How to Make Cannabis-Infused Honey Without Oil: Tips, Storage, and Creative Uses for Cannahoney
Are you a fan of honey and interested in exploring the world of cannabis-infused edibles? If so, you're in for a treat! In this article, we'll guide you through the process of making cannabis-infused honey without using oil. We'll also provide you with tips for storage and share some creative ideas for using your homemade cannahoney. So, let's get started!
RECIPES
1/19/20247 min read
Why Make Cannabis-Infused Honey?
Cannabis-infused honey offers a delightful combination of the natural sweetness and healing properties of honey and the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. It can be a versatile ingredient in various recipes or simply enjoyed on its own. By making your own cannahoney, you have control over the quality and potency of the final product.
Ingredients and Equipment
Here's what you'll need to make cannabis-infused honey:
1 cup of honey (choose a high-quality, raw honey for the best flavour and most health benefits)
1-7 grams of cannabis (adjust the amount based on your desired potency and whether you are using flower or concentrates)
Double boiler or a heat-safe glass jar and a saucepan
Cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer
Airtight container for storage, preferably glass
Grinder - optional, but helpful
Lecithin - optional but highly recommended, especially with high-oil cannabis such as concentrates; without lecithin, your cannahoney will be much less potent, especially if you strain the plant material (see the note about lecithin below)
Choosing Your Cannabis
Cannahoney is versatile and can be made with most types of cannabis, including dried flower, kief, distillate, full-extract cannabis oil (FECO), Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), shatter, isolate, or other concentrates. Whichever you choose will be a matter of personal preference, depending on your budget, desired potency, effects, and taste.
Concentrates such as FECO and RSO are convenient, as they are ready-to-use and just need to be added to the honey, because, unless noted otherwise, most concentrates are decarboxylated as part of the manufacturing process. Often, because they are so potent, you can use less, which means your cannahoney will have less 'canna' taste and more 'honey' taste, and concentrates can be more budget-friendly.
Oils are a good choice because they have a small amount of fat, which increases the absorption and bioavailability of the cannabinoids. Like concentrates, they are also convenient as they can be mixed directly into the honey with no added steps.
Flower gives you more options when it comes to flavours and effects, and can be used raw or decarboxylated to get the benefits of both activated and non-activated cannabinoids, but needs to be ground, requires more product to get the same potency of concentrates, will need to be decarboxylated first if you want the activated cannabinoids, and will give your honey more of a cannabis plant flavour.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to make your own cannabis-infused honey:
If using flower, grind the cannabis into a fine powder.
In a double boiler or a heat-safe glass jar placed in a saucepan with water, gently heat the honey over low heat.
Add the ground cannabis or cannabis concentrate to the honey and stir well to combine.
Simmer the mixture on low heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to let it boil.
After the desired infusion time, remove the mixture from heat and let it cool slightly.
Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer to remove any plant material.
Pour the strained cannahoney into an airtight container for storage.
Recommended Alternative: Skip Step 6 above and do not strain the plant material out. Unless you love the 'earthy' taste of cannabis, the benefit of straining is that removing the plant material leaves a cleaner, better tasting end-product. The trade off, however, is that you lose some of your product, as it is impossible to get all of the honey out of the cheesecloth, and more importantly, you lose the cannabinoids that have not infused into the honey, especially if you have not used lecithin or another emulsifier, and will have a less potent end-product. If you can handle the taste, it is much better (and easier to clean up!) if you skip the straining and leave the powdered plant material in the cannahoney.
Tips for Making Cannabis-Infused Honey
Here are some tips to help you make the best cannabis-infused honey:
Decarboxylate your cannabis beforehand to activate the cannabinoids and enhance the potency of your cannahoney, or use raw flower to get the health benefits of the non-activated acidic compounds found in the cannabis plant (CBDA and THCA). You can decarboxylate some, all, or none of the cannabis depending on your preference.
Use a low heat setting throughout the infusion process to preserve the beneficial compounds in the cannabis and prevent the honey from overheating.
Stir the mixture occasionally to ensure even distribution of the cannabis.
Experiment with different strains of cannabis to achieve different flavours and effects in your cannahoney. Choose strains that complement the flavour of your honey, such as something fruity, citrusy, or sweet (there are strains that have hints of tastes like blueberry, grape, chocolate, candy, wedding cake, and sugary breakfast cereal!).
Don't skip the lecithin.
Why to Use Lecithin
Cannabis, being hydrophobic, has a unique property of attaching to fat molecules rather than water. This characteristic makes it difficult to mix cannabis with certain ingredients, such as honey, as honey contains a high percentage of water. Without the addition of binders like lecithin, which act as emulsifiers, the cannabis particles tend to separate from the honey and do not fully integrate. Lecithin helps to create a stable mixture by bonding the fat-soluble cannabis compounds with the water-soluble ingredients, like honey. This allows for a better dispersion and incorporation of cannabis into the honey, resulting in a more consistent and effective product. However, despite the effectiveness of lecithin in aiding the dispersion of cannabinoids within the mixture, there is still more loss of cannabinoids during an infusion that does not use oil, as lecithin itself may not be able to encapsulate and protect all the cannabinoids present during the emulsification process.
