CBD Oil, Your Favourite New Ingredient

CBD oil has made its way into the mainstream, and everyones looking for new ways to take it. While taking a few drops under the tongue orally is the most common method, people are also fond of dabbing, vaping, creams and also cooking with CBD! Cooking with CBD can avoid some of the flavours many are not fond of from CBD oil. 

In-house, we are very fond of adding CBD to our morning coffee, or infusing a lunch meal with CBD. It isn't complicated, but it helps to know some basic rules for cooking with CBD to avoid wasting any of your product. 

Basic Tips for cooking with CBD oil

1. Infuse CBD with a carrier oil. 

All cannabinoids (CBD included) are fat soluble. This means that they break down when mixed with fats. The amount of CBD you can absorb dramatically increases when you take this step, if you want to get the most value out of your product you don't want to forget to combine CBD with healthy fat. We are big fans of MCT oil, however you could use any fat of your liking.

2. A bit of heat - but not too much.

Heat can increase CBDs effectiveness by converting CBDa into CBD. This process is called decarboxylation and requires a stable temperature of 245 degrees F for about 60-90 minutes. Make sure to stir your CBD in a healthy carrier every 10 mins while heating to further maximise the potential of your product. Be weary that by heating CBD up too much, you can actually destroy the cannabinoids present and reduce the effectiveness of your product.

3. Bold flavours.

CBD oil can have a strong flavour. We personally like this flavour as it can contain useful terpenes and the quality of the oil can be fully appreciated. However for those that don't like the earthiness that can be found in some CBD oils, pairing it with a strong bold flavour can improve upon the experience. Here are some pairing options we use:

• Mix with Coffee.
• Mix with Smoothies - the sweeter the more likely you'll block the earthiness of CBD. 
• Bake into a cake or brownie.  

4. Infuse with terpenes.

Once you have an idea of how you'd like to cook with CBD, one thing you can do is add terpenes. Terpenes are what sets apart the smell and flavour of each strain. They are organic hydrocarbons that are found in all fruits and vegetables. You can find a large range of Strain Specific Terpenes on our site for use in infusing edibles. Simply add a drop or two to your baking mix, or CBD oil - it's as simple as that. Make sure to only use a very small amount, terpenes are very strong and adding too much to a recipe will ruin the taste. Why not make an OG Kush infused CBD brownie?