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How to Make THC Syrup
Whether you pour it on pancakes and waffles, use it to craft a cocktail, or drizzle it atop desserts, syrup is super versatile and delicious. Now, you can infuse your favourite simple syrup with THC for an extra kick. Find out how below.
Looking for something new to try in the kitchen? Whether you're a seasoned cannabis chef or a rookie to the world of cooking with weed, THC syrups are a fun and simple way to experiment in the kitchen and combine your weed with different flavours. Moreover, your finished syrups can be used in a wide variety of recipes, from soft drinks and cocktails to baked goods and more. Keep reading to learn how to make canna-syrup at home.
Contents:
What Is THC Syrup?
THC syrup is, you guessed it, syrup infused with the magic of THC. Making it involves the same simple process used to make any syrup, which consists of simply cooking down water, sugar, and your favourite flavour additives until you're left with a slightly thickened, sweet concoction that can be used to enhance confections, cocktails, desserts, and more.
Cannabis Syrup vs Cannabutter
When you think of cooking with cannabis, you're probably trained to think of cannabutter, which has long served as the quintessential ingredient in a weed lover's kitchen. Because of its high fat content, butter serves as a perfect vessel for THC and other fat-soluble cannabis compounds that do not dissolve in water. With the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets, canna-oils have also begun to gain more traction, offering non-meat eaters the perfect alternative. Now, THC syrup (which is made with vegetable glycerine to ensure it packs the right punch) offers cannabis connoisseurs another lean, vegan-friendly ingredient with which to infuse their meals (see more below).
How to Make THC Syrup
Without further ado, here's how to make simple yet delicious cannabis syrup at home with only a handful of ingredients and tools.
Ingredients
- 750ml water
- 750g sugar
- 2 tbsp vegetable glycerine
- 2–3g dry cannabis flower or trim
- Flavourings & aromatics (see our recommendations further below)
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking sheet
- Baking paper
- Saucepan
- Funnel
- Coffee filter
- Bottle (for storing the syrup)
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 110°C. While the oven comes up to temperature, grind your bud or trim to a medium consistency.
- Line a baking sheet with baking paper and spread the ground cannabis evenly across it. Once your oven has come up to temperature, bake the cannabis for 30–40 minutes, stirring once to ensure the cannabis heats evenly. This process is known as decarboxylation and is key to producing potent edibles.
- Remove the cannabis from the oven. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and any flavourings/aromatics you choose to use. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer. Stir regularly to ensure all of the sugar dissolves into the water.
- Add in your decarbed cannabis flower or trim. Cook for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour covered or uncovered, based on your preference (see Tips for Making Potent and Delicious Canna-Syrup).
- After 30–60 minutes, remove your syrup from the heat. Add the vegetable glycerine and stir to combine with the rest of the mixture.
- Let the mixture cool before straining it through a coffee filter and funnel into a bottle for storage. To preserve the potency of your THC syrup for longer, store it in an opaque glass bottle that helps to block light (which degrades THC and other cannabis compounds).
Tips for Making Potent and Delicious Canna-Syrup
- For a more watery result, cover your syrup for the first 15–30 minutes of cooking. This will prevent some water from evaporating from the mixture.
- For a more viscous syrup, let it cook uncovered for longer. If your syrup becomes too thick for your liking, you can add more water to it as it cooks.
- Always remember to decarb your cannabis before cooking with it. Without proper decarboxylation, you won't activate the cannabinoids in your weed and thus your edibles won’t pack the punch you're looking for. This applies to THC, CBD, and various other cannabinoids.
- For a clear syrup, use refined white sugar. For a brown, caramel-coloured syrup, use brown sugar or muscovado. Alternatively, you can also use honey to make THC syrup with a more complex flavour. To adapt this recipe for a honey THC syrup, use between 750 and 1,500g of honey (the more you use, the sweeter and more intense your syrup will be).
- Use more or less sugar as you see fit. A 1:1 sugar:water ratio is the foundation of making syrup, but you can adapt the above recipe as needed by using more or less sugar to suit your taste or desired use for the finished syrup.
Spice Up Your THC Syrup With These Flavourings/Aromatics
Making THC syrup basically involves making a simple syrup and infusing it with decarbed weed. But the real fun of making canna-syrup at home comes from experimenting with unique flavours. Below we'll share a few of our favourite syrup flavour combinations, but feel free to play around and find others:
- Lemon, lime, or orange, for a fresh twist of citrus.
- Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries (or any combination of them).
- Ginger, for an invigorating kick.
- Coffee or tea. To avoid over-brewing your coffee or tea (which will give it a bitter flavour), add it already-brewed to your syrup in step #5 of the above recipe.
- Apricot, peach, or plum jam. You can add fruit jam to the above recipe in step #4 to easily infuse your syrup with your favourite fruit flavours. Just remember to adjust the amount of sugar you use in the recipe to avoid ending up with a syrup that's too sweet.
- Spices, such as cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamon, and anis can add incredible depth and complexity to a syrup.
- Add a few slices of fresh cucumber to your simple syrup when you bottle it to add some light freshness.
How to Use THC Syrup
You can use your canna-syrup like you would any other simple or flavoured syrup. Below are a few examples, but don't be afraid to get creative:
- To sweeten or flavour coffee, tea, or other herbal brews
- To flavour sponge cakes
- On top of pancakes or waffles
- To liven up cocktails
- To make refreshing soft drinks
- As a substitute for sugar in baked goods and other recipes
- To add extra flavour, sweetness, and depth to sauces and marinades
- To top off desserts (such as ice cream)
THC Syrup — The Perfect Stoning Sweet Treat
Whether you're an experienced cannabis cook or just getting the hang of using weed in the kitchen, THC syrups are simple to make and give you a lot of liberty to play around with flavours and aromas. Over time, this experimentation will help you develop a strong palate to take your weed recipes to the next level.
DisclaimerWhen consumed, THC metabolizes into 11-hydroxy-THC, which enters the body through the stomach and liver, resulting in a significantly stronger effect due to its increased affinity for CB1 receptors in the brain.
Ensure accurate portion control. Begin with small doses and gradually increase to develop tolerance.
Remember: Set and Setting will help you deal with various situations.
Stay Cultivated.