In the year 79 CE, Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist and philosopher, wrote about the medicinal properties of cannabis root. He noted that boiling the root in water could create a soothing tea that could relieve joint cramps and pain. While the flower of the cannabis plant has become the star of the show in modern times, the roots and stems still hold value as an herbal tea. This tea may not have any psychoactive effects, as the stems contain low levels of cannabinoids, but it does contain beneficial terpenes that can help reduce inflammation and pain. If you or someone you know is growing cannabis, consider collecting the stems and roots at harvest time to make your own Pliny-style cannabis tea.
Pliny-Style Cannabis Tea
Serves 5 / Prep time: 10 minutes / Cook time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
– Stems and roots from 1 cannabis plant, dried and roughly chopped
– 5 cups water
– 2-3 bags herbal tea of choice, optional
Directions:
Step 1: In a large saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil.
Step 2: Reduce heat to low and add the chopped stem and root. Cover and cook for 1 hour.
Step 3: Remove from heat and add your herbal tea. Cover and allow to steep on the counter overnight.
Step 4: Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and place it over a large heat-safe bowl.
Step 5: Carefully pour the tea through the cheesecloth. Gently press to extract any remaining tea through the cheesecloth.
Step 6: Enjoy warm or cold.
Dosing process: Start with ¼ cup of tea and wait 4 hours to fully assess your reaction to its strength and effects. Drink more as needed.
Safety Tip: The cannabis root contains alkaloids that can cause hepatotoxicity if consumed in high amounts or for a long periods of time. This herbal tea should be limited to one cup a day with light to moderate long-term use.
Want to add some psychoactive sweetness to your cannabis tea? Try this recipe for a cannabis-infused honey guaranteed to get you buzzing.
Be Buzzing Canna-Honey
Serves several / Prep time: 10-15 minutes / Cook time: 2-3 hours
Ingredients:
– ½ ounce finely chopped, decarboxylated cannabis
– 32 ounces honey
Directions:
Step 1: Place the cannabis in a cheesecloth bag or pouch tied with string.
Step 2: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the honey to a simmer.
Step 3: Add the cheesecloth with cannabis to the honey and simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
Step 4: Remove the cheesecloth and squeeze to extract all the honey. Cool at room temperature. Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
Dosing process: Add one or two teaspoons to your tea for desired potency and level of sweetness. Re-sweeten as desired.
Recipes excerpted from “The Marijuana Medical Dispensary” by Laurie Wolf and Mary Wolf and “Cooking with Cannabis” by Laurie Wolf. The post Recipe: Healing Cannabis Tea with Canna-Honey appeared first on Cannabis Now.