How To Host a CBD Dinner Party
How To Host a CBD Dinner Party
Public perception around cannabis edibles has changed significantly over the last decade. This is due in large part to the emergence of cannabidiol (CBD) into the popular mainstream thanks not only to celebrity and athlete endorsements but growing scientific research highlighting its therapeutic potential as well.
Unlike THC, CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can be sourced from industrial hemp, infused, and consumed without risk of a so-called "high." This has made it a popular compound with restaurants, pubs, and specialty chefs or caterers looking to create a unique brand in a burgeoning new niche within the food and beverages industry.
If you're looking to experiment with CBD infusion and happen to have a number of similarly cannabis-curious friends, why not invite them over for a CBD dinner party? In this post, we go over three of the most crucial considerations for throwing a fun, enjoyable, and memorable shindig with the added benefits of CBD's health-positive properties.
Preparing Infused Food & Beverages
The safest and most versatile form of CBD to use when utilising CBD in the kitchen is isolate, which is distinguished from broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD products by the complete removal of secondary cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that may alter the taste or aroma of your culinary creations. Both liquid and powdered CBD isolates are practically flavorless and blend very well into everything from marinades to cocktails, making for an impressively versatile infusion component.
Two Important Tips For Cooking With CBD
CBD can disappear completely among ingredients with complimentary flavor profiles such as herbaceous or earthy overtones, making salads, stuffing, and vinaigrettes excellent vessels for infusion. Particularly strong ingredients like ginger or turmeric can effectively mask CBD by themselves, which is why Asian is a cuisine motif commonly chosen by experienced CBD dinner hosts.
It definitely pays to be aware that CBD boils at a temperature of 180°C or 356°F. If pushed beyond this temperature, CBD can break down and lose its therapeutic potential or evaporate outright, resulting in a waste of money for you and a mass placebo experiment for your guests. To avoid the risk of wastage, it's best to keep CBD out of recipes involving open grilling or pressure cooking.
How To Pitch a CBD Dinner
When inviting friends or family to try CBD for the first time, it's important to communicate not only its lack of psychoactive effects but its beneficial properties as well. While the scientific literature on cannabinoids has done very well in establishing these qualities and changing the public discourse around cannabis as a whole, there are many who don't completely understand the distinctions between CBD and THC. You might even have a few friends or loved ones who are still unsure as to the differences between cannabis, marijuana, and industrial hemp.
For many cannabis-curious individuals, the apprehension at trying CBD for the first time usually revolves around their uncertainty on the legality of CBD, or fear of CBD causing a red flag upon their next workplace drug screening. This is why being informative and communicative is particularly important when inviting cannabinoid greenhorns to dinner.
Of course, the single most effective way to entice friends and family to a CBD dinner party is to design a delicious selection of infused food and beverages with complementary ingredients, and plan the party around a holiday or long weekend. Bear in mind that CBD is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers and that invitees must be aged 21 and above.
Menu Planning Best Practices for First Time Hosts
When planning a selection of CBD-infused foods as a first-time host, it's best to keep the dinner alcohol-free and allow the star of the show to shine. This allows everyone to appreciate the effects of CBD without the possibility of inebriation distracting from the experience. Kombuchas, mocktails, smoothies, fresh juice, and teas are all excellent choices for an inclusive and engaging dinner party centered around cannabinoids.
Another good rule of thumb for new CBD dinner party hosts is to favour cold or room temperature mediums — such as cheesecakes, dips, salads, or drinks — for infusion instead of hot preparations like roasts or stews. This eliminates the liability of CBD's boiling temperature, allowing greater freedom and peace of mind over the stove or grill.