You’ve probably seen people on social media adding CBD oil to all different kinds of drinks, from smoothies to coffee to cocktails.
But is this just a fad? Or is there some benefit to adding CBD to drinks?
There is. In fact, consuming CBD oil in a drink gives you the same benefits as if you took it straight, or in edible form.
In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about putting CBD oil in drinks. We’ll also give you some ideas.
Can You Put CBD Oil in a Very Hold or Cold Drink?
Yes, you can add CBD oil to any drink you want, hot or cold. As a rule of thumb, if a beverage isn’t too hot or cold for you to drink, you can add CBD to it. All you have to do is add the CBD oil and then stir until it’s fully mixed with your beverage.
If you’re adding CBD to something like a powder-based protein shake, mix it up first before adding CBD oil.
CBD oil doesn’t naturally mix with water, so it could interfere with the way the other ingredients mix in (we’ll discuss a way to get around this toward the end of the article).
Will CBD Oil Affect the Way Your Drink Tastes?
Not usually. Although CBD oil is known to have a bitter, earthy taste, adding it to your drink shouldn’t have a considerable impact on how it tastes.
However, this depends on how much CBD you add and what drink you’re adding it to.
If you add a lot of CBD oil, you’ll probably taste a bitter undertone. And if you add CBD oil to a drink that doesn’t have a very strong flavor, like water or tea, you’ll probably taste it.
But in most cases, you won’t be adding enough CBD oil to make your beverage unpalatable. And if you’re adding CBD to something like a fruit smoothie, you probably won’t taste it at all.
6 Drinks You Can Add CBD Oil To
Need some ideas? Here are six different CBD + drink combos to consider.
CBD and Tea
Depending on the blend, tea can either be energizing or soothing. This makes it great for both the morning and night.
In either situation, CBD is the perfect companion — it promotes mental clarity, making it the perfect addition to your morning cup of tea, and it promotes mental calming, making it a great complement to your nighttime tea.
Even better: CBD works well in both iced tea and hot tea.
CBD and tea often have similar benefits, so why not combine them and get double the effect?
CBD and Coffee
Coffee is the ultimate mental clarity booster — in fact, this is the main reason most people drink it.
CBD, too, has mentally clarifying effects, making it the perfect addition to your morning cup. Some people also find that CBD reduces the jittery effects of caffeine, so this combo may be beneficial if this is something you’re sensitive to.
Water soluble CBG is great here, too, because CBG tends to be more energizing than CBD.
CBD and Water
You have to drink water anyway, so why not combine it with CBD?
Considering that many people have a glass of water directly after waking up or before going to bed, putting your CBD in water can be a great routine-builder.
CBD and Smoothies
Smoothies are one of the healthiest ways to consume CBD, and since they have such a strong flavor, you won’t taste the CBD oil (unless you add too much of it).
A CBD-infused smoothie is the perfect way to start the day or get some post-workout recovery in.
CBD and Juice/Soda
Juice and soda are two more drinks that can make taking CBD fun and delicious. This is a perfect combination if you’re relaxing, whether at a party or by yourself.
What About CBD and Alcohol?
Mixing CBD and alcohol is completely safe, but there aren’t any real benefits of doing so.
The only real effect of putting CBD in alcohol is that you’ll feel drowsier than normal — the relaxing effects of CBD or alcohol won’t be enhanced when taken together.
The reason many people do this is they believe CBD can lower their blood alcohol levels. However, the evidence is conflicting as to whether it actually can.
Benefits of Adding CBD to Drinks
Not only are CBD-infused drinks fun — they’re very beneficial and have some advantages over other CBD delivery methods.
You Get the Benefits of CBD
This one is a no-brainer. By adding CBD to your next tea or smoothie, you get the laundry list of benefits CBD has to offer.
CBD works by bolstering your body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate a laundry list of vital bodily functions.
