As colder weather approaches, there’s no better time to cozy up to a warm cannabis-infused beverage that promotes rest and relaxation. With an autumn chill in the air, preparing a non-alcoholic mulled cider is a comforting way to celebrate the season while enticing your taste buds with fall’s most beloved flavors.
During autumn, warm beverages are incredibly soothing, but if you’re looking for an effective way to enhance your sleep, one of my favorite additions to mulled cider is lavender. Much like cannabis, lavender is a terpene-rich herb that boasts high levels of linalool, a terpene that delivers tranquil and restful effects after consuming. When lavender is added to mulled cider, it helps induce relaxation, plus it introduces a unique aroma and flavor profile, which complements the melody of autumn spices that accompany this recipe.
For a hint of sweetness and to best promote a blissful night’s rest, I also recommend adding ABX Sleepy Time Canna-Honey made with AbsoluteXtracts Sleepy Time Cannabis Drops. This potent blend of THC and calming terpenes, including linalool, combines perfectly with the cider’s lavender notes.
If you haven’t made canna-honey before, don’t stress. It’s incredibly easy to make and only requires two ingredients: your favorite wildflower honey and the AbsoluteXtracts drops. To create the infusion at home, add a half cup of honey and one teaspoon of cannabis oil to the bottom of a single-serve blender. Blend on high for a couple of minutes to ensure the cannabis oil has emulsified into the honey, then transfer the canna-honey into a storage container until further use. It’s really that simple!
Once you’ve made the infused honey, you can combine it with a variety of drinks. I recommend mixing it into this delicious and relaxing lavender mulled cider.
Ready to make this cozy drink at home? Keep reading for the full recipe, and be sure to head over to the AbsoluteXtracts website to preview their brand new Sleepytime line available in soft gels, vape cartridges, and sublingual drops. Enjoy!
Lavender Mulled Canna-Cider With Autumn Spices
Servings: 8 drinks
Target Dose: 6 mg THC per drink or your preferred dose (using 1 teaspoon of ABX Sleepy Time Canna-Honey; see recipe below)
Equipment:
- Saucepan
- Blender
- 4-ounce Mason jar
- Ladle
- Serving Pitcher
- Serving glass of your choice
Drink Ingredients:
- Lavender Mulled Cider
- 8 cups apple cider, unfiltered and unspiced
- ½ orange, cut in half
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 teaspoons organic culinary lavender
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cardamom pods, partially cracked
- 1 whole nutmeg
- 1 (1/2-inch or 1-cm) piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin slices
- Optional: Garnish with a lavender sprig, cinnamon stick, and an orange slice
ABX Sleepy Time Canna-Honey
Yield = ½ cup or 24 teaspoons of canna-honey (1 teaspoon = 6 mg THC)
- 1 teaspoon AbsoluteXtracts Sleepy Time Cannabis Drops (148 mg THC)
- ½ cup honey
Directions:
Begin by preparing the lavender mulled cider. Pour the apple cider into a saucepan. Stud the orange with the cloves (4 cloves per orange slice), then add the studded oranges to the saucepan. Next, add the lavender, allspice, cinnamon, cardamom pods, nutmeg, and fresh ginger. Stir together well, cover the saucepan, then heat on low for 1.5 hours (the trick to this recipe is to cook low and slow for the best flavors!).
While the mulled cider is cooking, prepare the ABX Sleepy Time Canna-Honey. Add the AbsoluteXtracts Sleepy Time Sublingual Cannabis Drops and honey to the bottom of a single-serve blender. Blend on high for a couple of minutes, then empty the infused honey into a 4-ounce Mason jar or storage container of your choice. Seal tightly, then let your infused canna-honey settle. Be sure to give it a good stir before serving.
Once the mulled cider is done heating, use a ladle to remove the oranges, then carefully strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean saucepan or pitcher to remove the remaining solids. Discard the solids. Next, carefully pour the hot lavender mulled cider into a serving glass of your choice, then add the ABX Sleepy Time Canna-Honey. Stir the drink with a spoon until the honey fully melts into the warm liquid. Garnish with a lavender sprig, star anise, and an orange slice, then serve immediately.
