CBD Edibles
The first thing that usually comes to mind when a person hears “CBD-infused edibles,” is brownies, cookies, or other sweet baked goods. While brownies are nice, there are plenty of other delicious sweet and savory treats you can cook using CBD oil.
Before we get into how to make your own CBD-infused edibles, let’s first take a closer look at what they are. If you are from a country where THC is legal, understanding the difference between CBD and THC edibles will help you make an informed decision about which edibles are suitable for your needs.
What’s the difference between CBD & THC?
CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two most common cannabinoids found in cannabis. The main difference between THC and CBD is that THC is psychotropic. This means that THC gets you high. It can cause a user to giggle, make the eyes bloodshot red, impact their perception of time, and can make them feel relaxed. By contrast, CBD does not have any psychotropic effects. It can also be used to reverse the effects of THC in case a person has consumed too much. CBD is more popular among medicinal users because it can help combat a plethora of conditions. It reduces inflammation and can treat chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis. It has even been shown to be an effective treatment for Epilepsy.
CBD-Infused Edibles
If you’re familiar with the high from THC, then you probably know that ingesting THC from cannabis is more intense than smoking it. The reason for this is because the body breaks down THC differently when it is eaten and digested than when it is smoked.
When cannabis is consumed by smoking or vaping THC gets sucked into the bloodstream via the lungs. THC is an oil-soluble compound, meaning it doesn’t break down well in blood, which is mostly water. So within seconds, it looks to bind with the endocannabinoid receptors in the body, never really having a chance to be metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract.
When cannabis is ingested, saliva immediately breaks down the THC. Once it hits the stomach and then the liver, it becomes 11-hydroxy-THC. 11-hydroxy-THC is more potent and causes a more intense high than THC.
This heightened intensity is not as much of a concern with CBD because CBD does not have psychotropic properties. If you choose a CBD oil with only trace amounts of THC and make the edibles yourself, you can enjoy the great benefits that CBD has to offer without any psychotropic effects.
CBD-infused edibles are a great choice for those who would rather not smoke. It’s also a good option for people who take CBD medicinally and do not like the earthy taste of the oils.
How To Make CBD-Infused Ingredients For Cooking
Now that we have some background on what CBD-infused edibles are, let’s look at how you can make some for yourself. One of the best ways to make a wide variety of edibles is to start off by making your own ingredients. The first step in making any cannabis-infused recipe if to make canna-butter. Butter is versatile and can be added to almost any recipe. Here are our tips for making a good CBD oil infused butter.
When you are making your own CBD butter, the key is to infuse the CBD oil in the butter slowly, and over low heat. This allows the CBD to become incorporated without getting scorched, and without evaporating the key active compounds.
We recommend starting with approximately 15 ml of oil for 500 grams of butter. Start by cutting a stick of butter into several pieces, and then placing it in a medium saucepan. Next, pour in the CBD oil, and a little bit less than 1 liter of water.
Keep it on low heat, and cook the butter for 4 hours. Make sure to check on it and stir it about every 30 minutes. After combining the CBD oil and butter, pour the mixture into a container, and chill it overnight.
Once you’ve made your own CBD-infused butter, you can use it to make just about any recipe that calls for butter. You can simply spread the butter over some toast if you want or make a meal. If you have a sweet tooth, you can substitute normal butter with the CBD infused butter to make any of your favorite desserts.
Cooking With CBD
Once you’ve made CBD butter, you can make a variety of recipes with it. In addition to cooking with CBD butter, you can even add CBD oil to certain sauces or broths.
When cooking with cannabis butter, it’s important to choose dishes that are not cooked above 180 degrees Celsius. Temperatures above 180 degrees can evaporate the CBD, therefore, losing the benefits.