If you’re a new cannabis consumer, weed gummies are one of the best ways to get into this sphere. Now, depending on state rules, you can purchase cannabis gummies at dispensaries. However, if you want to take it in-house and get down in the mud, you can make your own weed gummies.
The best part? You can make cannabis edibles that truly match your preferences, and even look the part. The process is relatively simple, and it’s a lot of fun, where you can make THC gummies of all shapes, sizes, and flavors. This article will detail the various steps in creating your own gummies, a few pro tips to keep in mind, and, more importantly, how to dose your weed gummies right.
Why THC Gummies Are a Fan Favorite
The customizability you get when making your own gummies is one of their most notable selling points. All you need to know is how to make hash oil and cannabis tincture, and you can almost turn any snack into cannabis edibles. And out of all the variants, the weed gummies are a fan favorite for several reasons.
Weed gummies are tiny, easy to consume, barely make any mess, and can be made as homemade gummies in countless flavors. Since they comprise cannabis oil, you can fine-tune their potency to your liking.
Moreover, THC gummies won’t melt, even if you set them on the counter at room temperature. They aren’t just Jell-O, so they’re easier to pack and take anywhere you want, since they can stay the same without refrigeration.
Most classic edibles take half an hour to four hours to kick in. But with weed gummies, especially if you make them with a rapid-onset THC flavor extract, a homemade one can potentially kick in sooner.
Lastly, weed gummies can be fun. If you’re bored with regular candy and want to shake things up, make weed gummies, and your day will improve.
What You Need Before You Start
While weed brownies were all the rage, weed gummies quickly took over. They’re less about the fuss and more about the fun. You can drastically change their flavors with little effort and make weed gummies to suit varying taste preferences.
Before you make weed gummies yourself, you must prep all the required ingredients. Starting with the cannabis oil, a.k.a. hash oil, that lays the groundwork for making gummies. This oil is what allows you to enjoy high potency levels when you make weed gummies, without as much of the strong ‘weed flavor’ that most edibles have.
Once you’re good to go on the extract, these are the supplies you’ll need to make your own weed gummies:
- Flavored gelatin (of your choice)
- Unflavored gelatin
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- Fruit juice (such as grape or apple juice)
- Honey (you can also use agave syrup if that’s your preference)
- Flavor extract
- A large and a small bowl
- A large non-stick pan
- Sunflower or soy lecithin
- Silicone molds
- Parchment paper
- Your cannabis tincture or cannabis oil
- A measuring spoon, in case you need to check the quantities
- If you want to make sour gummies, keep some citric acid handy.
How to Make THC Gummies: Step-by-Step
Now that your ingredients are ready, let’s look at how to make edible gummies.
Prepare the THC Infusion
There are two ways to start the THC extract before working with your ingredients, and the two play a key role in increasing or decreasing the weed flavor intensity.
- With Tincture: Starting with the cannabis tincture will result in you making the oil while you prepare your weed gummies. Most tincture-making methods capture much chlorophyll from the weed, which helps to give the gummies more of that weed flavor. This process also enables you to learn how to make cannabis oil.
- With Hash Oil: This is the best method to kick off the process. Well-prepared hash oil has very little chlorophyll, so the taste is more desirable. It’s best to make THC gummies using high-grade hash oil that you can either make yourself or purchase.
Mix the Base Ingredients
Next, start mixing all the base ingredients. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- First, empty the flavored gelatin into the large bowl and pour 1/4oz of the unflavored gelatin into the same bowl.
- Keep whisking the two gelatins till they blend.
- Blend the honey and fruit juice in the small bowl until the honey dissolves.
- Now, carefully pour the honey/juice mixture into the large bowl with the gelatin mixture and whisk until thoroughly mixed.
- Set the mixture aside for 10 minutes to help the gelatin fully absorb the honey/fruit liquid.
- Next, put the non-stick saucepan on low heat and add half a cup of cold water, half a teaspoon of lecithin, and half a cup of cannabis oil. Then, add your THC flavor extract to the pan.
- If you’ve started with the cannabis tincture, add it to the pan and cook it down (again, on low heat) until its consistency is like glue. Doing this will evaporate most of the alcohol remaining in the tincture, thus leaving you with the cannabis oil. Ensure good air circulation for the best result.
- Once done, add the flavor extract and cook until the mixture has a glue-like consistency.
- The mixing process remains unchanged if you use citric acid to make sour gummies. The only difference is that your mixture will also contain the citric acid, which you can pour once you’ve begun stirring the gelatin.
Infuse with THC
Once you’ve followed the steps above, your gelatin mixture will infuse with the THC to make the gummy mixture. Pour the gelatin mixture into the pan with the oil and extract, and mix everything well.
Continue cooking this gummy mixture over medium-low heat until the gelatin fully dissolves, which should take about seven to ten minutes. Once the gelatin granules are gone, you can tell it’s ready. If you notice a white foam forming, remove it and lower the heat. At this point, all the ingredients in your gummy mixture should now be well blended and have a seamless consistency.
