Hinchliffe - High tea: gracious cannabis tea-time recipes for every occasion

Also by Sandra Hinchliffe

The Cannabis Spa at Home

Copyright 2017 by Sandra Hinchliffe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Jane Sheppard

Cover photo credit Sandra Hinchliffe

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1757-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1759-6

Printed in China

DEDICATION

To Chef Roxanna

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to my dear and bestest foraging pal, Janet; my husband, Greg; my agent, Rita Rosenkranz; and my editor at Skyhorse Publishing, Nicole Frail.

PREFACE

This book is intended for readers twenty-one and older.

The legality of the cannabis plant, as well as the other plants, possession, preparation, and consumption techniques of cannabis and other herbs varies by locationplease consult your attorney for advice regarding the legal use of any plant. This book does not advocate unlawful behavior.

In addition, this book is not a replacement for the advice and diagnosis of a medical doctorand nothing in this book should be considered medical advice. Please consult with your doctor regarding cannabis, other herbs, and your health. The recipes and suggestions in this book are not intended for pregnant or nursing mothers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AN INTRODUCTION TO CANNABIS TEA-TIME AND THE ART OF CANNABIS TEA

Why tea?

Teas, tisanes, broths, and bhangs are simple joys that can be prepared quickly and create flavor experiences, moods, and settings perfect for all the good vibrations the cannabis plant has to offer!

A Satisfying Experience: Cannabis Tea and Beverage

I believe that the best culinary cannabinoid experience is found in the form of teas, tisanes, and broths served with an herbal entourage, as well as creamy bhangs and beverages highly spiced or infused with bright, expansive flavors. These have a distinct advantage over cannabis cuisine; they generally have a faster onset, which is easier to titrate much like vaping cannabis, resulting in a positive and uplifting experience that will harness the power of 11-hydroxy-THC along with other entourage chemistry, such as additional cannabinoids, monounsaturated fats, and the terpene chemistry of select herbs, fruits, and flowers.

Teas, tisanes, broths, and bhangs also do not lend themselves to overconsumption the way a snack food or entre might. However, the cannabis beverages in this book can be paired with unmedicated small bites, pastries, or sweets that are complementary to the cannabis experienceand I recommend these types of pairings for the most satisfying experiences.

Its not surprising that bhang has been the preferred form of cannabis cuisine for thousands of years in India, where some traditions are deeply rooted in cannabis beverage consumption. The milky, lukewarm bhang made with whole cannabis and spices is a favorite and appropriate beverage for the Holi celebration and is openly sold by shops and vendors who cater to this cultural and spiritual tradition.

Infusing Cannabinoids into Beverages and Broths

Many know that the best cannabis infusions distribute the oily cannabinoids throughout liquids. This kind of robust infusion, known as emulsification, is typical for cannabis beverages like bhang due to their heavy milk or nut-based preparation. In other types of beverages or broths, more often than not, the infusion of cannabinoids results in a floating layer of oil or resin on top of the beverage and a flavor that overpowers everything else.

Cannabinoids can only be extracted into fats or fat solvents that can then be infused into other things like beverages. You cant actually make a cannabinoid beverage or tea out of just water and cannabis flowers or concentrates and expect much more than floating resin that sticks to the pot or cupunless you are juicing fresh cannabis, which is a completely different type of beverage. This is also why I think that alcohol-based cannabis tinctures are not ideal for beverages due to the cannabis oils sticking to the serviceware or cup.

Furthermore, cannabinoids need to be treated with heat to decarboxylate, or decarb, and become the active cannabinoids like CBD and the psychoactive cannabinoid THC if you desire the psychoactive effects. You may fully decarb, or even partially decarbyour preference. Cannabis may be consumed with very little to no decarboxylation for other health benefits, as well. For the purposes of our recipes, the extraction methods in this book are decarboxylated.

. These infusion recipes are explored in a variety of ways in the recipes that follow.

Dosing

Cannabis cuisine can be a wily, Wild West kind of experience for many people, both connoisseurs and new initiates, due to the powerful chemistry of THC as it passes through the liver and changes from delta-9 THC into 11-hydroxy-THCthe latter being more psychedelic than the former for many. I dont think I know a single cannabis consumer who hasnt had at least one negative experience with cannabis cuisine due to its unpredictability in many instances.

Im often asked about accurate and effective dosing of cannabinoids. I know that without lab testing, there is no such thing as a completely accurate dosage. You can find calculators online and recommendations by top chefs may be quite helpful, but only lab testing is precise.

The best method for precise milligram counts is to purchase a cannabis product from a legal dispensary that has been tested by a lab and contains the milligram content on the packaging or a percentage of cannabinoids by weight so that you can calculate the milligrams as accurately as possible. Simple enoughyou put the whole thing into the Cannabis Infusion Oil recipe in this chapter and then divide it into servings of x (your desired amount) milligrams of cannabinoids. This is the most accurate way of confirming the exact amount of cannabinoids you are consuming or serving to other people, apart from taking your final infusion oil to have it tested by a cannabis lab.