Hemp tea is well-known for its potential heart and mind-calming properties.
Many people who use hemp products or incorporate hemp foods into their diet also enjoy a mug of warm hemp tea.
Many people are still unsure whether hemp tea is safe — or even legal — to consume, given that hemp comes from the same plant as cannabis ("marijuana").
This article discusses hemp tea, its uses, benefits, and potential drawbacks, as well as whether you should be concerned about psychoactive (high-inducing) compounds.
What exactly is hemp tea?
Hemp is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, and various parts are used to create a wide range of culinary and personal care products.
You may have eaten hemp seeds or used hemp-based soap in the past. You can also use the plant to make hemp tea, which is popular for its calming properties.
Hemp tea is made in the same way as any other herbal tea: dry hemp is steeped in boiling water. You can use dry hemp leaves or flower buds, but some people also add seeds or even parts of the root. Remove the solids to leave a flavorful liquid.
The resulting tea is greenish-brown in colour and has a slightly bitter or earthy flavour. Some people prefer to flavour or sweeten their hemp tea with lemon, honey, or sugar.
SUMMARY
Hemp tea is made by steeping cannabis sativa plant leaves or flower buds in boiling water. It is greenish-brown in colour and has a slightly bitter taste. Hemp tea is popular for its calming properties.
Is THC present in hemp tea?
One of the most frequently asked questions about hemp tea is whether it contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in the Cannabis plant, which is the source of both hemp and weed. THC is what gets people high after smoking or consuming marijuana.
Hemp and cannabis are sometimes confused, but they are not the same thing.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis, is commonly used to reduce anxiety, alleviate pain, and improve certain markers of heart health (1, 2, 3, 4).
While hemp contains trace amounts of THC, weed contains far more. The THC content of hemp is insufficient to produce psychoactive effects or get you high. In particular, hemp must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC (5, 6).
As a result, hemp is grown for recreational and herbal healing purposes, such as making tea or incorporating it into other culinary and personal care products.
You can rest assured that hemp, and thus hemp tea, is legal to consume as long as it contains trace amounts of THC —.03 percent or less.
As long as you don't consume large amounts of hemp on a daily basis, you have a very low chance of getting a positive drug test from it.
SUMMARY
While hemp and cannabis ("marijuana") are derived from the same plant, hemp contains only 0.3 percent or less THC. When consumed in moderation, these amounts will not get you high and are unlikely to result in a positive drug test.
Hemp tea's applications and potential health benefits
Hemp tea is primarily used to help the mind and body relax. Its ability to promote relaxation is largely due to the presence of non-psychoactive CBD and other bioactive compounds (7).
However, keep in mind that hemp tea is likely to contain much lower levels of CBD than the amounts studied in studies examining CBD's effects. Drinking hemp tea alone may not produce significant results (8).
Hemp tea has been researched for its potential to provide the following advantages (9, 10):
- Caffeine-free: Unlike some other types of tea, hemp tea does not contain caffeine. That means it won't give you the jitters or keep you awake at night like a caffeinated beverage might.
- CBD may aid in the promotion of sleep: CBD has been shown to help calm the brain and may be used to induce more restful sleep patterns. Indeed, some studies have found that CBD may improve sleep quality in people with brain conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
- Can help with anxiety: CBD in hemp may help with anxiety symptoms. Prior to public speaking, participants in one study were given either a 150 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg dose of CBD. When compared to the other doses and placebo, those who received the 300 mg dose experienced the greatest benefit in terms of anxiety reduction (a treatment that contained no CBD). However, most hemp tea contains far less CBD than the amounts tested in the study.
- CBD may help with chronic pain: There is some evidence that CBD can help with pain relief. Some studies suggest that using CBD may help reduce the need for medically prescribed opioids in some cases. However, the amounts of CBD in hemp tea are unlikely to produce such strong effects.
- CBD and other hemp compounds, such as terpenes, may help reduce high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. They may also have anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial to the heart.
Hemp tea is a great caffeine-free way to reap the benefits of CBD for specific purposes such as better sleep and pain relief — as well as general relaxation.
SUMMARY
Hemp tea contains cannabidiols like CBD as well as other compounds like terpenes, which have been shown to support heart health, alleviate chronic pain, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep. Furthermore, hemp is naturally caffeine-free.