Pour into Molds
Once the mixture is well combined, you can start filling up the molds. You can do this with a dropper, funnel, or squeeze bottle, whichever you like. However, don’t forget to keep your pan on the low heat and work quickly, as this will prevent the gummy mixture from cooling down. If it does, the oil will separate, and all your effort will be in vain. Moreover, you should keep whisking the mixture to prevent it from hardening; remember, the faster you get it into the silicone molds, the better they’ll turn out.
Refrigerate and Set
Once your gummy molds are ready, put them in your refrigerator and let them freeze for 30 minutes to an hour. And there you have it! Your own gummies. If you plan to store a few for later consumption, it’s best to put them in an airtight container so that their texture remains the same.
Pro Tips for Perfect Gummies
Making gummies is hardly challenging when you’ve got the right ingredients. Even if this is your first time, you can continue to refine the steps and ingredient quantities to make weed gummies that align the most with your preference.
Here are some general pro tips for making gummies that will turn out better than run-of-the-mill pre-made gummies.
Use Lecithin for Even Mixing
Many first-timers forget to use some lecithin when making weed gummies. Lecithin is one of the most essential ingredients for making gummies, as it boosts the gummy mixture’s wettability, helps dissolve all the substances evenly, and makes oil and water soluble. Moreover, it keeps the ingredients of your weed gummies from developing crumbs when preparing, which, in turn, also increases their shelf life. It’s why lecithin is standard in cannabis edibles, and why you need it to make weed gummies.
Don’t Overheat the THC
Cooking on low heat is key to making perfect weed gummies. Overheating the mixture will create an inconsistent texture, and you will likely have to redo the entire process. Instead, be patient, put it on a low simmer, and watch as the flavors shine to give you beautiful cannabis gummies.
Stir Slowly and Consistently
As mentioned earlier, patience is crucial to make weed gummies that taste good. Cook on low heat and stir slowly and consistently. This method creates a smooth-textured mixture without any gelatin granules, thus allowing the mixture to set correctly when you freeze it in the molds. Consistent stirring also helps blend all the ingredients well, so your weed gummies taste as intended.
Pick the Right Mold Size
Choosing the right mold when making gummies at home is also essential. Use silicone molds, which are flexible and easiest to work with.
However, for the size, think of the batch quantity and portioning. You’d want smaller mold cavities that help with portion control to avoid accidental overconsumption. Next, check the mold cavity’s quantity. If a mold has cavities with a 2 mL capacity for each, you’ll need a mold set with at least 50 cavities for a batch with 100 mL of gummy mixture.
Store in a Cool, Dark Place
Air exposure and moisture are detrimental to weed gummies, degrading their quality and potency. If you don’t want to devour your entire batch in one go, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, like your refrigerator.
How to Dose THC Gummies Safely
A crucial question when you make weed gummies is: how much THC is too much THC? This aspect boils down to individual tolerance levels, metabolism, and body weight; all essential factors for determining THC dosage in cannabis edibles, including weed gummies.
The recommended starting dose for beginners is roughly 2.5 mg of THC. From here, you can increase the dosage when you make weed gummies, depending on your experience. The best approach here is to track consumption and effects to determine your optimal dosage.
Conclusion
Making your own gummies at home is an exciting and fun project. The entire process can be relaxing, and you can even showcase your skills through customized colors, shapes, and flavors. If you’re looking for inspiration, you could also try out our wide range of weed gummies at Inyo Fine Cannabis Las Vegas Dispensary, where we offer accurately dosed gummies as per your preference, at affordable prices!
FAQs
How long does it take to make cannabis-infused gummies?
The entire process of making weed gummies can take up to one hour from start to finish, but that depends on your batch size. The larger the batch, the longer the duration.
Why do I need to decarboxylate?
When making cannabis gummies, you must always decarboxylate the weed. Decarboxylation makes the cannabis bioavailable, which allows your body to absorb it. Without it, the THC from the weed doesn’t get activated, and you may feel little to no effects after eating the gummies.
Should I make cannabis gummies with oil or butter?
Oil is the better pick, particularly for weed gummies, as it generally yields better taste and THC potency. Butter is a better choice for edibles like cookies or brownies, but this will depend on your recipe’s ingredients, so always double-check!
How strong should I make my cannabis gummies?
Your cannabis gummies should only be as potent as your body can handle. Hence, as mentioned earlier, start with 2.5 mg of THC if you’re new to gummies, and keep a track of how your body reacts to it. With time, you can increase the dosage for more potent gummies, but only if your body can take it.
How much cannabis should I add to my gummies?
Anywhere between 2.5 mg and 5 mg is a good place to start if you’re new to making weed gummies. If it’s your first time, stick to 2.5 mg and wait to feel the full effects before consuming more.
