Cannabis honey gives old-world Boilo a modern kick
By: Al Walentis
Tags: Edibles, Cannabis, Lithuania, Boilo, Cannabutter

Cannabis honey gives old-world Boilo a modern kick

If you’ve spent any time around the Coal Regions of central Pennsylvania, you probably heard about the mulled yuletide beverage colloquially known as Boilo.

A traditional Eastern European cocktail served during the cold winter months, Boilo combines citrus fruits, herbs, and honey — along with a mighty dose of alcohol, frequently 190-proof grain.

Now, if you’re like me and swore off such unholy spirits, you still can savor the tummy-warming tang of “Krupnik” or “Krupnikas,” as it’s known in Lithuania and Poland— and maybe share in its rumored curative powers.

All that’s missing is an alternate intoxicating punch.

Say hello to CannaBoilo!

Dozens of Boilo recipes have been handed down by immigrants to their children and grandchildren, and Coal Region taprooms host tasting contests each Christmas where contestants show off their proprietary family favorites.

And everyone gets a little blasted besides!

The standard base might include familiar citrus fruits (oranges and lemons), a wide variety of spices (such as nutmeg, cloves, caraway seed, and anise seed), and other sweeteners such as honey and ginger ale.

The alcohol du jour can range from home-brewed moonshine to blended whiskey, rye or grain alcohol. Some insist on Four Queens whiskey. Some philistines prefer flavored schnapps.

This CannaBoilo recipe blends a traditional non-alcoholic base with cannabis-infused honey. Potency and serving size will depend on your tolerance and the quality of your weed.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 gallon orange juice

1 quart water

2 oranges (with a couple slivers of zest)

1 lemon (with a couple slivers of zest)

4 bay leafs

2 tablespoons peppercorns

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

15 cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

3/4 quart high-quality honey

1/4 ounce cannabis flower

PREPARATION

Start by pouring the orange juice and water into a nice-sized saucepan and set the temperature to medium-high. Using your fingers, mash the oranges and lemon up real good over the pot and add the whole pulpy mess, along with a few slivers of rind. Don’t fret if some seeds splash in.

Add the spices in no particular order. Stir. When the mixture starts to boil, lower heat and let it simmer at a slow boil for 30 minutes. Strain over colander into another pot. Discard orange pulp, bay leafs, and other remnants. Bring remaining liquid to a second boil and simmer an additional 20 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool a few minutes.

Add the CannaHoney and mix well. Pour into liter bottles and refrigerate. Shake before serving.

FOR CANNAHONEY

Your choice of herbal material will determine how to prepare the honey mixture.

If you are using flower, you first need to decarboxylate the cannabis to unlock the psychoactive ingredients found in the THC and THC-A.

Don’t skip this step or your won’t get high and your friends may laugh at you!

Preheat oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Crumble your buds into small pieces and spread on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes. Your bud now should be brown and crumbly.

Next infuse the honey with your decarbed cannabis.

Wrap your plant material in cheesecloth and tie with string. Don’t wrap too tightly as honey should flow through it freely. Pour honey into a crock pot or slow cooker atop the cannabis/cheesecloth bundle and simmer on low for two hours. Allow to cool and then squeeze all remaining honey from the sticky bundle.

Note: The remaining plant material may contain some psychoactive properties. You can add it to the infused honey for maximum potency, if you don’t mind visible flecks floating in your beverage.

If you want to shave preparation time, and you live in a state where cannabis concentrates are available, you can substitute a gram of RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) or similar extract instead and blend with the honey in a saucepan over very low heat.

Important: Be sure the extract already is decarbed and “edible ready.”

TO SERVE

Heat your CannaBoilo in a saucepan or microwave right to the point of boiling.

Enjoy, man!