Tea is an aromatic beverage with a long, rich history. Obtained from the Camellia sinensis species, tea is unrivalled as a daily drink that both refreshes and relaxes those who partake. The word “tea” can also be used to describe brews made from a wide range of herbs and other botanical species, including CBD-rich cannabis.
This is precisely the reason why tea is such an effective and pleasant way to dose CBD.
What Is CBD?
CBD is one of the many cannabinoid compounds derived from the cannabis plant. This unique family of chemicals is (mostly) exclusive to cannabis, and is capable of producing numerous physiological outcomes once consumed. While the psychotropic cannabinoid THC is famous for the high it induces, CBD has no such side effects. Yet, it does have the potential to subtly influence the mind and body.
CBD has been studied somewhat extensively, and the body of scientific literature points towards intriguing outcomes both in vitro (in a petri dish) and in vivo (in a living organism). Research on the matter is yet inconclusive, but it certainly is encouraging.
How CBD Works: The Endocannabinoid System
CBD affects the body in various ways, including via the endocannabinoid system. This regulatory network is made up of a series of receptors found on many different cell types in/on the body.
Authors of a paper[1] published in the journal Pharmacological Reviews state that the endocannabinoid system holds promise for a wide range of disparate diseases and pathological conditions, and displays regulatory functions in both health and disease.
Benefits of CBD Tea
Tea is a simple and enjoyable way to administer CBD, and it may be an ideal choice for those who are not keen on smoking or vaping.
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Can Help You Achieve a Good Night’s Rest
The relaxing properties of CBD are scientifically supported. In a clinical study published in 2019[2], a group of 72 adults who reported being restless and/or having poor sleep were administered CBD. Within the first month, sleep scores improved for 48 patients (66.7%) in the study.
The relaxing effect of drinking CBD tea before bedtime can be further enhanced by adding chamomile, peppermint, valerian, or melatonin to the brew.
Cannabinoids including CBD have been shown to display powerful antioxidant properties[3]. As such, CBD may help in fighting free radicals—molecules that damage cellular structures, leading to wrinkles and other early signs of ageing.
Green tea and black tea by themselves are rich in antioxidants called flavonoids (which cannabis also contains). Thus, regularly drinking tea infused with CBD may be particularly effective in maintaining a radiant and youthful complexion.
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Could Help With an Upset Stomach
CBD may also help if one is feeling queasy. A paper[4] published in the British Journal of Pharmacology suggests that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system could help due to indirect activation of serotonin receptors.
CBD is reported to have a relaxing effect. This makes CBD tea a perfect brew to wind down with at the end of a long day. Indeed, the soothing effect of CBD on the nerves has been the subject of extensive research[5], and has even made the cannabinoid a potential future alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals.
Types of CBD Tea
There are various ways to prepare CBD tea to your liking. One of the easiest methods is to just brew some ground buds or leaves of a CBD-rich strain using a tea infuser, quite like preparing any other herbal tea. Keep in mind, however, that you'll need sufficiently more leaves than you would buds to brew a comparably strong tea.
CBD buds can also be blended in with other types of tea, i.e. green, black, or herbal tea, to harness the best qualities of both.
In addition to plant material (CBD or hemp flower), or ready-made CBD tea bags, CBD tinctures and other products can also be used to infuse your brew with CBD. Common CBD oils, however, are not optimal for tea preparation as water and oil don’t mix, and thus the beneficial compounds won’t be equally distributed in the brew.
Making and Consuming CBD Tea: What You Need to Know
The beauty of CBD tea isn’t just in the previously mentioned potential benefits. We also like how it can be prepared in myriad ways: Simply add CBD to your tea of choice, from black, green, and red tea to hibiscus, yerba mate, and everything in between!
In addition, one can enjoy CBD tea both hot and cold, either as a relaxing warmer-upper during the cold season, or as a refreshing cool drink during the hot summer months!
The thing is, cannabinoids don’t really absorb well in water like the compounds in traditional tea do. Said differently, although you can brew your CBD tea that way, the result will be less potent.
Cannabinoids dissolve much better into fatty sources. This is why cannabutter and cannabis coconut oil are so popular. They provide a fatty base that adequately absorbs the cannabinoids, and are super easy to add to a wide range of food and drinks. Cannabutter can be added to tea to make a more calorically dense beverage that contains good levels of CBD.
A more effective and convenient option is to use several drops of a high-strength CBD tincture to an already-prepared tea, allowing for accurate and efficient dosing.
Taking Advantage of the Entourage Effect
Different terpenes (aromatic compounds found in cannabis and other plants) can enhance some of the therapeutic actions of CBD. The so-called entourage effect[6] suggests that cannabinoids and terpenes work in synergy to create more profound effects.
For example, the terpenes limonene and linalool, found in many plants and fruits, are synergistic with CBD in terms of its relaxing, soothing effects.
How to Mix Your CBD With Tea
You can brew CBD-rich cannabis or hemp flower by itself like ordinary tea. Alternatively, you can add weed to your favourite tea mix. This works to some degree, but isn’t too effective at extracting all the beneficial compounds.
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CBD dissolved in butter or fat
Just add a teaspoon of cannabutter to your cup, add a tea bag of your choosing, and brew your tea. Let the cannabutter fully dissolve, allow to steep for a few minutes, then remove the tea bag. Add milk, honey, or sugar to taste.
Simply add several drops of CBD tincture to hot water or tea. Alcohol-based CBD tinctures work best, but CBD oils can also work if you stir your brew a few times while drinking.
Two Easy CBD Tea Recipes
Here are two great CBD tea recipes. The first recipe involves making tea using cannabis/hemp flower and a tea bag or strainer. The second recipe is for making CBD tea with CBD tincture.
