Yield: 1 cup of infused honey
Prep time: 5 min, around 45 minutes to 1 hour including decarboxylation
Total time: Around 8 hours for slow cooker method, about 1 hour for double boiler method
You may get more flies with honey, but if you infuse that honey with cannabis you can also throw an ear-to-ear grin, a strong body high, and a case of the giggles into the mix.
What exactly is cannabis honey?
It’s just like what it sounds like — honey that has been infused with cannabis. And no, making it doesn’t require a background in chemistry or any fancy lab equipment.
Cannabis-infused honey (or “cannahoney”) can be used to make all types of recipes that call for honey, or just to make a hot mug of tea truly divine. And once you’ve infused some honey with cannabis, you have a cannabis infusion that you can easily add to just about any dish that could use a little bit of sweetness — and a lot of smiles.
So if you’re looking to get a little buzz (sorry) with a healthy, all-natural sweetener, look no further.
What’s the point of weed honey?
There are more ways of getting high than ever before and just about everyone has their preference. Some swear by joints and blunts, and others never leave home without their vape.
And while edibles may not be ideal as an everyday method, they definitely have a very obvious appeal. Edibles don’t require any smoking or vaping, they don’t leave behind a scent that you need to air out of your house, and the high? It can last for hours and provide a warm and toasty full-body sensation that can also make something as simple as “Bee Movie” very hilarious. Edibles could even have you in the kitchen staring at the honey bear squeeze bottle asking, if bears hibernate for months, what do they dream about? How does a bear get honey off its paws? And what is a bear anyway? Are they just giant dogs that like fish? Are those sirens?
You get the idea, edibles are potent and a lot of fun. And while they may not have you ditching your vape pens any time soon, they can be a great change of pace from time to time.
Common edible faux pas
You can get in a sticky situation with weed honey (sorry) or really any cannabis edible if you make one of these rookie mistakes.
The most common is simply not being patient enough. Countless people have tried a new edible and unsure of the potency, have tried out a dose and waited…only to feel nothing after about an hour. They then decide to take another dose, only to feel the first one kicking in minutes later. You can see where this is going.
While there is no real physical danger in over-indulging, an overly potent edible dose can be an unpleasant experience. The best way to avoid being way over-high is to simply be patient. Wait at least an hour and a half after taking the dose before deciding that you need to take more.
The other common mistake takes place during the making of edibles, and it’s also an easy one to avoid.
Decarboxylation — do not forget this step
Decarboxylation is a long word to describe a rather short and simple chemical process during which marijuana is heated, thus converting the cannabinoid THCA into THC. This allows it to get you high by simply eating it, without applying any heat such as you do when smoking cannabis.
Luckily, decarboxylation is very easy. All you need to do is grind up some cannabis and bake it in the oven for about 30-45 minutes at around 220-245°F (105-120°C). Make sure to check every 10 minutes or so to make sure the cannabis isn’t scorched. You’ll also probably want to crack a window, unless you like the aroma of roasting cannabis in your kitchen and living room.
How to make cannabis honey
Ingredients:
1 cup of honey 3.5- 7 grams of decarboxylated cannabis (depending on the potency you prefer)Cheesecloth String (optional)Crock potAirtight jar for storage
Instructions:
Take the decarboxylated cannabis and wrap it in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with a string. This will make it much easier to remove the cannabis after the infusion is complete. (Alternately, you could infuse the cannabis directly into the honey and then strain through cheesecloth into a jar.) In a quart jar, combine the honey and the cheesecloth with the cannabis and close the lid. Place a hand towel in the bottom of the crockpot underneath the jar, and add water until the jar is submerged above the honey. Heat the crockpot to around 200°F (93°C) and keep it on low heat for about 8 hours, giving the jar a nice jostle every hour and burp the top if you feel pressure building up. Carefully remove the jar from the heat, and use some tongs to extract the cheesecloth with the cannabis inside. Squeeze the rest of the honey out of the cheesecloth into the jar.
One can also use a much quicker double boiler method, like the one in this recipe. Simply place your decarboxylated cannabis directly into the jar of honey and simmer it on low heat in a double boiler for about 40 minutes, making sure it doesn’t come to a boil. Remove the honey and cannabis from the heat and filter it through a cheesecloth into a new jar.
Cannabis honey can stay fresh for at least a couple of months if kept in a cool, dark place.
Tips and dosing with marijuana honey
There is no set amount of cannabis that you must use for this recipe. If you prefer a more mild batch, then about 3-4 grams (or an eighth) per cup of honey is more than enough. For a stronger batch, consider doubling the amount.
The strength of the cannahoney will depend not only on the quantity of the cannabis used, but also the potency of the strain. This is why it’s hard to say precisely how much THC you can expect in each dose.
Regardless, a good rule of thumb though is to start with a small dose — around ¼ or ½ teaspoon — and see how you feel after a little over an hour. With cannahoney, it’s always easy to just take another spoonful if needed.
What can I make with cannahoney?
Cannabis-infused honey is highly versatile and there is pretty much no limit to what can be considered a “cannabis honey recipe.”
You can use it to replace some or all of the honey in baked goods like honey cake or mix it into the honey you’d use in a vinaigrette and drizzle it over a salad.
The easiest way though is arguably just to take a half a teaspoon and mix it in with a hot cup of tea and watch the rest of the day take on a whole different vibe.
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