you're looking for a quick boost to your high, adding a few drops of tincture to your tea is another great shout. While they usually aren't as strong as the average cannabutter, tinctures can still give you a mild buzz and are easier to add to your tea in a pinch. However, it may throw off the taste, so be sure to add some honey, sugar, lemon, etc., as needed.

Sweeteners

Marijuana has a rather bitter taste when steeped in tea. To make every sip a delight, sweeten your brew with honey. Honey has many benefits, adds plenty of sweetness, and changes the texture of tea to make it more soothing for the throat.

For vegans, maple syrup, agave, and granular sugar are superb alternatives to honey. Try adding a small amount at a time to a taste test until you hit your sweet spot.

Herbs

There are many different herbs you can add to your tea to enhance its flavor and effects. Some timeless options include:

• Chamomile: Soothing, aromatic, and promotes relaxation.
• Peppermint: Cooling, refreshing, and ideal for warm-weather teas.
• Ginger: Warming, soothing, and perfect for the colder months.
• Lavender: Aromatic, relaxing, and eases tension.
• Lemon balm: Gentle, elevating, and citrusy.
• Rosehips: Tart, citrusy, and a source of vitamin C.

Spices

Alongside traditional herbal teas, species are also an excellent addition to latte-style drinks. Consider adding the following:

• Cinnamon: Warm, sweet, and woody.
• Nutmeg: Sweet, warm, and nutty.
• Cloves: Strong, sweet, soothing, and slightly bitter.
• Cardamom: Sweet, floral, and slightly spicy.
• Turmeric: Earthy, warm, and soothing.
• Star anise: Licorice-like, sweet, and aromatic.
• Vanilla: Sweet, creamy, and floral.

How To Make Marijuana Tea More Potent

You’re now equipped with all of the knowledge you need to make your marijuana tea as delicious as possible. Next, we will explore how to make weed tea more potent. Consider the following options:

• Kief: Instead of using buds, stems, or trims, use kief for a more powerful brew. Being concentrated cannabis trichomes, kief contains many more cannabinoids and terpenes per gram. However, you’ll need coffee filter paper instead of a sieve to remove it from the finished product.
• Tincture: Forgo plant matter altogether and add a few drops of tincture to your mug. Because tinctures already contain cannabinoids, you can simply add them directly to your mug alongside some warm water, a tea bag, and a sweetener.
• Concentrates: When making any of the recipes above, experiment with hash, wax, or shatter in place of buds for a much more potent and potentially psychoactive experience.

Calculating Dose Per Cup

If you're making it yourself, the THC content in your tea will vary according to which strain, concentrate, or extract you're using. To get a rough idea, use this general rule: add a 0 to the THC percentage of your strain or other cannabis product. For example, if your weed has 15% THC, there'll be about 150mg in your cup for every gram of flower used.

Check out our dosage table below for a visual guide:

THC % of Weed | THC per 1g Used (mg)

• 10% | 100mg
• 15% | 150mg
• 20% | 200mg
• 25% | 250mg

We recommend starting with a smaller dose if you’re a beginner and building up the dose in small increments until you reach the desired effect.

Factors Affecting Marijuana Tea Potency

Aside from cannabinoid content, various other factors influence how the cannabinoids affect your body. You should consider both of the key variables below before necking a mug of weed tea.

The speed of your metabolism, which is often dictated by factors such as muscle mass and body fat, can influence how long it takes for oral cannabinoids to set in and subside. Those with a fast metabolism can expect a quicker onset but a shorter experience, and vice versa.

Likewise, somebody’s tolerance to cannabinoids will also influence how they respond to cannatea. The body adapts to certain cannabinoids over time, meaning it takes more of the molecule to experience the same effects. Those with a high tolerance require significantly bigger doses than those with less of an adaptation to feel the same impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Oral marijuana is no joke; many users have mistakenly placed themselves in a bad mental state after taking too big of a dose. To avoid overwhelming yourself when sipping marijuana tea, consider the following common mistakes:

• Overestimating cannabinoid content: You must start out low and slow and get used to how your body responds to small amounts of oral weed. Increasing consumption slowly to avoid seriously overdoing things.
• Skipping measurement: Eyeballing your ingredients simply won’t do—especially if you’re looking to avoid an overwhelming experience. Carefully measure the amount of flower you use, so you know what kind of dose you’re consuming.
• Not waiting long enough: Wait at least one hour before drinking another cup of weed tea. Oral weed takes a while to kick in. Assuming you haven’t drunk enough and rushing to consume more is a surefire way to a bad experience.

Effects of Marijuana-Infused Tea

As it goes with edibles, the effects of marijuana-infused tea take a while to show. As far as what you’ll feel, that’ll come down to the type of tea you’re using and what strain of cannabis you’re infusing with it.

Onset

Typically, you're looking at around a 30–90 minute wait before the effects of your cannatea begin to take hold, though it can take up to two hours for some.

For example, those with lower body fat might feel the effects sooner than those with more, and shorter people may feel it sooner than taller folks. If it’s your first time, you may notice the effects creeping on earlier, while those who regularly partake will need more time before they feel things kicking in.

Duration

For most people, a marijuana tea high will last around 4–8 hours, but this will, again, depend on factors such as individual physiology, food/drink intake, and tolerance to marijuana.

Marijuana Tea vs Smoking Marijuana

Marijuana tea differs significantly from smoking cannabis in several ways, including speed on onset, duration, and intensity. Overall, weed tea takes much longer to set in. The high also lasts longer and typically hits with much more intensity.

After drinking, cannabinoids pass through the stomach and into the liver. Here, the body converts them into metabolites that more readily pass through the blood-brain barrier, where they bind to CB1 receptors.