A Note on Dosing
In terms of how concentrated with CBD your tea should be, this will vary based on your experience with CBD and your preferences. Most people will aim for between 5–50mg of CBD per cup, with 10–25mg being a good middle-ground. How many drops of tincture, or how much CBD bud/cannabutter, to use will vary based on the CBD concentration of a given product.
Recipe: CBD Tea Made With CBD-Rich Cannabis
Ingredients
- 1 tea bag CBD tea (ready-made or ground CBD flower mixed with tea)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 lemon peel
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup hot water
- Optional cream, sugar, honey to taste
Instructions
- Add the honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon into a mug.
- Place the ready-made tea bag into the mug. Alternatively, grind up some CBD flower and add to your favourite tea, then put the mix into a tea infuser or back in the tea bag, and place into your mug.
- Fill with hot—not boiling—water. Let steep for 3–5 minutes. The recommended steeping time will vary according to the type of tea you’re using.
- Remove the tea bag or strainer.
- Add cream, sugar, or honey to taste; stir.
- Serve and enjoy!
Pro Tips
Don’t cold-brew your CBD tea! Heat is required to activate the beneficial compounds in cannabis. After brewing, however, you can indeed chill your tea if you want to enjoy a refreshing cool beverage!
You don’t technically have to mix your CBD flower with some other type of tea. You can also brew it by itself. For many, however, the taste is a bit too “grassy”, and benefits from some extra flavour nuance. It really comes down to your personal preference.
If you’re looking to avoid getting high, make sure you use suitable CBD strains that have no or only trace amounts of THC. Cannabis tea made from ordinary marijuana will get you very high!
Recipe: CBD Tea Made With CBD Tincture
CBD tincture is perhaps the easiest way to add cannabis or hemp to your tea. Just add a few drops of CBD tincture after brewing, and that’s it! You can also use CBD oil if that’s what you have available, although it will require regular stirring.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- CBD tincture
- Loose tea leaves (black, green, herbal, etc.)
Instructions
- Pour your water into a pot. Heat over medium-high and bring water to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, remove the pot from the heat. Place the tea leaves into the pot and cover with a lid.
- Allow to steep for about 5 minutes.
- Strain tea leaves.
- Add the CBD tincture and stir.
- Wait a few minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Lots of Variety to Explore
Don’t like the taste quite yet? There are many herbs you can choose from to use as a base for your CBD tea. Likewise, don’t hesitate to add lemon, honey, sugar, or cinnamon before serving to give your CBD tea a finishing touch.
Type and Duration of Effects of CBD Tea
In regards to the effects of CBD, users often report a subtle, relaxing sensation that doesn't inhibit normal functioning. But this may vary from person to person. To see what effect it has, start with a low dose, observe how it makes you feel, and increase if desired.
How long the effects of CBD will last also varies by the individual. Weight, metabolism, experience with CBD, and whether or not you ate can all affect the duration. Typically, the effects of orally consumed CBD can last anywhere from 2–5 hours.
Is CBD Tea Good for Losing Weight?
There isn’t any in-depth research on using CBD for weight loss. Anecdotally, however, some who take it believe that CBD acts as an appetite suppressant, and thus helps them with losing weight. The combination of CBD and tea from the Camellia sinensis plant may boost this effect, as tea itself may have weight loss-promoting properties[7].
What Are the Side Effects of CBD Tea?
Side effects of CBD are generally considered mild and uncommon. Nevertheless, you should always stick to the recommended dosages. Although CBD is widely believed to be non-toxic, it has the potential to interact with certain medications. If you’re concerned about any potential contraindications, consult your doctor.
Does CBD Tea Make You Tired?
CBD does have a relaxing effect that most people would describe as subtle and very mild—nothing like a couch-locking marijuana high. It is more likely to support a healthy sleep cycle than it is to make you sleepy. Still, the effect varies from person to person, and you can always increase or decrease your dose if you feel more tired than you’d like.
How Often Can You Drink CBD Tea?
Despite its non-psychotropic profile, CBD tea should still be enjoyed in moderation. If tea is your preferred CBD intake method, you may find two to three cups per day to be sufficient. On the other hand, if you take CBD orally via capsules or some other method, limit yourself to maybe just a single cup a day. In any case, always record your daily CBD intake in milligrams to keep track.
Good Cannabis Strains for CBD Tea
Here is a selection of CBD-rich strains that are great for making CBD tea. Make note that the last one on our list also contains THC—recommended for those who want a mild high from their CBD tea!
Joanne's CBD: 15% CBD
Joanne’s CBD delivers a whopping 15% CBD and only trace amounts (0.25–0.75%) of THC for a clear-headed and lucid effect. Parents of this 50% indica, 50% sativa hybrid are the legendary Juanita la Lagrimosa from Spain and the productive Session, which was added to endow the strain with good yields of up to 500g/m² indoors and 475g/plant outdoors.
Solomatic CBD: 21% CBD
Solomatic CBD is Royal Queen Seeds’ go-to strain for people who want sheer CBD goodness in the shortest time possible. This autoflower impresses with buds loaded with 21% CBD and never more than 1% THC. Better yet, she delivers her haul in just 9–10 weeks from germination. The compact plant yields as much as 475g/m² indoors and 110–150g/plant outdoors.
Medical Mass: 10% CBD, 10% THC
For those who love a nice balance of CBD and THC in their tea, Medical Mass is the perfect strain to light up your morning or evening. This indica-dominant cross between RQS’ Critical Mass and a CBD-rich variety clocks in with about 10% of each cannabinoid (CBD and THC) to produce a nicely balanced effect that is ultimately very relaxing. Expect good yields of 550g/m² indoors and about the same per plant outdoors.
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
