Hydrolife Magazine April/May 2016 (USA Edition)

BLENDER VS. JUICER
The biggest decision in juicing is which
machine to choose. It is possible to juice
cannabis in a blender and this is a good
place to begin if you want to experiment.
For those who really want to get into
juicing, a masticating juicer is your best
bet. These can range from $100 to several
thousand and are designed to juice the
driest vegetables and leafy greens. If kale
and wheatgrass smoothies are on your
wish list as well, a decent juicer is a good
investment. Follow the juicer’s instructions
for leafy greens and you are done!
BLENDING CANNABIS JUICE
If you decide to stick with your trusty
blender over a juicer, a decent one will
be able to create cannabis juice:
• Remove the stems from 4-5 fresh
cannabis fan leaves.
• Rinse well and add them
to the blender.
• Add 1 cup of distilled water.
• Cap the blender and give it a few
good rounds on the pulse setting.
• Switch to liquefy and watch your
fresh cannabis juice form.
• Strain out the big pieces of pulp
and enjoy!
PULP OR NO PULP
Many medicinal cannabis juicers prefer
to leave some pulp in the juice, as the
pulp has extra fiber and nutrients that
are beneficial. It does make the juice
thicker and can be harder to drink if
you are not used to it. Strain the juice as
many times as you like. One trip through
the strainer will remove most of the pulp.
CHOOSING & PREPPING
THE CANNABIS
Juicing cannabis for its medicinal
benefits requires a few decisions. Most
importantly, begin with a type that is
preferred for medical use, such as high-
CBD cannabis. The cannabis also needs
to be fresh. Dried leaves are a waste of
time. Fresh from the plant is best and if
you must store the leaves, place them in
the refrigerator in a loose plastic bag.
Don’t expose them to any heat.
Some people will add fresh buds to their
mix as well, but this is not necessary.
Besides, juicing is a great way to use up
leaves that may be discarded. If plants
have been sprayed with anything, be
sure to rinse the leaves thoroughly.
STORING CANNABIS JUICE
Fresh cannabis juice can be stored for
up to three days in the refrigerator. To
extend its shelf life, freeze the juice in
an ice cube tray and pop out cubes as
needed. With this method, the juice can
be used for up to three weeks.
MASKING THE TASTE
Let’s face it, the taste of raw cannabis is
not for everyone. If you love a straight
shot of wheatgrass juice, you may not
have a problem with it. For everyone
else, it is an acquired taste you may or
may not get used to.
To make cannabis juice easier to drink,
mix it with other juices. Carrot is a
favorite and some people recommend
a blend of one part cannabis to 10 parts
carrot. That’s great, but let’s make it
more interesting! Choose light, sweet
fruits that will offset that bitter cannabis
flavor. Banana, mango and peach
are great places to start. Add a little
sweetener and milk or yogurt and you
have the foundation for a great-tasting
cannabis smoothie.
Peachy Green
Smoothie
• ½ large peach, chopped
• ½ banana, sliced
• 3 cannabis juice ice cubes
• 1 tbsp agave nectar or honey
• 3 ounces milk or ½-cup yogurt
Place the ingredients in a blender.
Pulse to chop everything up, then
liquefy until smooth.
Adapt this recipe however you
want. That’s the best part about
juicing…there are no rules! Try
soy, almond or coconut milk or a
flavored yogurt (blueberry with
peach is delicious). If the mix is
too thick, add more milk or two
plain ice cubes and blend again.
You can also begin with just 4 or
5 large cannabis fans and skip the
cubed juice completely.
Colleen Graham is a writer and freelance photographer from the Midwest who
specializes in mixed drinks and covering the liquor industry. She is the cocktails
expert for about.com and author of the book ¡Hola Tequila! Gardening and
kayaking with her husband are two of her favorite pastimes.
myhydrolife.com
grow. heal. live. enjoy. 57