In contrast, smoked cannabinoids instantly diffuse through the lungs and into the bloodstream, producing a near-instant effect.

Non-Psychotropic Tea (CBD Tea)

Instead of using psychotropic strains for your tea, you could always make CBD tea instead. As mentioned earlier, you can find CBD tea in cannabis stores or make it yourself. Unlike psychotropic tea, CBD tea won't get you baked but will instead offer all the relaxing effects you know and love from taking CBD in other forms.

Additionally, you can make CBD tea with tinctures you’d usually take under your tongue (sublingually). The tea will mask the tincture’s bitterness, and adding honey, milk, or flavoring will make it virtually undetectable to the tongue.

Check out the recipes below to enjoy a mug of cannabis tea without the high.

CBD Flower Tea

Use your homegrown CBD buds to brew a delicious batch of non-psychoactive tea using the recipe below.

Ingredients

• 0.04 oz finely ground CBD flower
• 10 fl oz water
• 1 tbsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1–2 slices fresh lemon (optional)

Hardware

• Saucepan
• Sieve
• Mug
• Spoon

Directions

1. Bring water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir in the coconut oil or butter into the simmering water.
3. Stir in your decarboxylated ground CBD flower.
4. Let the mixture simmer for a further 15 minutes.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and strain it through a sieve.
6. Sweeten to taste and serve.

CBD Tincture Tea

If you have some CBD tincture to hand, try out this super speedy and convenient recipe instead.

Ingredients

• 1–2 droppers of CBD tincture
• 1 cup freshly brewed tea (chamomile, pepper, and ginger work well)
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

Hardware

• Teapot or kettle
• Mug
• Teaspoon

Directions

1. Brew your favorite type of herbal tea according to the package instructions.
2. Allow the tea to cool slightly for 1–2 minutes.
3. Add 1–2 droppers of your favorite CBD tincture, depending on your dose preference.
4. Sweeten to taste and enjoy.

Strains We Recommend for Cannatea

You can make cannatea with any strain, but for those unsure which would work best, we have a solid list of recommendations.

Fruit Spirit

Bred for flavor, Fruit Spirit is ideal for a hot mug of delicious cannabis tea. A member of the White Widow family, Fruit Spirit is marked by sativa-dominant genetics, hints of blueberry, and a mellow and relaxing head high. With all that goodness, fuelled by a modest yet notable 18% THC, it’s definitely one of our favorites for milder highs.

Fruit Spirit

Fruit Spirit

	Blueberry x White Widow
	375 - 425 gr/m2
	80 - 120 cm
	9 - 10 weeks
	THC: 18%

	Sativa 30% Indica 70%
	475 - 525 gr/plant
	175 - 220 cm
	Early October
	Clear

Buy Fruit Spirit

Lemon Shining Silver Haze

Known for her strong, tart fragrance that tiptoes between sweetness and dankness, Lemon Shining Silver Haze is sharp lemon soda in weed form. As well as a pleasant taste, you’ll experience the euphoria of the best sativas, powered by 21% THC. If you like a kick of citrus in your cup, give this a try for your cannatea, too!

Lemon Shining Silver Haze

Lemon Shining Silver Haze

	Lemon Skunk x Shining Silver Haze
	600 - 650 gr/m2
	80 - 140 cm
	9 - 10 weeks
	THC: 21%

	Sativa 75% Indica 25%
	650 - 700 gr/plant
	130 - 170 cm
	Middle of October
	Balanced, Clear, Stoned

Buy Lemon Shining Silver Haze

Green Gelato

Potent and flavorsome, Green Gelato is reminiscent of a chocolate chip ice cream topped with orange drizzle. It also has a whopping 27% THC, so it’s the perfect choice for users with high tolerances. It takes effect quickly, and the slightly indica-dominant genetics will have you basking in a physically relaxing yet clear-headed effect.

Green Gelato

Green Gelato

	Sunset Sherbet x Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies
	500 - 700 gr/m²
	80 - 120 cm
	8 - 10 weeks
	THC: 27%

	Sativa 45% Indica 55%
	800 gr/plant
	150 - 200 cm
	Early October
	Clear, Physically Relaxing

Buy Green Gelato

Is Marijuana Tea Legal?

The legality of marijuana tea largely depends on where you live, as cannabis laws vary drastically between countries and states. Let’s break down the legal landscape in the United States and Europe below.

Marijuana Tea in the United States

In the United States, the legalization of weed tea hinges on state regulations and the type of cannabis used. Some hemp-derived CBD products are federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and tolerated by most—but not all states.

Marijuana tea made from psychotropic buds is legal in some states that allow recreational and medical cannabis, such as California and Oregon. However, these products remain strictly prohibited in other states, including Idaho, Kansas, and South Carolina. Make sure you check the regulations in your area to avoid unwanted issues.

Cannabis Tea in Europe

Europe presents a patchwork of regulations when it comes to cannabis products. Products derived from regulated hemp varieties are generally permitted across the EU, which include CBD teas made from hemp.

However, regulations in most EU countries strictly outlaw products containing high levels of psychoactive cannabinoids, making marijuana tea illegal across most of the continent.

Marijuana Tea: You’re on the Way to Becoming a Master Brewer

And just like that, you know practically everything worth knowing about marijuana tea! You’re aware of its ancient origins and how it creates a high. You even have a few delicious recipes ready to go!

However, you've probably realized there are levels to making weed tea! As you continue to unleash your creativity, you’ll find the best strains and doses that work for you. Eventually, you’ll probably want to try your hand at other edibles. In this case, check out our extensive list of scrumptious weed-infused recipes!