Cooking with cannabis:
Over the past decade or so, cooking with cannabis has become less and less taboo. However, after research studies have uncovered and confirmed the medicinal benefits, it has become progressively accepted both medically as well as recreational. It’s no longer a hidden gem that there are a vast variety of health benefits within the cannabis plant. Benefits include but are not limited to relieving chronic pain, nausea, and can also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Cannabis also contains Vitamin C – which assists the immune system. Vitamin K -is fundamental to blood clotting. Iron -is good for blood oxygenation, as well as some others.
Even though marijuana contains such positive entities, there are still many people who are not sold on the idea of smoking. But the great thing about cannabis is you don’t have to in order to reap the benefits the plant has to offer. One awesome alternative to smoking is eating. We all eat, right? Most of us cook. Or knows somebody that does. So why not cannabis infuse the food that you’re already going to eat? Take it further than the common brownie or gummy.
A common staple in cannabis-infused cooking is canna butter. It can be used as a substitute for any recipe that calls for butter or olive oil or on anything you would normally spread your butter on…providing it is properly prepared. Clearly, you are not going to grind your buds and just dump them into a bowl of seasoning, and voila!
Cannabis used for infusion should always first be decarboxylated for it to reach its full capabilities. Decarboxylation is a big word used to tell you that the hemp needs to be heated to activate the cannabinoids. This process takes place naturally from the heat of smoking or vaping. However, it is an important manual step that should not be skipped when infusing.
Purchasing your own personal decarboxylation machine is a pretty good investment that will have you fall in love with the DIY process. Hello High’s Ultra Infuser is actually a great machine for this process as it is an all-in-one infuser and decarboxylation machine that makes the process that much easier. It also allows you to prepare single servings of infused ingredients.
Another advantage of cooking with cannabis is the control. You can determine the type and more precise dosage of cannabis you choose to intake, in the foods that you prefer. Not to mention it’s a lot more fun!
Here is an engaging canna butter recipe from the Hello High YouTube Channel. This is an excellent place to start, as canna butter is a staple to a lot of infused recipes. Another must-have is canna sugar. The process of making canna butter and oils is by extracting the cannabinoids into fat. Thus, it is of better use for most foods and pastries as opposed to drinks and candies. For that, you would most likely use a tincture instead.
Cannabis Tinctures: are different from canna butter, whereas the process is the extraction of cannabinoids into a high-grade alcohol. The simplicity of a tincture allows freedom to be a little more creative with your cooking. In addition to solid meals, tinctures are ideal for infusing soups, sauces and dressings, beverages, and candy recipes. A tincture can take effect much quicker if you choose, by simply using it sublingually (under the tongue) as opposed to ingesting it like you would edibles- where it first passes through the digestive tract. Sublingually allows the cannabinoids to be absorbed immediately into the bloodstream.
Try infusing a cup of tea or maybe make some cannasugar to put in the tea with a tincture you prepared. Just keep in mind a small amount can actually go a long way! Especially if you are a novice. Pace yourself as you play around with your creation.