The work-around for this is usually infusing cannabis into a fat first, such as coconut oil or butter, then blending the fat into the honey to make an oil-based cannahoney, but some people do not want, or cannot consume, the added fat, which is where this oil-free method comes in handy.
Why to Not Overheat the Honey
If you Google how to infuse honey with cannabis, you will see a variety of methods and recipes. Many of these involve heating honey and cannabis together to a high temperature for a certain length of time (up to 6 hours or more) then straining out the cannabis plant material after the infusion is complete. This is an acceptable method if you are only looking for some sweet gooey honey, but is not the best method if you are looking for the most health benefits of both honey and cannabis.
When honey is exposed to heat, its health benefits can be compromised. High temperatures can cause the enzymes and antioxidants present in honey to break down, reducing their efficacy. Heat also causes the natural sugars in honey to caramelize, resulting in a darker color and altered taste. Additionally, prolonged exposure to heat can lead to the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a compound that is believed to have negative effects on health. The degradation of honey through heat not only affects its nutritional value but also its medicinal properties. That is why this recipe uses a double-boiler method and only heats the honey enough to liquify it and allow the cannabis terpenes to infuse into the honey.
Storage and Shelf Life
Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and potency of your cannabis-infused honey. Follow these guidelines:
Store your cannahoney in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Label the container with the date of preparation and the strain of cannabis used (if applicable).
Label the container to ensure it is marked as containing THC to lessen the risk that someone consumes it accidentally thinking it is just plain honey.
Cannahoney can remain potent for several months when stored correctly.
Creative Uses for Cannahoney
Now that you have your homemade cannabis-infused honey, here are some creative ways to enjoy it:
Drizzle it over your favourite desserts, such as ice cream, pancakes, or waffles.
Add it to your tea or coffee for a sweet and relaxing twist.
Use it as a glaze for roasted vegetables or grilled meats.
Mix it into salad dressings or marinades for a unique flavour profile.
Spread it on toast or biscuits for a delicious and medicated treat.
Use it straight to help control a cough.
Apply it topically, as an antibiotic to help heal wounds, to help dry skin or rashes, or as a hair conditioner.
Make a tea with cannahoney and ginger to sooth an upset stomach.
Essentially, you can use cannahoney any way you would use regular honey. Just remember, if cooking or baking, avoid high temperatures when you can to preserve the health benefits of the honey. For example, if using it in a glaze, add the glaze after the food comes out of the oven instead of before it goes in. Also avoid high temperatures if you are trying to get the benefits of the acidic cannabinoids in raw flower or do not want the 'high' effect of THC. Putting cannahoney made with raw flower into the oven or cooking with it on the stove will decarb the flower, activating the THC and CBD.
Cannahoney and Absorption
While sometimes it is simply a taste or consistency preference, the reason some people like this no-oil method is because they either choose to cut back on fat, or are unable to eat a lot of fat due to health conditions. This creates a small problem with cannahoney, as cannabis is lipotropic, meaning it has an affinity for fat.
When cannabis is consumed with food containing fat, or infused with a fat such as butter or oil, it enhances the body's ability to process and absorb the compounds found in the plant. The combination of cannabis with fatty foods or oil allows for better solubility and absorption of its active ingredients, such as THC and CBD. Fat acts as a carrier for these compounds, allowing them to be more efficiently transported through the digestive system and into the bloodstream. Additionally, the presence of fat helps to prolong the effects of cannabis, as it is slowly released into the body over a longer period of time. Therefore, consuming cannabis with fat-containing foods not only improves its bioavailability but also enhances the overall experience and therapeutic benefits. So, if you have chosen to make oil-free cannahoney, there are a couple of things you can do get the most from it:
Mix it into food or beverages that contain some fat already, such as a peanut butter and honey sandwich, or honey glazed chicken.
If making a tea with cannahoney, add a small amount of coconut oil or other fat. You don't need a lot, even 1/4 of a teaspoon is enough.
Conclusion
Creating your own cannabis-infused honey without using oil is a rewarding and enjoyable process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make a versatile and potent cannahoney that can be used in various culinary creations. Remember to start with a small dose and wait for the effects before consuming more, especially if you were using raw flower, as there may be some unintended decarboxylation depending on the temperature and time of infusion.
Enjoy the sweet and therapeutic journey of cannahoney!
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Disclaimer: The thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this blog site are solely those of the author. They are not meant to be a substitute for professional medical and mental health guidance. Before following the advice given, it is always advisable to consult with your healthcare team to ensure no possible adverse affects or interactions with other treatments you may be using. Should you make the choice to use cannabis products, you do so at your own risk and assume all responsibility of a health or legal nature. The author does not encourage use of cannabis is those under 25 years of age, individuals in area where they do not have access to legal cannabis, or in individuals with pre-existing conditions that could be negatively impacted as the result of cannabis use.