Hemp tea's potential drawbacks and side effects
If you've never eaten hemp before, it's best to start slowly and gradually, because new foods can affect everyone differently.
Hemp and CBD are generally regarded as safe, with a low risk of serious side effects. However, some studies have reported side effects such as diarrhoea, tiredness, or unintentional changes in appetite among CBD users (11, 12).
If you are taking any medications, you should avoid drinking hemp tea because it may interfere with them.
Heart failure medications, such as digoxin, can be used to improve heartbeat strength while slowing overall heart rate. Hemp may cause your heart rate to slow even more, which could be dangerous for people taking these medications.
Furthermore, because hemp may lower potassium levels, it should be avoided if you are taking diuretics, which can also cause potassium losses. Furosemide and other diuretics reduce the amount of fluid in the body.
CBD may also interact with medications used to manage seizures and electrical activity in the brain, such as the epilepsy medication clobazam (13).
Furthermore, CBD may interact with some antidepressants and pain relievers (14).
Before incorporating hemp tea or other CBD sources into your diet or health routine, always consult with a healthcare professional. They can assist you in identifying potential risks for interaction or let you know if there are any other reasons why you should avoid these products.
SUMMARY
Certain medications, such as those used to promote fluid loss, control seizures, or manage pain and depression, may interact with CBD in hemp tea. Hemp may also cause diarrhoea, fatigue, and changes in appetite in some people.
Where can I buy hemp tea?
Hemp tea is becoming increasingly popular. You can buy pre-packaged hemp tea bags or dried hemp leaves or buds to make your own tea. You can find loose hemp leaves for tea and fillable tea bags to put them in.
Both of these options are available from a variety of online retailers. There are also specialty stores that sell the specific ingredients you require.
Hemp tea can be found in grocery stores alongside other herbal teas and coffees.
SUMMARY
Hemp tea bags, dried hemp leaves, and hemp flower buds are available in a variety of online retailers, specialty stores, and grocery stores. Look in the tea and coffee aisles.
How to Make Hemp Tea
Hemp tea is simple to make, especially if you're already familiar with other types of herbal teas.
All you need to make hemp tea is water and hemp. Unless you purchased a ready-to-steep hemp tea bag, the hemp will be in the form of dried leaves or ground hemp flower buds.
Bring your water to a boil for the first step. If you're using a tea bag, pour boiling water into a mug and steep the bag for 3–5 minutes before removing it.
When using dried hemp leaves or buds, simply place them in hot water for a few minutes, add any flavouring or sweetening agents, and strain out the solids.
Here's a simple recipe for hemp tea:
Ingredients: 1.5g dried hemp leaves or buds 1 cup (240 mL) water 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice pinch of cinnamon 1 tbsp (15 mL) honey or other sweetener of choice
Directions
- Bring your water to a boil in a teapot or a saucepan on the stove.
- When the water begins to boil, add the hemp and, if using, a pinch of cinnamon.
- Allow your water to boil for another minute before turning off the heat.
- Let the water cool slightly before adding the lemon and sweetener.
- Strain the tea into a mug to remove any solids and serve.
The end result of your hemp tea preparation will be a flavourful, warming, and nourishing beverage.
SUMMARY
Hemp tea is simple to prepare. All you need is boiling water, dried hemp leaves or flower buds, and whatever flavouring or sweetening agents you prefer for your tea.
In conclusion
Hemp tea is a beverage made by steeping dried hemp leaves or flower buds in boiling water, similar to how other herbal teas are made. Hemp tea is naturally caffeine-free and high in non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBD.
When consumed in moderation, hemp is required to contain no more than trace amounts of THC, so it will not get you high and is unlikely to cause a positive drug test.
Many people enjoy making their own hemp tea at home, but hemp tea bags can also be purchased from online retailers and many grocery stores.
Hemp tea may have a calming effect due to its CBD content and may provide benefits for anxiety, heart health, sleep, and possibly chronic pain.
More controlled human research is required to determine whether small amounts of CBD, such as those found in hemp tea, can produce measurable health effects.
While CBD and hemp are generally regarded as safe, they have the potential to interact with a variety of medications. Before incorporating hemp tea into your health regimen, consult with a healthcare professional.
Reviews
Herbreviews.co.uk have conducted an independent review of Hemp Teas on the market which you can view here.
