The “love holidays” are upon us again. Anywhere. Early in the year the push for buying a present for your beloved begins. By the 14th of February, it is almost impossible to avoid the pinks and reds and the stuffed animals and candy hearts, sentimental cards, jewelery and jewelry.
But this year, you can keep things simple with a classic combination — weed and chocolate — that will probably make your Valentine happier than they expected. After smoking marijuana, a chocolate treat can feel as heavenly.
It’s not just about the food that makes this pairing enjoyable.
Anandamide
Chocolate contains an endocannabinoid called anandamide (derived from the Sanskrit word “ananda” which means bliss) that is naturally produced in the body and mimics cannabinoids found in cannabis. The powerful chemical is known for increasing feelings of happiness and overall well-being, effects that are often associated with THC. The similarities between the two compounds actually boost each other’s effects when consumed together.
Consider these things when pairing marijuana and chocolate. You’ll want to start by eating high quality dark chocolate to get all the benefits. Milk chocolate with sugar and super-sweet flavors will contain less anandamide, because they have less cocoa. Dark chocolate is available in a variety of flavors and textures. You can begin your exploration by choosing one.
The next step is to choose the strain carefully. As dark chocolate can be more rich and bitter than milk, the strain should complement this flavor.
Look into the terpene profile of a strain and take it from there. If you want a blood orange-flavored dark chocolate with citrus notes, then look for strains that contain limonene. Pinene would go well with a mint dark chocolate, and a chili dark choclate might pair with myrcene strains with their spicy earthy flavor.
Cannabis, Chocolate & Chill
It’s best to let the person you are serving decide what they want, although it is possible to make some suggestions.
You can also have your chocolate and vape at the same. This will allow you to taste how they complement each other. You can vape or smoke first, and enjoy the chocolate afterwards if you are just relying on THC and Anandamide to work together.
If you don’t want to smoke, or just prefer to consume your cannabis through infused treats then edibles will be the best option. If you’re into baking things, you can infuse cannabutter or oil with your strain of choice and make some of your own desserts, like infused chocolates or ho-ho cupcakes.
Let’s also not forget about the convenience that comes with premade edible chocolates! Though you’ll have less control over the specific strains and pairings, if you decide to purchase infused chocolates, many brands now specify the strain used in their product — or at the very least, you can usually choose between an indica, a sativa or a hybrid.
Just make sure you explain the link between chocolate (anandamide) and cannabis (THC), so your lover can enjoy the experience as much as you enjoyed creating it — especially if you took the time to make a spot-on pairing for your special someone.