Something I have been interested in for several years is cannabis tea. I live in a village with loads of pensioners who cant stand people who grow and smoke weed, but they grow for tea. They grow this seeded, low grade stuff and freeze it with seeds leaves and all and then use it throughout the year as a tea. There is a variety of recipes they use from tinctures to leaves steeped in tea, but the people that I have spoken to swear by it.
I supply a local elderly lady fresh leaves every fortnight and she makes a tea, and it actually makes her high, and gives her the rest and sleep she is looking for. So we all know that leaves do not produce THC, but its found on leaves beacuse of wind and gravity through the flowers.
15 years ago I met up with Dr Ben Dlamini, an activist and ex-education minister in eSwatini ( Swaziland ) . We traveled a couple days with him and one thing he swore about was that a cannabis leaf steeped in hot water every morning was his secret to a long and healthy life.
There is benefits to the leaves, especially fibre, vitamins and minerals. But interested to know more about the science behind the “cannabis tea”. Yes people make tea using flowers, but I see many elderly using just the leaves, and to them, it works!! Lets discuss.
Well right off the bat, I have to say that indeed cannabis leaves DO make THC and all the other goodies, I have bags and bags of sugar leaves in the freezer I intend to make hash out of, they are literally crusted in resin.
Now about the other part… about that the tea brewed from leaves is uber good for you I have not a clue, never tried any. It sure can’t hurt. Also don’t understand why they would love one part or method and have disdain for the other uses/methods of consumption.
Its actually quite nice, nice golden colour when using fresh leaves, I have never tried crushed dried leaves.
Yes, cannabis leaves do contain THC, though usually in lower concentrations than the flower buds. While fan leaves have very low THC, sugar leaves closer to the buds have higher amounts. Leaves can be used for making edibles, topicals, or even extracting THC for concentrates
Just learnt something I should have known @sssportsmfg , thanks bud.
After this discussion, and my stupid stubbornness, I am going to make some tea that the old lady lady I assist makes. I often give her dried leaves, so going to brew a pot this morning and see what happens when I take it this evening after chatting with @NateCannaCribs tonight.
This is such a fascinating topic—thanks for sharing! I’ve noticed the same thing with older folks using cannabis in gentler, more traditional ways, like teas and tinctures from leaf material rather than bud. What you said really highlights the difference between getting “high” and getting “well.”
You’re absolutely right that fan leaves don’t produce THC, but they can collect trace amounts from nearby buds, especially on frosty plants or late in flower. When brewed fresh, there’s also the presence of CBDA, which has its own anti-inflammatory and calming effects. Add in the natural terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, and minerals, and it makes sense why so many people say it helps with sleep, digestion, and overall wellness—even without a full psychoactive hit.
Dr. Ben Dlamini’s ritual sounds like something straight out of an ethnobotany textbook, daily, mild use of a medicinal plant for longevity. That kind of traditional knowledge is powerful, and honestly, it’s the kind of approach modern cannabis culture could learn from: slow, simple, sustainable.
It’d be amazing to see more studies focused specifically on leaf-based preparations, especially in communities that use them this way long-term. For now, though, the anecdotal evidence is pretty compelling.
Would love to hear more recipes or methods if anyone else here is doing this too!
I stirred some thcv isolate powder straight into hot coconut milk with a bit of honey and chai spices. The fat really helped with absorption, and it gave the tea a smooth texture.
I noticed a clear-headed buzz that didn’t feel too heavy, which was perfect for a midday boost. Anyone else tried mixing isolate into tea with milk or another fat base?
