Warm Weather and Edible Cannabis: How Infused Drinks Are Making an Appearance
In the springtime when the temperature starts rising and our gardens begin to bloom again, another area of the edible world that’s becoming increasingly popular, but less talked about, has become infused beverages made with cannabis.
These options are lighter in weight compared to their edible counterparts (i.e. brownies, cookies etc.), and make great additions to a number of types of drinks you may want to enjoy during these warmer months. The beauty of infused beverages is how simple it is to use them for the purposes of achieving a desired level of psychoactivity. With that being said, below are a couple of ideas you could try at home.
How To Make Cannabis-Infused Tincture
Cannabis-infused tinctures provide an excellent way to introduce cannabis into a variety of types of drinks. They’re also relatively inexpensive, and will keep indefinitely in the fridge. In order to create cannabis-infused tinctures, all you need to do is steep a large quantity of flower in ethanol-based liquid. Once that process is complete, you’ll have created something that is perfect for using as a base ingredient in many different types of cannabis-infused drinks.
Some Ideas For Using Your Tincture
Here are a few examples of the various ways you can incorporate cannabis-infused tinctures into the drinks you create:
Infused Lemonade
Lemonade is a summer staple. But the best part of making lemonade is that there really aren’t many rules as far as ingredients go. However, if you’re looking for a recipe to get started with, here’s one example you might find useful:
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Cold water
- Honey or Agave Syrup
- Cannabis Tincture (a few drops)
Add the ingredients together and serve over ice with some fresh mint leaves for garnish. There isn’t much better than sitting outside on a warm day sipping a glass of lemonade while surrounded by nature.
Green Tea Infusion Drink
For those who prefer to stay hydrated throughout the day while still enjoying the effects of cannabis, the Green Tea infusion drink is a solid choice. It’s essentially brewed green tea served chilled with honey and lemon. To take it up a notch, simply add a few drops of cannabis tincture once the brew has cooled down and then pour it over ice and top off with sliced cucumber or pieces of fresh ginger. The combination of flavors makes this drink feel very clean and refreshing without tasting like you’re consuming marijuana.
Mango Sparkler
If you’d rather make something bubbly, the next idea should fit perfectly into your plans. If you’ve ever blended fresh fruit and carbonated water together to create a delicious drink, you know exactly what we mean when we say “sparkler.” Simply blend fresh mango chunks with sparkling water until smooth and then mix in just a little bit of lime juice and agave nectar. Finally, stir in a few drops of cannabis tincture and serve immediately. As you’ll see later, this one makes a particularly fun addition to gatherings because it’s so visually appealing and can easily be made in advance for multiple people.
How To Dose Correctly When Creating Infused Drinks
One thing you must understand about infusing cannabis into drinks versus making other types of edibles (such as brownies), is that you need to monitor dosage levels closely with drinks. This is especially true since the effects produced by cannabis-infused drinks tend to develop significantly slower than those resulting from inhalation. To illustrate the difference, most people report that they experience a stronger effect after consuming cannabis through smoke than they would if they consumed it via ingestion.