It's 420-Tea Party O'Clock

 For long enough, those pesky stems have tempted potheads when out of stash, to smoke them as a last resort or throw them away. Well, that’s not the case anymore as it seems, cannabis stems have found their purpose, and that’s the tea. Of course, cannabis stem tea would not be as potent and will not give you the same high as THC-packed herb would, but it sure comes with a number of benefits. First being, sustainability as you are not simply tossing away the leftover stems and contributing to waste. Plus, introducing a classic bit of ‘British pizzaz’ to your pot-smoking habits, it’s always a good idea.

What is cannabis stem tea?

The name is a tell-all. Cannabis stem tea is a hot brew concoction made from the leftover stems from the weed plant, once the buds have been consumed. Making a cannabis stem tea is relatively simple, though before getting over ourselves and organising our next 420-tea party, there are certain things that have to be mentioned.

If you are lazy bag in the kitchen, cannabis tea should be a simple solution for you should you want to try out doing something else with weed apart from smoking it.

Why brew cannabis stem tea?

The more appropriate question here would be Why not brew a weed stem tea. You are probably throwing the stems anyway, and this way you are being super resourceful. Cannabis stem tea is a great alternative for those who are repealed by or having difficulties inhaling marijuana smoke. People with respiratory issues like asthma can also find this ‘green concoction’ as a smart alternative. 

Are there any health benefits of cannabis stem tea?

While the medical benefits of weed stem tea are still not backed up by enough scientific research, some anecdotal evidence links the number of health benefits with this obscure part of the marijuana plant. Users have reported that this hot brew assists in anxiety, depression, body aches, migraines, headaches, nausea and much more.

Alternatively, like almost anything weed-related these days, you can look for readily available cannabis tea from any of the brands that are producing it.

So, how to prepare cannabis tea with stems?

You're going to need the following:

• Cannabis stems (at least ¼ cup)
• 3 cups of purified water
• Teabag of tea by your preference
• Milk, butter, alcohol, or coconut oil for binding
• Paper towel, cheesecloth, or coffee filter, or any other similar filter 
• Saucepan or a kettle

Step 1- Gather or grind your stems

Some would say, you must grind the stems, others would insist it makes no difference, so it’s completely up to you. There is no evidence or research that can prove grinding the stems can improve potency or taste. In fact, grinding the stems might complicate and prolong the process. However, if you decide to grind the stems, do it right away.

Step 2- Boil the water

Fill a saucepan or a kettle with the purified water and bring it to a boil. If you are using mil, butter or coconut oil, add them before heating the water. However, if you decided to go with alcohol, add it once the water has already been boiled, as it won’t evaporate and ruin the batch.

Step 3- Infuse the cannabis stem tea

Start the infusion process by adding the stems inside of the boiling water. Once the water has come to a boil, stir in the weed stems and do it continuously for 10 to 15 minutes, just to make sure the stems have bound with the fat molecules.

Step 4- Strain the tea

Remove the infused water from the heat and start preparing for the straining process. If you are using alcohol now is the time to do it. Pour the liquid through whichever device you previously chose. Alternatively, strengthen the potency by microdosing with tincture.

Step 5- Enhance the tea flavour

The weed stem tea is comforting and relaxing but its taste it’s definitely not as appealing as some would want it to be, even if you like the earthy smell and flavour of smokeable or edible herbs. So, add an extra teabag of your favourite tea to enhance and enrich the flavour.  Enjoy your tea party!