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Ultimate Cannabis Tea Recipe: Solving Every Common Problem
Cannabis tea needs fat + heat to work. Learn a 30-minute method to extract THC properly, and exact mg math to control potency. Stop wasting bud.
Written by Brandon Topp
October 13th, 2025
You've probably heard that you can make cannabis tea by steeping flower in hot water, just like regular tea.
Here's the truth: that method wastes your flower and leaves the THC behind in your kettle.
The reason is simple chemistry. Cannabinoids are oil-based compounds that don't dissolve in water, no matter how hot it gets.
We're going to show you a reliable method that actually works. Our approach utilizes a fat carrier to capture the cannabinoids and incorporates a heating process that converts THCa into a more potent form.
You'll learn exactly how much THC ends up in each cup, so there are no surprises. The entire process takes approximately 30 minutes, utilizing equipment you likely already have in your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Why Water Alone Won't Extract THC From Cannabis
The 30-Minute Cannabis Tea Method That Works Every Time
Calculate Your THC Per Cup Before You Start
What Cannabis Tea Actually Feels Like
Faster Routes Using Cannabutter and Infused Oils
Using Stems and Fan Leaves Without Disappointment
Fix Your Weak Tea and Common Mistakes
Why Traditional Bhang Gets It Right
Store and Reheat Your Cannabis Tea Properly
Your Next Cup Will Be Your Best One
Why Water Alone Won't Extract THC From Cannabis
Think of cannabinoids like oil and water in a salad dressing. No matter how much you shake them together, they separate.
Cannabis compounds bind to fats, not water.
When you steep the flower in plain hot water, the THC stays locked in the plant material instead of transferring to your drink.
The Heating Step Makes THCa More Potent
Raw cannabis flower contains THCa, which isn't particularly potent on its own.
When you expose THCa to heat around 230°F for about 30 minutes, it becomes stronger and more familiar in its effects.
This heating process is essential for cannabis tea to work as intended. Without it, you're drinking expensive plant water with minimal effect.
Do You Have to Heat Cannabis for Tea?
Yes, the heating requirement is non-negotiable if you want potent results. You need both heat to activate the THCa and fat to capture the activated compounds.
Skip either step and you're wasting your flower. That's why water-only methods consistently fail to meet the expectations of those who try them.
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The 30-Minute Cannabis Tea Method That Works Every Time
We've tested this method extensively and refined it to be as straightforward as possible. Follow these steps to achieve consistent, predictable results.
The total active time is about 10 minutes. The rest is just waiting while your oven and stove do the work.
Essential Equipment You Already Have
You don't need any special tools. A baking sheet, parchment paper, a small pot, a fine mesh strainer, and a spoon are all you need.
If you have a tea infuser or cheesecloth, great. But they're not required for good results.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Heat your cannabis. Preheat your oven to 230°F. Break up one gram of cannabis flower and spread it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Place it in the oven for 30 minutes. The flower will turn slightly darker and become more fragrant as the THCa becomes more potent.
Step 2: Start your simmer. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a small pot. Add 1 tablespoon of butter or coconut oil to your heated cannabis.
Reduce hthe eat immediately to low. You want gentle bubbles rising occasionally, not a rolling boil that destroys beneficial compounds.
Step 3: Maintain the simmer. Keep your mixture at a lazy bubble for 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even extraction.
The surface should barely move. If you see vigorous bubbling, your heat is too high.
Step 4: Strain and serve. Pour your mixture through a fine mesh strainer into your teapot or mugs. Press the plant material gently to extract the last of the infused liquid.
Add your favorite tea bag, honey, or lemon at this point. The cannabis infusion is complete, and now you're just customizing the flavor.
How Long Do You Boil Cannabis Tea?
You don't boil it at all. Boiling temperatures destroy terpenes and can degrade cannabinoids.
Simmer for 7-10 minutes at the lowest heat that maintains occasional bubbles. This gentle approach preserves quality while still thoroughly extracting.
Calculate Your THC Per Cup Before You Start
This is where using Mood's lab-tested THCa flower with labeled potency makes your life easier.
When you know exactly what percentage of THC you're starting with, the math becomes simple.
Here's the formula everyone can follow. If you have 1 gram of flower that tests at 10% THC, you have approximately 100mg of THC total.
The Simple Math That Prevents Surprises
Take the total of 100mg and divide it by the number of cups you're making. If you made 4 cups from our recipe above, each cup contains about 25mg of THC.
Your actual amount may be slightly lower due to some loss during heating and straining. However, this calculation provides a reliable baseline for planning your experience.
For different potencies: A gram of 15% THC flower contains roughly 150mg, giving you about 37mg per cup in a 4-cup batch. A gram of 20% THC flower contains about 200mg, giving you roughly 50mg per cup.
For different batch sizes: Making 2 cups instead of 4? Your per-cup amount doubles. Making 8 cups? Your per-cup amount is cut in half.
How Much Cannabis Should You Use for Tea?
One gram of cannabis makes 1-2 mugs comfortably. For a larger batch of 4 cups, such as our main recipe, one gram is the sweet spot for moderate potency.
If you're sharing with friends or want a milder experience, you can dilute one gram across 6 cups, resulting in approximately 16mg per cup. We've found this works well for first-timers.
Watch: All About Edibles
What Cannabis Tea Actually Feels Like
Cannabis tea behaves like other infused products, not like smoking or vaping. The effects take longer to arrive because your body processes them differently.
