By Luke Sumpter


Bhang is considered one of the most time-honoured, traditional forms of marijuana edibles. It is a favoured way of consuming cannabis throughout Northern India and is an essential part of Hindu culture.

What Is Bhang?

Bhang is a paste made from the flowers and leaves of the female cannabis plant. The paste is made by soaking and then grinding up the plant material. Traditionally, the paste is rolled into smooth, green or brown shiny balls known as bhang goli.

The most common use for bhang is in a drink known as bhang thandai. Bhang thandai also contains warm milk, ground nuts, and a mixture of spices. The beverage is typically consumed during religious festivals such as Holi. Bhang is a significant part of Hindu culture because of its link to Shiva, the god of destruction. Destruction is not viewed negatively in Hinduism, as through destruction, new life is created.

There are many stories about Shiva in the Hindu religion. One tells of how he descended from the Hindu Kush mountain range, bringing bhang as a gift to humanity. The stories speak of Shiva using bhang daily to enhance his powers. Shiva is sometimes also referred to as the “Lord of Bhang”.

Using bhang is a socially acceptable and pretty unremarkable practice in India. Its use is so widespread that following the colonisation of India in the 19th century, the British decided not to prohibit it for fear of extreme civil unrest. The consumption of bhang continues today, and it can still be purchased in government-sanctioned shops.

  • Traditional Uses of Bhang

Cannabis is named one of five sacred plants mentioned in the Atharva Veda. This is an ancient Hindu text originating from 2000–1400 BCE. Bhang has also been a prominent feature in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The Hindu-faithful believe that bhang can bring comfort from many complaints.

Aside from this, Hindu holy men, known as sadhus, use bhang to assist in meditation and yogic practice. Anxious soldiers were also known to use bhang to ease their nerves before battle. Legend says that bhang gave one nervous soldier enough courage to slide beneath an armed elephant and kill it during one victorious fight. Bhang was also regarded as a powerful aphrodisiac, often used by newlyweds on their first night of marriage.

Traditional Uses of Bhang

Bhang and Charas: What's the Difference?

Another type of traditional Indian cannabis extract is charas, which comes from the Hindustani word for “hash”. Charas is popular in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal, but is most often associated with India. Like bhang, charas has been used for religious and holistic purposes for thousands of years. So, what is the difference between bhang and charas?

Charas is traditionally made from the top leaves and flowers of the unfertilised young female cannabis plant. It is collected by rubbing the buds and leaves between the hands until resin accumulates. The resin is then scraped off and collected. Charas can also be confused with hash. However, like bhang, charas is made from a live cannabis plant. Hash is made from dead, dried cannabis plant material.

Producing charas is now illegal in India. However, it is still considered an essential cash crop in the Himalayan region of Northern India. Charas, unlike bhang, is not edible. Smoking is the recommended way to enjoy it. The potent THC cannabinoids will activate during the smoking/vaporizing process.

Bhang and Charas: What's the Difference?

The Benefits and Risks of Bhang

Bhang is known for its psychoactive effects. The THC and other cannabinoids within the preparation bind to your body's cannabinoid receptors, impacting a host of functions and producing a pleasant, often euphoric high. As bhang is an "edible", a large share of the THC consumed is turned into 11-hydroxy-THC when exposed to first pass metabolism (i.e. when subjected to the digestive system and liver before entering the bloodstream).

As 11-hydroxy-THC is much more psychoactive than delta-9-THC, it results in an often much more powerful and sustained high. Whereas the effects of smoking last a few hours, those of bhang can last up to eight hours or more depending on the potency and the amount taken.

Although bhang has long held a place in the Ayurvedic lifestyle system, there is inadequate science to support claims of potential health benefits.

Though it may have some benefits, bhang also carries the potential for side effects. Yet, its impact isn’t much different to that of other cannabis edibles. In other words, you may experience panic[1] or fear as a result of ingesting bhang, and it is likely to reduce short-term memory, coordination, and judgment while you're intoxicated.

Consuming bhang while pregnant or breastfeeding can increase the risk of premature birth[2], low birth weight, and poor brain development. Therefore, use is strongly discouraged during these periods. Moreover, children and adolescents should avoid using bhang as it may negatively modify brain development.

Recipe for Traditional Bhang Thandai (Serves 2)

If you do want to make bhang thandai at home, however, it is a simple process that requires only a few essential pieces of equipment. It makes for a tasty, refreshing, and alternative way to enjoy your weed.

Equipment

  • Large saucepan and lid
  • Pestle and mortar
  • Cheesecloth or fine grade mesh filter

Ingredients

  • ½ – 1 ounce (14–28 grams) fresh cannabis flowers and leaves
  • 500ml fresh water
  • 500ml whole fat milk
  • 250ml honey
  • 2 tbsp ground almonds
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp ground fennel seeds
  • ¼ tsp garam masala
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp cardamom
  • ½ – 1 tsp rosewater
  • Small handful of chopped pistachios—optional
Recipe for Traditional Bhang Thandai (Serves 2)

Directions

  1. Bring the water to a boil on your stovetop.
  2. Finely chop your plant material, add it to the boiling water, and remove the pan from the heat.
  3. Cover the pan, leaving the mixture to soak for approximately 10 minutes.
  4. Use the cheesecloth to strain the mixture. Set both the cannabis and the water to one side.
  5. Warm the milk in the pan on the stove.
  6. Put the cannabis in your mortar and pestle with several teaspoons of warmed milk and begin grinding it into a paste.
  7. Add more milk, a few teaspoons at a time, grinding as you go. Continue this process until you have used half the milk.
  8. Strain any remaining plant material from the milk and set the liquid to one side.
  9. Now, combine the water and the milk, and stir well.
  10. Add the remaining milk and other ingredients, stirring well between each application.
  11. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator and stir well before serving. Garnish with chopped pistachios if desired.
Recipe for Traditional Bhang Thandai (Serves 2)

Tips for Better Bhang

Bhang was created to be consumed fresh. As such, we would not recommend storing it for longer than one day, refrigerated or not. Ideally, make it when required so that you can get all of its benefits before any degradation of ingredients occurs.

A good bhang recipe requires fresh cannabis leaves and flowers. It is an ideal way to use your unwanted fan leaves and trim if you grow your own plants. You can use dried and cured cannabis, but getting the paste the right consistency will be more challenging. Using dried bud can also result in your bhang thandai being more potent. So if you are using dried material, remember to adjust the quantity accordingly.

Cannabinoids are fat-soluble. This means that more THC and CBD will be absorbed into your drink if you use a liquid with a high fat content. This is why making your bhang thandai with full fat milk from cows or goats is essential. Add a spoonful of cream, butter, or yoghurt to your finished mixture to increase the fat content further.

Vegans can use plant-based milk, but the results may not be as potent. A milk with a higher-than-average fat content, such as coconut milk, will give you the best results. Add coconut oil at the end of the process to increase the fat content and absorption potential.

Is Bhang for Me?

If you have ever tried cannabis edibles, you will understand that consuming THC in this way has powerful effects. Bhang can take anywhere up to two hours to kick in. When it does, the resulting high is more intense and long-lasting than what you can achieve through smoking or vaping.

Therefore, it is wise to exercise caution when drinking bhang. Start with a small amount. Once you know the strength and the effects, you can alter the dose to suit. Remember that not all ingestion forms serve everyone. The key to getting the most out of your cannabis experience is finding the correct delivery method for you.

External Resources:
  1. Marijuana Toxicity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Prenatal exposure to cannabis and maternal and child health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: