How to brew the ideal CBD hemp infusion

Without fat, hot water mainly extracts hemp's plant aromas, not its cannabinoids. The result is a pleasant drink, but one close to an aromatic placebo. Whole milk, single cream or MCT oil act as a vehicle: they capture the fat-soluble compounds during the infusion and make them more readily available to the body. It is this detail, more than the brand of leaves, that separates a properly prepared infusion from scented water.

For an infusion, you use hemp leaves, not flowers. Since 15 May 2026, CBD products for ingestion have largely been withdrawn from the French market for lack of Novel Food authorisation, but infusions made from hemp leaves without buds remain sellable, as set out in our guide to CBD formats. Always check the certificate of analysis (CoA) for the batch you buy: it confirms the absence of THC above the legal threshold of 0.30% and the absence of contaminants.

1. Heat the water until it just simmers, without bringing it to a rolling boil: water that is too hot degrades the most fragile compounds.
2. Add a teaspoon of whole milk, single cream or MCT oil to the cup or teapot.
3. Pour the hot water over the hemp leaves and the fat together.
4. Cover and leave to infuse for 8 to 10 minutes. A shorter infusion gives little extraction; a longer one increases bitterness without a proportionate gain.
5. Strain and drink lukewarm. Honey or lemon can be added at the end, once the infusion has been strained.

The cannabinoid content of a leaf infusion remains low and varies from batch to batch, well below that of concentrated oils. That does not remove the need for caution: in February 2026 the EFSA set a provisionally safe daily dose of 0.0275 mg/kg of body weight for CBD isolates, a useful marker to avoid multiplying cups through over-confidence. Hemp infusion is not a medicine and does not replace medical advice in the event of a persistent problem.

• Infusing without fat: the result stays essentially aromatic.
• Using prolonged boiling water: excessive heat degrades the cannabinoids.
• Confusing leaves and flowers: only leaves without buds currently fall within ordinary food use in France.
• Multiplying cups per day with no dosing reference, on the assumption that a light infusion has no reasonable limit.

Can you use CBD flowers for an infusion?

It is not advisable from a regulatory point of view: food products made from hemp flowers or buds are covered by the Novel Food restrictions. Hemp leaves without buds remain the appropriate choice for an infusion.

How long should the leaves be infused?

Between 8 and 10 minutes, covered, in simmering water without boiling. Beyond that, the infusion turns bitter without the extraction gaining much in effectiveness.

How much fat should be added?

A teaspoon of whole milk, cream or MCT oil per cup is generally enough. The aim is to provide a fat-soluble carrier, not to make the drink heavy.

Does hemp infusion help you fall asleep faster?

No French authority has approved any sleep claim for infused hemp. It can nevertheless form part of a calming evening ritual, in the same way as a conventional herbal tea.

• Conseil d'État, 29 Dec. 2022, no. 444887 (flowers/leaves) — primary
• EFSA Journal 2026 — Update statement CBD novel food — primary
• ANSES — Statement of 19 June 2025 on classifying CBD as reprotoxic (PDF) — primary