Bhang, is it a drink?

It is, but it is also the large green leaves, flowering shoots, top leaves and the flower of cannabis.

It can be served as a drink or as hash smoked in a carved, wooden pipe. It can be eaten in foods, usually sweets, but not always.

 

It is also a traditional drink in India, where it came from.

 

 During the Holi festival, it is served in both food and drink.

The Holi festival is the spring festival of India, that is held during either March or April, depending on the Hindu calendar.

                                                                      

 

                                                       

 

Bhang

 

2 cups water
4 cups warm milk
1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater
1oz bud
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons blanched, chopped almonds    
                                            1/8 teaspoongaram masala
                                            1/4 teaspoon ginger powder

Bring the water to a boil in a clean teapot.

Remove any stems or seeds from the cannabis, add to the teapot, and cover. Let simmer for approximately 7 minutes.

Strain the water and cannabis through cheesecloth and squeeze the wet cannabis to extract as much water as possible. Save this water.

Place the cannabis in a mortar and add 2 tablespoons warm milk. Slowly but firmly grind the milk and cannabis together.

Put the cannabis through cheesecloth and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Save this milk.

Repeat this process until you have used 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) of milk. It takes about 4 or 5 times.(Save this milk. The cannabis should look pulpy at this point.) Put the cannabis back into the mortar.

Add the chopped almonds and enough warm milk to completely cover the chopped almonds and cannabis.

Grind the mixture in a mortar until a fine paste is formed.

Put this through cheesecloth and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Save this milk also. (Repeat until dry.)

Throw out the dry mass. Combine all the liquids that have been saved (the water and the milk).

Add garam masala, ginger powder, sugar, rosewater, and remaining milk. Stir.

Chill, serve, and enjoy.

                                                                     

                                                

 An alternative to this is, Hot Buttered Bhang, which is a drink as well.

                                     Hot Buttered Bhang

2 oz of butter or ghee

1/3 to 1/2 oz. Marijuana Leaves

8 oz Vodka

1-2 pinches Cardamom seed

                                honey
 

In a pan, melt the butter or ghee.

Break up the marijuana leaves into the pan.

Once the butter and leaves are hot and sizzling, add in 8 ounces of vodka. Be careful that the hot butter doesn't make the mixture splatter. Pour the Vodka in swiftly to avoid problems.

 

Continue boiling the mixture for roughly 30 more seconds, stirring simultaneously.

Add a pinch or two or powdered cardamom seed while boiling.

Once mixture has been boiled to desired amount, strain the fluids and mash the contents through a strainer. You should use a tool like a spoon to try and squeeze all the juices out.

Throw away the mush, or reboil to try and get more juices out.

Pour the liquid into two 4 ounce wine glasses.

                                           This Recipe serves two people.

 

Add honey to taste.