You can usually notice something roughly 30 to 60 minutes after drinking. The experience tends to build gradually rather than hit all at once.
Understanding Your THC Amount Matters
Knowing the approximate THC amount in your cup helps you make informed decisions. If you made tea with 25mg per cup and you're new to infused products, starting with half a cup makes sense.
More experienced consumers might find 25mg per cup comfortable for their needs. There's no universal right amount because everyone's tolerance differs.
Legal Disclaimer
Important: We're not medical professionals and this isn't medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently.
Check your local laws before making cannabis tea. What's legal in one state may not be in another.
Faster Routes Using Cannabutter and Infused Oils
If you already have cannabutter or infused coconut oil, you have an even quicker path. The activation work is already complete.
Simply heat your water, add a tablespoon of your infused butter or oil, and stir until it melts. Then, add your tea. You've just made cannabis tea in under 10 minutes.
Making Cannabis Milk Tea in 10 Minutes
For a creamier result, heat milk directly instead of water. Whole milk works best due to its high fat content, but any milk will suffice.
Warm 2 cups of milk in a pot over medium-low heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons of cannabutter or infused oil.
Once the fat melts completely, add your tea bag and steep for 3-5 minutes. This method creates a rich, café-style drink that pairs beautifully with chai or Earl Grey.
The Advantage of Pre-Made Infusions
Using infused products means you've already done the math on potency. If your cannabutter contains 10mg THC per teaspoon, you know exactly what you're adding to each cup.
This precision makes dose consistency much easier across multiple servings. No recalculating, no guessing about extraction efficiency.
Using Stems and Fan Leaves Without Disappointment
We are frequently asked whether stems and fan leaves are suitable for tea. The honest answer is: yes, but set your expectations appropriately.
Stems and fan leaves contain significantly less THC than flower. You'll need at least a quarter cup of stems to achieve mild effects.
Can You Make Cannabis Tea With Stems?
You can, and the process is identical to the method above. Heat your stems at 230°F for 30 minutes, then simmer them with butter or oil.
The catch is potency. Where one gram of flower might give you 100mg of THC, a quarter cup of stems might give you 15-20mg total.
If you have stems lying around and don't want to waste them, tea is a great way to put them to use. Just understand it's going to be a gentler experience than using premium flower.
Fan Leaves Work the Same Way
Fan leaves follow identical principles. They need heating, they need fat, and they contain less THC than buds.
Some people enjoy the ritual of using every part of the plant. If that's you, go for it, but don't expect the same intensity you'd get from flower.
Fix Your Weak Tea and Common Mistakes
If your cannabis tea didn't work, one of four things usually went wrong. Let's diagnose the issue and show you how to prevent it next time.
Why Didn't Your Cannabis Tea Work?
You skipped the heating step. Raw THCa isn't potent enough to produce the effects you're expecting. Always heat your flower first at 230°F for 30 minutes.
You used water only, no fat. Without butter, oil, or milk, the cannabinoids stayed in the plant material instead of transferring to your drink. Fat is not optional.
You boiled it hard. Aggressive boiling destroys terpenes and can degrade THC. Keep your simmer gentle with occasional bubbles, not a rolling boil.
You didn't simmer long enough. A minimum of seven minutes gives the cannabinoids time to bind to your fat carrier. Shorter steeping means incomplete extraction.
Add Potency Without Starting Over
If your batch came out weaker than expected, you don't need to dump it and start fresh. You can boost potency by adding kief or tincture.
A pinch of kief stirred into your cup adds concentrated cannabinoids quickly.
If you're using Mood's 1:1 THC & CBD Tincture, you know the exact THC amount you're adding, which makes adjustments precise.
For a whole batch that's too mild, reheat it gently and add another half tablespoon of cannabutter. This increases potency without requiring a complete remake.
Using Lecithin for Better Mixing
Some people add a pinch of sunflower lecithin during the simmer step. Lecithin is an emulsifier that helps fat and water blend more smoothly.
It's not required, but if you find your tea has an oily film or the fat separates quickly, lecithin can improve the texture. Use about 1/4 teaspoon per batch.
Why Traditional Bhang Gets It Right
For centuries, people in India have made bhang using the same principles we've described. The traditional preparation involves grinding cannabis with milk, ghee, and spices.
Ghee serves as the fat carrier, grinding releases the plant compounds, and the mixture is gently simmered. Sound familiar?
The reason bhang has survived as a trusted method is that it accurately follows the fundamental chemistry. Modern cannabis tea recipes are essentially Western variations on this ancient approach.
Store and Reheat Your Cannabis Tea Properly
Leftover cannabis tea can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in a sealed container. The fat may separate and float to the top, which is a regular occurrence.
When you're ready to drink it again, reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave. Stir well to reincorporate the fat before drinking.
Avoid hard boiling during reheating. You've already done the extraction work, so you're just warming it up, not processing it further.
Your Next Cup Will Be Your Best One
You now understand the three non-negotiable principles: heat to activate, fat to capture, and gentle simmering to extract. Everything else is just customization.
Begin with our basic method and record your results. Write down how much flower you used, what potency it was, how many cups you made, and how you felt.
This record-keeping turns tea-making from guesswork into reliable kitchen science. Each batch will be more dialed in than the last.
Using Mood's lab-tested flower means the potency calculations stay consistent batch to batch. You're removing one of the biggest variables right from the start.
Now get in your kitchen and make something worth drinking. You've got this.
