Hemp is a Cannabaceae plant cultivated for industrial and medicinal purposes. Among the best uses for it is for drinking tea. This is why we've put together a guide on how to make hemp tea so that you can brew a fresh cup of hemp tea anytime you want.

How to Make Hemp Tea

To make hemp tea, make sure to select quality hemp flower then decarboxylate it to enhance the ability of cannabinoids to interact with your body. After that, you can either steep or infuse the hemp to extract the flavor and aroma, giving a greenish-brown drink with a bittersweet taste.

One of the great things about making hemp tea is that you can customize its flavor profile depending on the ingredients and brewing method you choose.

There are 2 ways to make hemp tea. The first is steeping, which is the more straightforward method. Meanwhile, infusion takes a lot more effort. Nevertheless, you need to gather ingredients and decarboxylate the hemp leaves or flowers before going through the actual tea brewing process.

How to Steep Hemp Tea

Steeping is the process of keeping the hemp leaves in hot water. This is one of the simplest techniques of making hemp tea, especially if you have readily available loose tea leaves or hemp flowers.

Ingredients and Materials

Prepare these ingredients to brew a relaxing cup of hemp tea.

• 1 gram of decarboxylated hemp flower if you want to decarboxylate on your own
• 2 teaspoons of loose tea leaves or tea bag of your desired flavor
• 8 fluid ounces of water
• 1 tablespoon of hemp infusion (optional)
• 1 cup of fat milk, can be coconut or whole milk
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Sugar cubes for sweetening (optional)
• Tea strainer
• Infuser or tea strainer for the plant matter
• Kettle or pot
• Saucepan
• Mixing spoon

Preparation

The procedure of steeping hemp tea is quite similar to preparing traditional tea. However, there's a crucial step toward the end to ensure you can extract the hemp thoroughly.

1. Whisk the cinnamon and honey with the milk in a saucepan.
2. Put water into a kettle or pot.
3. Heat the kettle over the stove.
4. Boil the water between 170 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. For every 8 ounces of tea, put 1 to 2 tablespoons of the hemp herbs.
6. You can add additional tea such as vanilla, mint, or black tea.
7. Use a mesh ball to keep the leaves in one place.
8. Let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
9. This is a crucial step: Add milk or coconut oil. Remember that hemp is fat-soluble, which means it must bind to fat for the hemp to have a better absorption rate.
10. Use a fine strainer to filter the leaves or flowers before pouring the tea into your cup.
11.  Pour the cinnamon and honey mixture as an extra flavoring.
12. Put sugar cubes for extra sweetness and to mask the herbal aftertaste.
    

How to Infuse Hemp Tea

Infusing is the second option for making hemp tea. It enables you to use commercially available hemp oil. This method is ideal if you want to increase flavor aside from using hemp leaves and you're looking for a more aromatic and flavorful infused hemp tea.

Ingredients and Materials

Prepare these ingredients to brew a relaxing cup of hemp tea.

• 1 gram of hemp flower or leaves if you want to decarboxylate on your own
• 1 gram of loose tea leaves or tea bag of your desired flavor
• 1 tablespoon of hemp infusion, which can be hemp oil or hemp tincture
• 8 fluid ounces of water
• 1 cup of whole-fat milk or coconut oil
• Cannabis butter (optional)
• Sugar or honey (optional sweeteners)
• Tea strainer
• Infuser
• Kettle or pot
• Cooking thermometer

Preparation

Infusing hemp tea may also involve steeping. The difference is that you can use hemp oil to increase potency or add flavor.

1. Put water into the kettle or pot.
2. Boil the water. You can use a cooking thermometer to monitor if it's between 180 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the hemp herbs.
4. You may add other tea like oolong, green, or white tea. Alternatively, you can put a tea bag and infuse it for 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Put 1 to 2 drops of hemp oil or hemp tincture. Add more, if necessary.
6. Pour the milk or coconut oil to introduce fat to the CBD.
7. If you have cannabis butter, you can also add 1 to 2 cubes.
8. Strain the leaves or take out the tea bag.
9. Add sweeteners as desired.

