If you are lucky enough to have cannabis leaves nearby, here are a few delicious things you can make.
If you can grow in your region, it’s time to look at ways to get the most health benefits from raw cannabis. The main thing to remember is that it is a herb. So, it’s not just for smoking – it has a number of different benefits when consumed raw. Warning: cannabis is a bit of an acquired taste that may take some time to grow into ‘appealing’. But, hey, you probably used to hate mushrooms and olives, right?
It’s the acidic cannabinoids, CBDa and THCa, those cannabinoids that are available in abundance before decarboxylation.
Which Parts of Raw Cannabis Can You Eat?
For dosing purposes, it is recommended to consume 15 leaves per day. These will need to first be cleaned by soaking them in cold water with a bit of apple cider vinegar for about 5 minutes.
Second, you’ll also want to include some raw bud in these healthy treats. The flower has the greatest concentration of cannabinoids so they’ll bring in the greatest health benefit. Start with 2 small, raw buds a day.
Avoid the stems. These have micro cystolith hairs that can catch in the throat and cause some discomfort. Toss these in the compost.
It’s important to remember that the fresher the better. If you have the luxury of picking your leaves from a living plant, this is the optimal situation. Be sure to know your source and avoid pesticides.
How to Prepare Your Raw Cannabis
Raw cannabis tastes quite a bit different from the dried herb. It has a strong, potent flavour that is slightly spicy. Think arugula instead of lettuce. It’s a distinct flavour that demands to be mixed up right.
The first thing to remember is that raw cannabis can irritate the digestive track if you are sensitive. If this is an issue for you, pair with healthy fats to help balance it out. Foods like avocado or chia seeds, as well as blueberries, apples, and carrots will prevent digestive irritation.
Juicing Raw Cannabis
Juicing is a great way to get the most out of raw cannabis leaves. Grinding up the leaves and buds increases the surface area for more effective absorption of cannabinoids.
You will definitely want to blend with another fruit or veg juice to dial down the bitter taste. Raw cannabis mixes well with kale and spinach, but feel free to experiment with any of your favourite fruit juices.
To maximize your body’s efficiency for cannabinoid absorption, spread your consumption throughout the day. Five doses of 60 ml is a good target.
Alternatively, you can add juiced cannabis leaves and bud to a smoothie. Blend up a couple of tablespoons with fruit and veg, to add depth of flavour and make your daily morning smoothie even healthier. Top with hemp seed for a complete on-the-go food.
Raw Cannabis Popsicles on a Hot Day
Why not turn your juice or smoothie into a cannabis popsicle? These are sweet little treats that are perfect for summer heat. You can also simply add ground up cannabis to water plus a bit of fruit or vegetable juice to make the popsicle. So easy, so refreshing.
Make Your Dressings and Sauces Healthy with Raw Cannabis
While you’ll want to avoid heating up the bud if you don’t want to activate the THC, you can still make plenty of sauces and dressings without the heat.
Pesto is an easy one that goes nicely with raw cannabis leaves, and doesn’t need to be heated up. This tastes fantastic on pastas and salads that have quinoa, avocado, berries, and nuts. Any fresh vegetable sauce pairs beautifully with raw cannabis.
You can really boost the nutritional value of your salad if you add raw cannabis dressing. Cannabis blended with honey, olive oil, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar, you’ve got a low fat, low sodium, low sugar delicious alternative to unhealthy options like ranch or Caesar.
Salads, Sandwiches, Pizzas, Pastas
Cannabis can be eaten as a form of lettuce. Added to spinach and kale salads (or as an addition to your sandwiches) and you’ll have a little extra nutritional oomph to your meal. Be sure to chop up the leaves for palatability.
Other ingredients that go nicely for a wrap, sandwich, or salad include: tomatoes, basil, lemon, onion, cucumber, mushrooms, and garlic, as well as vinegar and/or olive oil dressing. If these seem like ingredients needed for Italian food, that’s because they are! Try cannabis in your pasta or raw on top of your cooked pizza, just as you would with any herb or arugula.
Got more ideas? Tell us how you use raw cannabis in the comment section below.
