Weed tea is simple, cozy, and gentle on your lungs.
This guide shows you how to make weed tea with clear steps, safe dosing tips, and easy science.
You’ll also learn what “decarb” means, why fat matters, and how weed butter fits in.

What Is Weed Tea?

Weed tea (also called cannabis tea) is a warm drink that carries THC or CBD from cannabis into your cup.
You sip it like regular tea. The effects feel like weed edibles because you swallow and digest it rather than inhale it.

Two things make weed tea work:

Decarboxylation: Heat turns THCA into active THC (and CBDA into CBD). Without this step, the drink will feel weak. Scientists have studied this conversion for years, showing that heat and time control how much THCA becomes THC. Too much heat for too long can also break THC down.
Fat loves cannabinoids: THC and CBD are lipophilic, which means they dissolve in fats and oils but not in plain water. This is why adding butter, coconut oil, or milk helps your tea carry the cannabinoids.

How Weed Tea Feels (Onset, Peak, and Duration)

Weed tea acts like an edible.
That means the effects start slow and last longer than smoking.

You may begin to feel it 30 minutes to 2 hours after drinking.
It can take up to 4 hours to feel the full effect.
Effects can last 4 to 12 hours, with light after-effects up to 24 hours.

Because of this slow rise, take your time between sips and servings.

Safety and Dosing Basics in Canada

If you’re new to edibles or returning after a break, start low.
Health Canada suggests 2.5 mg THC or less as a starting dose for edible products and to wait before taking more.

Always keep cannabis and edibles out of reach of children and pets.
For broad consumer guidance on legal products and labels in Canada, see Health Canada’s consumer information.

The Small Science You Need (Plain English)

Here are the two key ideas, kept simple:

Decarboxylation (“decarb”):
Raw cannabis holds THCA and CBDA. Heat removes a small acid group (CO₂) and makes THC and CBD active. Lab work shows that mild oven heat for a set time activates these molecules. Higher heat for too long can reduce THC by converting it to other compounds.
Fat makes tea effective:
THC and CBD don’t mix well with water, but they do blend with fats. Adding a small amount of weed butter (cannabutter), coconut oil, cream, or whole milk helps your body absorb cannabinoids from tea. This is a basic property of these molecules and shows up across pharmacology research.

What You’ll Need (One Quick List)

Decarbed cannabis or ready-made weed butter (cannabutter)
Black, green, or herbal tea bag (your choice)
A fat: 1–2 teaspoons butter, coconut oil, cream, or whole milk
Hot water and a small pot or kettle
Fine strainer or cheesecloth (if using plant material)
Optional: lemon, ginger, honey, sugar, or spices for flavour

How to Make Weed Tea (With Weed Butter)

If you already have weed butter, this is the easiest path.
You get better control over dose and taste.

Boil water.
Heat 1 cup (240 ml) of water to a gentle boil.
Brew your tea.
Add your tea bag and steep 3–5 minutes.
Stir in fat.
Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of weed butter (or infused coconut oil). Stir well so the fat disperses.
Sweeten and finish.
Add honey, sugar, or lemon to taste.
Sip slowly.
Wait at least 2 hours before adding more infused butter to the next cup. Remember the slow climb.

Why this works: the cannabutter brings THC/CBD into the drink because cannabinoids dissolve in fat, not water.

No Weed Butter? Quick Milk-Based Cannabis Tea

You can infuse whole milk or cream right in the pot.
This method strains out plant bits and still gives you a smooth cup.

Decarb first (see the next section).
Warm fat + water.
In a small saucepan, combine ¾ cup water and ¼ cup whole milk or cream (you want some fat present). Heat to a light simmer.
Add decarbed cannabis.
Start with ¼ to ½ gram. Keep the mix at a low simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring now and then.
Strain and serve.
Pour through a fine strainer or cheesecloth into your mug. Add a regular tea bag and steep 3–5 minutes for flavour.
Season and sip.
Add ginger, cinnamon, or honey if you like. Drink slowly. Give the effects time.

Note: The fat in milk helps pull cannabinoids into the drink. Plain water alone is not enough.

How to Decarb Cannabis (Step-by-Step)

You’ll get more consistent results if you decarb before making tea or weed edibles.

Preheat your oven to 110–120 °C (230–248 °F).
Prepare the flower.
Break it up gently (don’t grind to dust). Spread on a parchment-lined tray.
Heat for 30–40 minutes.
Stir once halfway. Ovens vary, so aim for even, light browning and a toasty smell.
Cool on the tray.
Store in a clean jar until use.

