How to Cook with Tinctures

Cannabis and food go hand in hand. While most of us have had experience with the classic “pot brownie,” the rapid growth of the adult-use marijuana industry over the last ten years has enabled entrepreneurs and inventors to create new and exciting ways to combine cannabis and cooking.

Last year, history was made with the introduction of the Original Cannabis Cafe in Los Angeles, breaking ground as the first legal cannabis restaurant in the country where customers can infuse their food with THC for a $20 upcharge. For those who can’t make the trip out to L.A., fear not! This article will show you how to use cannabis tinctures to create delicious infused dishes right from your home.

Here’s everything you need to know about cooking with cannabis tinctures!

Tinctures vs. Cannabis Edibles

While tinctures technically classify as cannabis edibles, and both require the use of decarboxylated cannabis, here are a few differences in the way tinctures are made and integrated with food compared to the traditional THC oil or “cannabutter” used in edibles.

Edibles and cannabutter are made by extracting the cannabinoids into fat that will later be used as an added ingredient in cooking. Because THC is fat-soluble, products like cannabis oil make a great addition to baked goods, which is why we traditionally see homemade edibles in the form of cookies, brownies, and bars.

On the other hand, Tinctures are created by using high-grade alcohol as a solvent to pull the cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant into an infused, potent liquid. For people who cannot inhale smoke for medical reasons, tinctures are a great way to quickly feel relaxation and pain relief without putting any stress on the lungs or respiratory system. When it comes to cooking, the liquid property of tinctures is essential, as the low viscosity of the substance makes it easy to add in candy recipes like gummies or drops or even just into your beverage.

Benefits of Cooking with Tinctures

One of the most significant benefits of using tinctures in cooking is that you can apply them to many different foods and drinks, which is not the same case for fat-based solvents. Just imagine enjoying your favorite salad dressings, smoothies, soups, and pasta sauces, while also getting to experience the calming and relaxing effects of cannabis at the same time!

Adding cannabutter to a cocktail, candy mixture, or ice cream would leave an unwanted greasy texture, blocking the natural taste and feel of the food. Tinctures are subtle enough not to overpower or mask a dish. This makes it much more effective in the kitchen as a universal condiment and cooking product. At City Trees, we create some of our tinctures with Agave to give customers a great, natural alternative to artificial sugars and syrups. Some have no taste, so you can add them right into a recipe without affecting the flavors you worked hard to create.

Another excellent benefit to incorporating tinctures into your food is the ability to administer precise doses into your meal, ensuring that medicinal effects are the same every time. Our tinctures come packaged in a convenient dropper bottle, allowing you to control the dose you’re adding to your dish.

Kitchen Tips

The most important thing to remember when using tinctures in the kitchen is unlike cannabis oil; tincture droplets cannot be added to food or drink before baking or cooking. Applying heat to a tincture would destroy the cannabinoids and terpenes and, thus removing all medicinal effects from the product. For the best results, add a few drops of your tincture to your dish after cooking and before plating your meal. Think of it as the perfect garnish to complete the recipe!

Also, keep in mind that using tinctures in food will react differently from the body if taken through regular sublingual use. Because the food or drink has to pass through the digestive tract, the onset time to enter the bloodstream and induce a psychoactive effect will be longer, typically taking 1-2 hours.

Bottom Line

Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know about cooking with tinctures, it’s time to get in the kitchen and start creating some cannabis culinary masterpieces! Non-GMO, gluten-free, and organic, our City Trees Tinctures are perfect for adding a touch of sweetness to drinks, a bit of moisture to foods, and a bit of joy to your day.

Visit our online shop to find the tincture that’s right for you, and get cooking today! For more info on tinctures, check out our blog, Edibles vs. Tinctures: Which is right for me? Finally, for recipes and ideas to cook with tinctures, check out @citytreesnv on Instagram.