Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a very popular health supplement in a relatively short amount of time. While it suffered from a negative association with marijuana for a long time, CBD has exploded in the health supplement market since 2018 when the federal government passed the Farm Bill to legalize hemp and related products. As long as the CBD product contains no more than 0.3% THC,
Since then, one of the most common products you will find that use CBD are edibles and CBD lotions. From brownies and other baked goods, to Delta 8 THC gummies, to healthier alternatives like salad dressing and cooking oil, there are numerous types of edibles available.
Three Benefits of CBD Edibles
The effects last
The main reason why people take CBD is because of the benefits for our health and wellness. It has been found to help reduce pain and inflammation, make it easier for you to fall asleep, and improve your mental health, among other benefits.
Ingesting CBD is one of the slower ways to feel its effect, mainly due to the length of time it takes to be absorbed through the digestive process. However, the effects also last longer when CBD is consumed this way. Where vaping or smoking CBD lasts for an hour or two, edibles can last as long as six hours.
They suit every taste
You can infuse CBD into almost any kind of food, as well as any kind of drink. While candies and gummies are the most common type of edible you will find, there are so many other kinds of edibles you can buy or make. Eat a CBD gummy to see if it’s your thing.
The easiest way is to infuse CBD into some kind of oil or fat, which many foods use as an active ingredient. You can also infuse CBD into honey and maple syrup, which are common in various drinks and sauces. That means everyone will be able to find a type of CBD edible that suits their tastes.
They’re versatile
What makes edibles versatile is that you can mix in other supplements or ingredients that can help you further. For example, if you want to take edibles to help you sleep, you can have edibles or drinkables with chamomile, melatonin, and other natural ingredients that also help you sleep. If you want to reduce pain due to a chronic condition, you can have an edible that also includes supplements like magnesium, turmeric, omega fatty acids, and more.
Different Types of CBD Edibles
The process of infusing CBD into food or drinks will work in different ways depending on the kind of food or drink in question. Generally, if you can think of a kind of food or recipe, you can likely find a way to infuse CBD into it. You can also purchase it pre-made and pre-infused for you. Here is a list of the most common types of edibles you will find at various dispensaries or online shops:
- Candies — Gummies, chocolate, lollipops, gum
- Cooking oil — Olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil, chili oil, avocado oil
- Sauces — Salad dressing, BBQ sauce, marinades
- Baked goods — Brownies, cakes, muffins, croissants
- Dairy — Butter, cheese, yogurt, milk
- Cooking ingredients — Flour, honey, maple syrup
- Snacks — Chips, popcorn, crackers, trail mix, protein bars
- Drinkables — Coffee, tea, juice, seltzer, carbonated water, alcohol
- Smoothies — Peanut butter, protein powder, coconut milk
How CBD Edibles Are Made
The process for infusing CBD into food is relatively simple, but can take some practice to master so you don’t lose any of the potency. The most effective way to infuse CBD into food is through some kind of fat or oil. Here are three ways to infuse CBD into your food or drink.
Steeping hemp leaves
Steeping hemp leaves is an easy and common method for CBD drink infusion. Let it sit in the liquid, oil, fat, etc for long enough and the CBD will fuse with it. You can pre-grind the hemp into more of a fine powder, or just use loose hemp leaves in a tea bag.
In a liquid or oil, you can leave it sitting together overnight to make sure it is thoroughly infused. This also works with honey and maple syrup. If it is something like melted butter, you will need to heat the butter enough so it melts into a liquid, then mix in the CBD and let the butter solidify as it cools.
Using CBD oil or water soluble powder
If the food or recipe you’re working with does not have any oil or fat to work with, you can infuse some types of food or drink directly with CBD oil, or water soluble CBD powder. It isn’t as effective overall, but it is a simpler process. It works best with liquids when you don’t have access to hemp leaves or hemp flower. You just mix the CBD oil or powder into the liquid and let it sit for a while so it can become fully infused.
Keep the CBD away from direct heat over 300°F
While you can use CBD in your cooking, it is worth noting that you want to avoid exposing the CBD with direct heat over 300 degrees. After that, the heat affects the CBD so it begins to break down and it loses some of its potency. The best way to mix CBD into food you have to heat or cook is by mixing it into the middle so it isn’t exposed to direct heat on the surface. You can also cook it at lower temperatures.
If you want to try CBD, starting with edibles is a good way to experience it for the first time and see how it helps you. There are tons of different kinds of edibles and brands so you can find something that tastes great for you. It is also highly versatile to help with whatever health condition you may have, and the effects will last longer than most other ways of consuming CBD.
You can buy most types of edibles pre-infused with CBD, which is a much easier option for beginners. If you are an experienced or adventurous cook, you can also make your own edibles and drinkables.