What Is Hemp?

Hemp is an indigenous plant in several countries, mainly originating from Central Asia. It comes from the Cannabis sativa plant, containing 0.3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol. With that said, consuming hemp, especially in the form of tea, is a great way to avoid the high feeling often associated with marijuana.

Hemp cultivation started in China around 10,000 B.C. However, the first known use of hemp tea dates back to ancient Chinese medicine, with records of 2000-year-old Chinese medical texts. It's a remedy for various conditions, including pain and parasitic infections.

In America, it was not until the end of 2018 when the U.S. Federal Government legalized hemp farming, paving the way for the growing scientific research about hemp.

Which Hemp Part Should You Choose?

Hemp tea can come from the plant's seeds, buds, flowers, stalks, stem, root, or leaves. Each part would produce a different outcome. The leaves and flowers often offer the most substantial impact, while the sticks tend to have the weakest effect.

Each of them offers several beneficial uses, so you can try which part you would like to use.

• Leaves and flowers: The leaves and flowers are the most used parts for making hemp tea. Aside from making textile, they are also ideal for extracting oil for making edibles.
• Stems: Hemp fibers are among the strongest members of the natural fibers family, making them a common material for making clothes and textiles. Aside from that, using the stem for cooking and making tea provides fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
• Seeds: Hemp seeds contain 9 essential amino acids. In every 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds, you get 9.46 grams of protein, which is nearly as much protein as soybeans.
• Roots and stalks: Traditionally, hemp oil is the extract from the stalks and roots. When boiled in water or with tea, you can use it to alleviate muscle pain or stiff joints.

Note that this is only ideal if you have the actual part. In most cases, it's more convenient to use commercially available hemp tea leaves.

How to Decarboxylate Hemp Flowers

Hemp still contains tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the component that gives a high psychoactive feeling. Much like when making marijuana tea or CBD infused coffees, and other CBD products, you first need to decarboxylate hemp.

This decarbing method targets the inactive cannabinoids, changing the molecular structure of the acids and converting them to more intoxicating elements. This heat activation cycle enables you to get the most out of every stem, root, seed, or flower of hemp.

Ingredients and Materials

Prepare these ingredients and materials.

• 1 gram of hemp
• Baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Grinder
  

Preparation

Follow these simple steps to decarboxylate hemp.

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Use a grinder to shred or pound the hemp.
3. Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
4. Spread the ground hemp across the pan.
5. Bake the hemp for 30 to 45 minutes to decarboxylate.
6. Let the hemp cool for 15 minutes before using.

What Are the Effects and Benefits of Hemp Tea?

When you ingest hemp, like when drinking hemp tea, the effects will take longer to kick in, as opposed to smoking or vaping marijuana. This is because the liver needs to metabolize the hemp. 

Regardless, there are only subtle effects to drinking hemp tea, as you would still have more control over your mood, appetite, memory, and immune response. To some people, the effects may occur within 30 minutes of drinking hemp tea.

However, keep in mind that the effects and benefits may vary from person to person due to body chemistry, weight, and even medical conditions.

• Pain relief: Hemp contains anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of cannabinoids. In effect, drinking hemp tea can help alleviate chronic pain, inflammation, and swelling.
• Skin and hair care: Hemp is rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, providing essential nutrients and proteins to the skin and hair follicles.
• Improve digestion: Hemp has fiber content, which is vital in the growth of good bacteria in the gut and helping food pass through the digestive system.
• Reduce PMS symptoms: Hemp contains gamma-linolenic acid, which can lower the effects of prolactin. Thus, drinking hemp tea can help reduce the tendency of breast pain, irritability, bloating, and other body problems generally associated with premenstrual syndrome.

Conclusion

Gather the necessary materials and ingredients, especially quality hemp tea leaves or flowers. This ensures you can extract the most potent flavor and aroma, either by steeping or infusion. We hope this guide can help you make the most out of hemp and enjoy a cup of delicious hemp tea.