How To Make CBD Tea: The Do’s & Don’ts

If you're not keen on the flavour of CBD oil, or you just want a different way to take CBD, why not try adding CBD to a drink?

Here's how to make CBD tea.

What Is CBD?

CBD’s full name is cannabidiol and it is a compound known as a cannabinoid. It is found in the hemp plant which most people know as cannabis.

The full name of hemp is Cannabis Sativa and it is valued and grown for many reasons. It is truly a remarkable plant. We can make textiles and rope from it. It can be used to make concrete that is environmentally friendly and is used in the inner panels of Mercedes cars. It provides us with nutritious food in the form of oil and seeds.

It also makes finer quality paper than that made from wood pulp and can be harvested and replanted in 12 weeks which means it absorbs more CO2 faster than trees. Wherever it is planted it cleans pollution from the soil and it also removes particulates from the air.

It is a miracle plant and as well as all that it has been used for millennia as a medicine and to get us high.

In my opinion cannabis has the properties to help save the human race from the consequences of climate change with its myriad of uses yet it is controlled and can only be grown with licences handed out by government departments in most of the world. This is an immoral scandal. From sick children that medical cannabis may help to the wonderful industrial uses, humanity should be harnessing and employing hemp wherever we can, right now.

In the modern world most people think of the recreational use of cannabis to get you high. This is caused by a cannabinoid called THC. Together with CBD these two cannabinoids work in your body to influence many functions via the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This is a system of receptors throughout your body, in your central and peripheral nervous system and in many tissues and organs.

However, there are many more cannabinoids that also contribute to the effects of cannabis on your body, along with terpenes (these are oils that give it its distinctive flavour) and flavonoids that have antioxidant effects.

THC is currently a controlled substance in the UK and so products sold as CBD oil in the UK must have almost zero THC in them. The level of THC is so low in legal CBD products that they cannot get you high.

CBD has an interesting influence on the ECS which is important for homeostasis. Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain healthy function regardless of the demands we place upon it. In effect the ECS helps balance our health and CBD helps it function well, as do other cannabinoids.

How Do You Take CBD?

Most people take CBD orally via drops of oil under their tongue but there are other ways to ingest it too. 

Coming soon at CBD One we have CBD patches that give a slow release over 36 hours but we also have our innovative Absorb range that can be added to drinks, and the new kid on the block is Hatcha, our newest product, which is a powder made entirely from hemp.

It is a lovely, luscious green colour and has been milled into a fine powder to be added to baking, food or drinks. It smells of cannabis and has a pleasant nutty taste.

Can You Use CBD In Tea?

It is perfectly possible to add CBD to tea, or coffee or any other drink you prefer but why do people want to do this? 

Some people do not like the taste of CBD oil so wish to mask the flavour. Let’s face it, this product is a plant extract and should taste like that. It is not a dessert. 

Actually, here at CBD One our products are so well made that their flavour is very complex and interesting. A customer once described it as tasting like walking down a country lane.

There are a myriad of flavours, from pine and lemon, to grassy through to a little fiery kick at the end. This is how a real cannabis extract should taste.  

What are the benefits of CBD Tea?

For many the main benefits of taking CBD tea are simply because they do not like the taste of the oil. 

However, depending on the type of CBD you use and how you add it to your drink there is a chance you can increase the bioavailability of the CBD oil. This means that you can increase the amount of CBD that your body uses by the method you ingest CBD.

How To Make CBD Tea

There are four main methods for making CBD tea:

1. Specialist CBD Teas

The first option is to buy a specialist tea or coffee that has been infused with CBD. 

The main drawback of this method is that it can be quite expensive and you have no idea of the quality of the cannabis extract that has been used. It may be pure CBD in isolate form, which means it will be less potent than a full spectrum plant extract. 

This method is convenient but as ever, this convenience will come at a price.

2. Adding CBD Oil To Your Drink

If you've already tried CBD, you might be wondering if you can simply put some CBD oil in tea.

Unfortunately, there are a number of problems with this. Firstly the oil will sit on the surface of the drink, it will not mix in because oil and water do not mix! This also means you lose bioavailability.

Basically, this is an expensive way to flush most of the cannabinoids you have paid for down the toilet! 

You may be able to increase the bioavailability slightly by adding a fat such as coconut oil or full fat milk but really this is a whole host of compromises and will not get the best out of your product.

3. Using A Water Soluble CBD

The third option is to use a water soluble CBD. 

There are many products that claim to be water soluble that are substandard products. Fortunately, here at CBD One our entire Absorb range is water soluble and is designed to be added to any hot or cold drink. 

This also has the added advantage of being 100% bioavailable so every cannabinoid you take in will get to work in your body straight away. 

The easiest way to do this is to add a shot of Absorb to your cup then make your tea as normal, either by adding a tea bag and making it in the same cup or in a teapot then pour into the cup with the shot in. 

Avoid adding the shot to the drink after it is brewed for one simple reason, the force at which it comes out of the pump will make it splash everywhere!

4. Adding Hatcha

The fourth and final option is to use our superb new Hatcha powder.

Simply add to your cup, add a little water to mix into a paste and then add your tea or coffee and stir. Or add one teaspoon to an espresso cup and then make the espresso over it and stir. 

Adding full fat milk or another fat does aid bioavailability but the great thing with Hatcha is that it is the complete plant, meaning it has far more in it than just CBD, so you get a full synergistic effect of all the compounds available in cannabis that help your body.

Other Uses For Hatcha

In addition to being able to add it to a drink Hatcha powder can be used in baking. Use 1g per portion for a standard dose or half that if you want a lighter dose.

It can be added to many baking products but the key is that you must not heat it above 160°C as above this the cannabinoids will be damaged. Because of this it lends itself to recipes like biscuits, cakes and brownies.

You can also sprinkle Hatcha over your food or add to a salad dressing where, when used with olive oil it will actually increase its bioavailability.