Making Cannahoney
Making cannabis-infused oil, butter and honey will allow for the convenient preparation of edibles that you may be taking for medical or medicinal treatment. This cannahoney will be used in our preparation of No-Nonsense Fresh Fruit Gummy Treats, which follows.
Equipment
- A small ovenproof baking vessel, flat inside like the tray in a toaster oven. A small metal brownie pan or glass Pyrex dish will work fine. The maximum oven temperature will not exceed 250°F. This whole process can be done in a glass-front toaster oven, up on the counter where it’s easy to monitor.
- An oven thermometer: Using a permanent marker, green or some other transparent color, draw a line over the 240° line. Hang the thermometer in the middle of the oven, or wherever you can see the temperature clearly but it doesn’t get in the way.
- A piece of parchment paper 2 inches wider and longer than the bottom of the pan.
- A fine-mesh sieve.
Ingredients
- 2.3–2.5 grams of dried flowers; ask about the flavor profile when purchasing. The flavor is influenced by terpenes, aromatic compounds known best for the characteristic scents of herbs and teas, citrus, berries and most ripe fruits. In many conditions they are present to protect the plant from predators or in some cases to attract pollinators. A robust citrus terpene may be to your liking infused in this honey.
- ½ cup of honey, your favorite flavor is a good idea however not critical.
Instructions
- Crumple up the parchment paper then gently smooth it back out; it should still be wrinkled. Use it to loosely line the pan.
- Take the flowers and either rip or cut them with sharp scissors into what you might call smokablesize pieces. Do this where you can easily collect pieces that flip off in different directions.
- Spread out the cut flowers in a thin layer to cover the pan bottom, leaving room between the pieces.
- Loosely tent the cut flowers on the pan with foil; this will protect the flowers from direct heat and burning.
- When oven temperature reaches 230°, insert the tented tray in oven.
- The cannabis needs to cook between 220–240°F; temperatures higher than 250° might burn and destroy the effect of the weed.
- Set timer for 15 minutes and monitor temperature. After 15 minutes, remove the tray and check the color; you’re looking for a rusty brown. Rotate the tray 180°, return to oven, monitor every 5 minutes; it should take a total of 25–30 minutes from the start.
- Remove the tray from oven and allow to cool, so you can handle.
- Now gently heat the honey between 95° and 100°F, using any method:
- • Heat in a glass jar or measuring cup placed in a pan of water.
- • Heat in a glass jar or measuring cup placed in a microwave.
- • Heat in a glass jar placed in a microwave bowl with water in it.
- Check the temperature, and when it is no more than 100° pour the decarbed flowers into the honey and mix to combine. When combined, cover the container loosely and leave it overnight in a warm, dry place.
- Make the gummy bears tomorrow!
THE NEXT DAY ...
- Good morning! Time to finish the honey for safekeeping.
- Heat the honey to 95°F; this will allow for a smooth pour.
- Using the sieve, pour the honey into a sealable or lockable jar. Use a rubber spatula to carefully remove all of the honey from the measuring cup and into the sieve. Allow the storage jar to cool, then cover, label it with its content and store in a cool darkish safe place. It will be fine for at least one month.
- Use a spatula to remove all of the decarbed marijuana from the sieve, placing it into a small, covered container, mark and store as well. This can be added to a cup or mug of hot brewed tea.
- Don’t forget to “dose low and increase slow” with the honey-saturated leaves until you have established your ideal dosage. Remember, consuming the decarbed leaves will affect the reaction of your dose!