How to make weed tea
Cannabis tea is one of the gentlest ways to use flower — and one of the easiest to get wrong. Here is how our budtenders explain it at the counter: decarb, add fat, steep, strain, and dose patiently.
The five steps
- Step 1
Decarboxylate the cannabis
Raw flower contains THCA, not THC — drinking it untreated does close to nothing. Break 1–2 grams into small pieces (don't grind to powder), spread on a lined baking sheet, and bake at 240°F for about 40 minutes. Stems get the same treatment. The kitchen will smell; that's normal.
- Step 2
Add a fat to the pot
Cannabinoids are fat soluble and barely dissolve in water. Simmer the decarbed material in a cup of whole milk, oat milk, or water with a teaspoon of coconut oil or butter. Keep it at a gentle simmer — never a rolling boil — for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Step 3
Steep your tea
Pull the pan off the heat, drop in a tea bag (chai, mint, and rooibos all cover the grassy note well), and steep for five minutes. A little honey or cinnamon goes a long way.
- Step 4
Strain thoroughly
Pour through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Press the material gently to get the infused fat out, then discard the solids. Leftover plant matter only adds bitterness.
- Step 5
Dose low and wait
Cannabis tea is an edible. Onset runs 45–90 minutes with a peak near two hours. Drink a quarter cup, set a timer, and do not re-dose until the timer runs out. Effects can last four to eight hours.
Cannabis stem tea: worth it?
Stem tea is the classic use-what-you-have recipe, and it works the same way — decarb the stems, simmer them in milk or butter, steep and strain. Just be realistic: stems carry a fraction of the cannabinoids that flower does, so the result is closer to an herbal tea with a mild body feel. If you want a predictable effect, brew with flower or pick up a measured edible instead of guessing.
Staying safe and legal
- Adults 21+ only, with a valid government-issued ID.
- Consume at a private residence — public consumption is illegal in Colorado.
- Never drive after drinking cannabis tea; onset is delayed and unpredictable.
- Label the pot or thermos and keep it away from children and pets.
- Don't take cannabis products across state lines or through the airport.
Budtender FAQ
How long does weed tea take to kick in?
Because cannabis tea is swallowed and processed by the liver, expect 45 to 90 minutes before you feel much of anything, with a peak around two hours. Never re-dose in the first two hours.
Do cannabis stems actually work for tea?
Stems hold only trace cannabinoids compared to flower, so stem tea is mild and mostly flavor. If you want a reliable dose, use decarboxylated flower or a measured edible instead.
Why do I need fat or milk in cannabis tea?
THC and CBD are fat soluble and barely dissolve in plain water. Whole milk, oat milk, coconut oil, or butter give the cannabinoids something to bind to so they end up in your cup.
How strong will my tea be?
Home infusions are inconsistent. A rough estimate is total THC of the flower times the grams used times a low extraction efficiency. Start with a quarter cup and wait two hours.
Pick up flower for your first brew
We're at 20 E 9th Ave in Denver, open 9:00 AM — 8:45 PM daily. Ask a budtender which strain suits a slow, warm-cup kind of evening.