Why these numbers? Research shows THCA converts to THC with controlled heat and time; too hot for too long can degrade THC to other compounds. The range above balances activation and flavour in a home oven. Use an oven thermometer for accuracy.

How to Dose Your Cannabis Tea

Dosing is easier if you use weed butter with a known strength.
If your cannabutter is 10 mg THC per teaspoon, then ½ teaspoon in one cup ≈ 5 mg THC.

If you’re infusing milk with decarbed flower, use a gentle approach:

Start with ¼ gram of cannabis at 15% THC in your small batch.
0.25 g × 150 mg THC/g ≈ 37.5 mg THC total before losses. Home infusions are not 100% efficient, and you likely split the batch into several cups.
Pour smaller servings and wait 2 hours to judge effects before more.

For new or cautious users, aim for 2.5 mg THC per serving and go slow.

Flavour Boosts and Easy Variations

Chai-style: simmer your milk with black tea, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Lemon-ginger herbal: great without caffeine; add a little coconut oil for fat.
Iced cannabis tea: chill the infused base, then pour over ice with lemon.
CBD-forward: use a CBD-rich strain for a milder cup and the same steps.

Tip: Honey sweetens well, but it does not replace fat. Add a teaspoon of butter, coconut oil, or cream to carry cannabinoids.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerate leftover milk-based cannabis tea in a sealed jar for up to 2–3 days.
Fat can separate as it cools; shake or whisk before reheating.
Warm gently on the stove. Avoid boiling to protect taste and aroma.

Keep all infused drinks clearly labelled and out of reach of kids and pets.

Weed Tea vs. Other Weed Edibles

Onset: similar to other edibles—30 to 120 minutes to feel it.
Duration: often 4–12 hours, sometimes longer.
Control: using measured weed butter lets you fine-tune a cup more easily than guessing with raw flower.
Taste: tea flavours, spices, and milk help mask the herbal note.

Some packaged drinks use special emulsions to act faster, but home tea still follows the “start low, go slow” rule.

Troubleshooting

My tea is weak.
You may have skipped decarb, used too little fat, or under-infused. Decarb and add a teaspoon of butter or coconut oil next time.

There’s an oily film.
That’s normal when fat meets hot tea. Whisk or froth it. A splash of milk helps it blend.

I felt nothing, then too much.
This is common with edibles. Effects can take up to 4 hours to peak. Next time, measure smaller doses and wait longer before adding more.

How much should I take?
If you’re new, 2.5 mg THC or less per serving is a careful start. Wait, then decide if you need more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to decarb?
Yes, if you want psychoactive THC. Decarb turns THCA into THC. Without it, the tea will be much milder.

Can I make caffeine-free weed tea?
Yes. Use herbal tea and the same fat and decarb steps.

Can I use stems or trim?
You can, but potency will be lower. Decarb first and simmer longer with fat.

Is CBD tea different?
You still decarb and still need fat. CBD is also lipophilic and needs a carrier.

What about mixing with alcohol?
Some people infuse tinctures, but alcohol extractions are stronger and have their own safety rules. Start low and be cautious.

Step-By-Step Recap (Quick Path to Your First Cup)

Decarb your cannabis: 110–120 °C for ~30–40 min.
Brew any tea you like.
Add fat (weed butter, coconut oil, cream, or milk).
Stir, season, and sip slowly. Wait 2 hours before more.

Where to Go Next

If you want to explore strains for a calm, creative, or sleepy cup—or pick up weed edibles and weed butter ingredients—browse the selection at GetKush.cc. Choose legal products, read labels, and plan your dose before you brew. For clear safety tips and dosing reminders for Canadians, check Health Canada’s guidance.

Final note: Everyone’s body is different. Go slow, write down what dose worked, and adjust on another day. If you use prescription medicines or have health concerns, talk with a health professional before trying edibles.

Enjoy your cup.

REFERENCES:

Wikipedia. (2025, February 1). Cannabis tea. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_tea

How to Make Cannabis Tea. (nd). Available at: https://www.verilife.com/learn/how-to-make-cannabis-tea

Government of British Columbia. (2019, December 17). Edible Cannabis Affects People Differently ‘start low – go slow’ Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/public-safety/csu/cannabis-edibles-safe-use-fact-sheet.pdf

Dr. Leslie Lars Iversen, CBE FRS MAE