What Is Cannasugar?
It's simply sugar that has been infused with cannabis.
You probably wouldn't find cannasugar in your mom's kitchen! It's not likely that your mom ever baked a batch of Snickerdoodles using weed sugar — but nowadays, cannasugar is gaining popularity with folks who use cannabis. It can be used for medicinal purposes, or purely for enjoyment.
How To Use Cannasugar
Cannasugar can be used just like regular sugar in beverages or food. You can use a spoonful of cannasugar to sweeten coffee or tea, or add it to a cold drink and make it a cannabis mocktail (we don't recommend mixing it with alcohol). You can use it in baked goods, or any dish that you might add sugar to. Cannasugar is an easy way to enjoy getting high if you prefer not to smoke, or it can be an alternate way to enjoy the medicinal benefits of cannabis.
Cannasugar can also be used along with
cannabutter or cannabis coconut oil in your recipes. Combining them in a recipe can provide an extra dose of CBD or THC. Pot brownies, cookies, and other sweet treats have always been favorites for stoners with
the munchies. Having cannasugar ready to add into the mix is so convenient! Cannabutter, cannasugar, and cannabis coconut oil are staples in the kitchens of cannabis cooks.
How To Make Cannasugar
Although cannasugar is easy to use once it has been made, the process used to make it can be a little complicated. However, the process is well worth it, and it gets easier to make after you've have made it a couple of times. There is some science involved, but don't worry, it's not that bad!
Here are a few facts you need to know before you get started:
1. You need to
decarboxylate your cannabis first! Activating the
CBD or THC in your flower with heat is the first step to make any infusion. On a parchment-lined cookie sheet, evenly spread out your cannabis, and heat in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour at 220 degrees. Check out our full guide to decarbing your weed
here.
2. A cannabis tincture must be used with alcohol as the solvent to extract the active cannabinoids THC and CBD from the plant matter. This will leave you with a concentrated cannabis extract you can use to make cannasugar.
Making Your Cannasugar Potent
Most people that go to the trouble of making cannasugar want it to be potent. This potency begins with the strength of the cannabis flower you used to
make your cannabis tincture. When making tincture, don't use leaves, stems, or shake. Using only the buds from a high-quality cannabis for your tincture will ensure you get the potency you want in your cannasugar.
The final concentration of your tincture also depends on how much cannabis you use. A good tincture recipe calls for 1 ounce of cannabis flower to 2 cups (16 ounces) grain alcohol. For a stronger tincture, you can double the amount of herb you use, or cut the amount of alcohol in half. You may also decrease the amount of sugar in the recipe below to 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup tincture. This will make the mixture wetter and will take longer for the alcohol evaporation process to finish.
Making Your Sugar Mixture
To make a batch of cannasugar, you will need 3 cups of white sugar and 1 cup of cannabis alcohol tincture. Mix the sugar and cannabis alcohol tincture together in a glass bowl. The evaporation process comes next. Follow each step listed below carefully to complete your cannasugar recipe.
The Evaporation Process
Using heat or an open flame to evaporate the alcohol from cannasugar can be dangerous, since alcohol is flammable. Using an air-dry method of evaporation without heat is much safer, even if it's time-consuming. Allowing nature to take its course can take a few days, but it's not dangerous.
Follow the easy steps below to make sure the alcohol evaporates thoroughly:
Pick The Right Pan
Use a pan that's big enough to allow you to spread the sugar in a thin coating all over the pan surface. The thinner the sugar is laid out, the faster it will evaporate. A 9x13 shallow glass baking pan works nicely for one batch with this recipe.
Covering The Pan
While you need a cover to protect your cannasugar from flies and other contaminates, it must be breathable. If the cover isn't breathable, the alcohol won't evaporate. Cheesecloth works great.
Choose Drying Space
Since it will take several days for your cannasugar to dry, choose a good safe space to store it during the process, like the top of your refrigerator. If you have kids in the home, you want it safely out of the way. Do NOT store it in the oven, in case you forget it's there and turn the oven on — alcohol is highly flammable!
Frequent Stirring
It's important to remember to stir it 4-5 times per day. This will mix it well, and allow the alcohol to evaporate more easily.
Use A Fan
You can use a fan to help the evaporation process. Make sure to secure the cheesecloth or mesh covering so the fan doesn't blow it off.
What Color Should Cannasugar Be?
Cannasugar can range in color from pale yellow to vivid green. The color doesn't indicate how potent your cannasugar is, but more about how much weed was used in the tincture. Cannasugar looks a little different than regular sugar, but the color doesn't matter at all!
How To Store Cannasugar
Once the alcohol has evaporated, your cannasugar is ready to store. Keep it dry in an airtight container, like a mason jar. If you don't have an airtight glass jar, you can use a Ziploc bag, as long as it seals tight. When stored correctly, your cannasugar should stay good for a few months.
