The Golden state. The Wild West. California has always been at the leading edge, literally and figuratively, forging new ways of thinking, crafting a new lens through which to see the possibilities of the horizon, although it has also had its moments of contraction, especially in relation to cannabis.
Read MoreThe Autumn cornucopia overflows with the ripe fruits and vegetables of the season and here in California the harvest includes cannabis. Northern California is where the culture of cannabis cultivation rose up in reaction to the early twentieth century prohibition of the common weed. The so-called “ditch weed” of the early twentieth century was still to be found growing wild along seasonal river beds, in dry temperate mountain ranges, off the ocean coasts and even tucked into the tundra lands of Siberia. These wild strains are now referred to as “land races”, these originals are the genetic stock of the strains we know today. Some of you may remember these land race strains from the reefer heydays of the 1960’s and 1970’s: Acapulco Gold, Congolese Red, Afghani Kush, Durban Poison, Lambs Bread, Thai Stick, Panama Red, their names are associated with their place of origin, their “terroir” .
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CBD Dorset Apple Cake
- Billee Sharp
Fall has arrived and even here in temperate California we feel the crisp cold air on the wind and anticipate the much-needed rain. Although we all love the warm summer months there are many seasonal delights to enjoy when the cool of autumn arrives. When wind, and rain are swirling at the window there is nothing quite as cosy as sitting snugly inside feeling safe and warm. Warm drinks and comforting food are the order of the day, and there is no need to feel indulgent with these healthy, cannabis-infused recipes.
There are many ways of making cannabis tea so I’m choosing a couple of the simplest methods here. I’ve tried and tested these recipes and know how easy, effective and delicious they are.
There is a difference between “tea” and a “tisane”, strictly speaking a tea must include actual Camellia Sinensis tea leaves, some variety of black tea or green tea, whereas a tisane is a herbal infusion, sometimes a decoction if hard material, stems, roots or bark are used.
Starting with tea, dried and cured cannabis leaves and flower fragments can be added to any pot of tea and steeped for a few minutes before being strained and poured.
A pure tisane of cannabis flower, brought to a boil and then simmered on a low heat for ten minutes will have a light floral flavor and plenty of beneficial cannabinoids, a useful ratios to try:
one teaspoon dried cannabis
one and a half cups water,
Or,
One tablespoon fresh flower
one and a half cups water.
If you have stems, either dried or fresh you can make a decoction tea, using the same ratios as for dried and fresh flower tea. This is a common method used in herbal medicine to make a medicinal tea.
When making a stem decoction, add the stems, to boiling water and then simmer for twenty minutes, you can leave the stems in while the decoction cools and then remove them, you can use a herb bag or a tea ball or just strain off the loose stems. This decocted tisane has the delicate twig flavor of Japanese twig teas like Bancha, a slight woody taste, very delicious.
The quickest way to a cup of cannabis tea is of course just add a few drops of your favorite tincture to your teacup. An oil based tincture will give the tea a slight sheen but won’t affect the flavor a great deal.
Tea-time is not complete without cake and Dorset Apple cake is a personal autumn favorite. My adaptation of the original recipe is CBD infused, with a very subtle taste profile, while the apple is sweet and juicy! .
CBD Dorset Apple Cake
10 oz organic flour
4oz organic light brown sugar
1 large egg/ 2 tablespoons of coconut cream or other
2oz organic butter/ vegan substitute
2oz coconut oil with 60 drops of #141 or #143 Ringo’s Gift tincture.
12oz apple peeled, pared and cut in small cubes
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1 teaspoon allspice (optional)
Preheat the oven to 375’F, prepare a baking dish or a loaf baking tin: grease the inside, then sprinkling a little flour over a greased baking dish or if using a loaf tin, grease it and then line with parchment paper.
Mix the flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon and allspice together in a large bowl. Melt the butter and the coconut oil, add the 60 drops of tincture and stir together. Then in a separate bowl, mix the beaten egg or creamer together with the butter/coconut oil and then add in the apple cubes. Fold the apple batter into the dry ingredients and mix together. It will be a thick mixture and it’ll need a spatula or two to press it into the baking tin.
Bake for 30 minutes, and then do the toothpick test: if it comes out clean, set the tin to cool before removing the cake, otherwise return the tin to the oven and test again in ten minutes until the pick comes out clean!