And CBD is good for any time of the day. Whether you’re drinking your morning coffee or nighttime tea, CBD has something to offer:
- Morning benefits — CBD promotes mental clarity and calming, which many find beneficial for stress and anxiety. In the same vein, it can help you get focused and grounded to start the day.
- Night benefits — CBD’s variety of benefits makes it great for sleep. Science has shown that CBD’s beneficial effects on stress, anxiety, inflammation, and pain can improve sleep quality and reduce sleep latency.
- General benefits — Apart from morning and night use, CBD can support mental and physical health throughout the day. Research suggests CBD has anti-inflammatory and pain-killing effects, and its mentally calming and clarifying effects make it great for daytime use as well.
CBD Drinks Taste Great
One specific benefit of putting CBD oil in drinks, rather than taking it straight, is that you don’t have to deal with the bitter flavor of hemp.
Instead, you get the benefits of CBD while enjoying your coffee or smoothie — effortless.
It’s Easier to Build a CBD Routine
The easiest way to build a new habit (taking CBD) is by integrating it with an existing habit (say, drinking coffee every morning).
CBD works best when you use it consistently, but sometimes we all forget to take our daily dose.
By adding CBD to drinks that you make regularly, you increase your chance of taking your dose on a consistent basis.
How Much CBD Oil Should You Put In Your Drink?
For most situations, we recommend a low-strength dosage of CBD. You can calculate your exact dosage using this formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily dose of CBD in mg.
Depending on the strength of your CBD oil, this dosage could be anywhere from several drops to half a dropper.
If you’re concerned about the flavor, consider splitting your dosage up into multiple drinks.
The reason we don’t make specific dosing recommendations is that, based on how much you weigh, you’ll need a certain amount of CBD to get an optimal outcome.
As you go, you can up your dosage until you get the effects you’re looking for.
A Better Alternative For CBD-Infused Drinks: Water-Soluble CBD
Although this article is focused on CBD oil, there’s actually a better way to add CBD to your drinks: Water-soluble CBD.
In simple terms, water-soluble CBD is CBD that can mix with water (and anything water-based, like coffee or tea).
CBD oil can be loosely blended with water, but it can’t fully mix. Water-soluble can, because it’s made of particles that allow droplets of CBD oil to stay suspended in water, rather than separating.
Water-soluble CBD offers two benefits over CBD oil:
- Since it can mix with water, it can more efficiently enter your bloodstream once you consume it. This means CBD-infused beverages are more effective when made with water-soluble products.
- Since water-soluble CBD mixes more completely with beverages, it’s less noticeable.
So not only does water-soluble CBD make faster-acting, more effective CBD drinks — it makes better-tasting drinks, too.
Generally, we don’t recommend using CBD oil over water-soluble CBD in a beverage unless that’s what you already have — water-soluble CBD will mix better and won’t have as strong of a taste.
Conclusion
CBD can be safely added to drinks, and it works in both oil and water-soluble forms.
Infusing your drinks with CBD can be a great way to build the habit of taking it regularly, and CBD drinks provide a better-tasting alternative to tinctures.
Can You Put CBD Oil in a Drink? Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about putting CBD in drinks.
What can I mix CBD with to drink it?
CBD can be combined with pretty much any hot and cold beverage, including iced tea, hot tea, coffee, smoothies, juice, soda, and water.
What does adding CBD to a drink do?
The effects of adding CBD to a drink are the same as when you take CBD in other ways. CBD promotes feelings of mental and physical relaxation and is commonly used for sleep, anxiety, and pain.
How many drops of CBD oil should I put in my drink?
The amount of CBD oil you should put in your drink depends on the strength of your product and how much you want to take. For a 30 ml bottle of CBD oil, each 1 ml dropper will contain roughly 30 drops of oil. If it’s a 500 mg oil, you might start with 10-15 drops (6-8mg).
Can I take CBD oil in a glass of water?
Yes, you can add CBD oil to a glass of water. However, it’s better to use water-soluble CBD when making CBD-infused drinks because it will mix better and have a stronger effect once you consume it.
