Hemp tea is an infusion made from the leaves, flowers or seeds of hemp, cannabis bred to contain very little THC, and it will not get you high in normal amounts. Most hemp teas contain modest amounts of CBD and other cannabinoids, and because cannabinoids barely dissolve in water, a cup delivers far less than the dried herb contains unless you add some fat.
Back in 2011, one of our writers found a can of Hi-T organic hemp iced tea at a Caribbean festival in Washington, D.C. Sweetened with hemp seed syrup, it tasted like a heavier green and black tea and had nothing to do with getting high. Hi-T has since disappeared from shelves, but hemp tea has gone mainstream. Here is what it is, what is in it, and how to brew it.
Hemp Tea at a Glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it made from? | Hemp leaves and flowers (loose or bagged), or drinks flavored with hemp seed |
| Does it contain CBD? | Leaf and flower teas usually do, in small, variable amounts; seed-based drinks contain only traces |
| Will it get you high? | No, not at normal serving sizes |
| Can it show on a drug test? | Possibly; positive tests after hemp teas have been reported |
| Best way to brew | Simmer about 15 minutes, add milk or another fat, drink it fresh |
What Hemp Tea Is
Hemp and marijuana are the same species, Cannabis sativa. The legal difference is THC: under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Hemp tea comes in two broad types:
- Leaf and flower tea: dried hemp buds and leaves, sold loose or in bags, often blended with chamomile, mint or green tea. This is the type that contains CBD and its raw acid form, CBDA.
- Seed-based drinks: bottled teas sweetened or flavored with hemp seed or hemp seed oil, like the old Hi-T can. In December 2018 the FDA accepted hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil as safe food ingredients and noted they contain only trace THC and CBD.
For hemp’s other uses, see what hemp is used for.
How Much CBD and THC Is in Hemp Tea?
Less than the label on the dried herb suggests. Cannabinoids are oily compounds that dissolve poorly in water. A 2007 lab study, “Cannabis tea revisited” by Hazekamp and colleagues at Leiden University, tested tea made from 1 gram of Dutch pharmacy cannabis simmered in a liter of water for 15 minutes. The herb held roughly 174 mg of THC and THCA combined, but the finished liter contained only about 10 mg of THC in the water. The authors concluded that cannabis tea has limited potency because the water becomes saturated.
The same study found the tea lost strength quickly in the fridge: after one day THC was down to 60% of its starting level and after 12 days to just 6%, because the cannabinoids settle out as the tea cools. Adding coffee creamer powder kept levels virtually unchanged for five days.
Hemp holds far less THC than that pharmacy cannabis, so a cup of hemp tea contains very little. CBD content depends on the variety and the brewing, and most retail teas list no per-cup amount.
Does Hemp Tea Get You High?
No. Hemp is defined by its low THC content, and very little of that THC makes it into water. Most cannabinoids in raw hemp are in acid form (THCA and CBDA), which only partly converts to THC and CBD during brewing.
Two cautions. First, “hemp” tea made from high-THCA flower is a different product and can be intoxicating, especially if brewed with fat. Second, federal law is tightening: under a November 2025 law, hemp products are capped at 0.4 mg total THC per container starting December 11, 2026, while products with cannabinoids the plant cannot naturally produce lose hemp status November 12. Our hemp flower buying guide explains the changes.
Can Hemp Tea Make You Fail a Drug Test?
It can. The Hazekamp paper cites earlier reports of positive drug tests after people drank hemp-based teas. If you are tested at work or by a court, skip it.
How to Brew Hemp Tea
- Use about 1 to 2 grams of dried hemp flower or leaf per cup, or one tea bag.
- Bring water to a boil, add the hemp and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. The Dutch medicinal protocol tested in the 2007 study used a 15-minute simmer.
- Add a fat source: whole milk, cream, a spoon of coconut oil or a non-dairy creamer. A 2024 Danish study from Aarhus University found that adding cream before boiling, rather than after, raised the THC and CBD dose by 2.1 to 4.4 times.
- Strain, sweeten if you like and drink it fresh.
Expect a grassy, earthy flavor; mint, lemon or ginger blend well.
Is Hemp Tea Safe?
For most adults, a cup of hemp tea is low risk, but CBD is a drug with real interactions. The FDA warns that CBD can interact with other medications and may affect the liver at higher doses, and it has not approved CBD for use in food or drinks. If you take prescription drugs, are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a doctor first.
Hemp Tea FAQ
Does hemp tea get you high?
No. Hemp contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC, and little of it dissolves in water, so a normal cup will not cause intoxication.
Does hemp tea have CBD?
Tea made from hemp leaves and flowers usually contains some CBD and CBDA, but the amount per cup is small and varies. Seed-based hemp drinks contain only traces.
Is hemp tea legal?
Hemp tea that meets the federal hemp definition is legal under federal law, but state rules vary, and a total-THC cap of 0.4 mg per container applies to hemp products from late 2026.
How long should you steep hemp tea?
Simmer it about 15 minutes rather than steeping briefly, and add milk or another fat to help the cannabinoids dissolve.
Want more on cannabis basics? Visit our Cannabis 101 hub.
For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before using cannabis for a health condition.
