Cooking with cannabis around the world

Cannabis has a low-key reputation as a culinary ingredient, but people around the world have long been cooking with cannabis. Cannabis recipes are incredibly diverse, with tips and tricks for everything from drinks to desserts. Today we explore three places that have taken cooking to a higher level.

Thailand

Photo by: Gareth Harrison

Thailand isn’t exactly known for its lax drug rules, but it has opened up in recent years. With medical marijuana recently legalized, it’s no surprise that chefs and restaurants across the country are finding the courage to experiment with cannabis as an ingredient, too. One such establishment jumping on this wave is Ban Lao Rueng or Storytelling House. The restaurant is in a cosy, rural, traditional setting.

One of the really interesting things about this restaurant is that it is owned and operated by a hospital. Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital specializes in traditional and alternative medicine. In the run-up to the legalization of medical marijuana in Thailand, the hospital became known for its support for cannabis law reform. Today it houses the country’s first official cannabis therapy clinic. Since the restaurant is run by a hospital, the prices are also incredibly affordable. As of January 2021, the average price of a dish was $3 and the most expensive dish was $7.

All dishes at Ban Lao Rueng can be ordered with or without a cannabis twist, but there is a page on the menu reserved for exclusive canna dishes. Items on this menu include cannabis pizzas and cannabis leaves dipped in batter and deep fried, with a side of mango salad. Note that according to national law, Ban Lao Rueng employees only work with the leaves of the plant and not the bud. This way, their dishes typically contain no more than 1% THC.

All this cooking with cannabis around the world and in Thailand is not new either. Written evidence of the use of cannabis as a cooking ingredient in Thailand can be found in Mae Khrua Hua Pa, a 1908 cookbook believed by many to be Thailand’s oldest cookbook. That being said, the history of cannabis as an ingredient in Thailand probably dates back hundreds of years before that.

Jamaica

Photo by: Andrew Itaga

No article about cooking with cannabis around the world is complete without talking about Jamaica. This island is home to a plethora of renowned restaurants and cafes serving up innovation on a cannabis-topped plate. Bob Marley’s daughter Cedella Marley even has her own cookbook with 75 recipes using cannabis.

It’s not uncommon in Jamaica to find top-notch restaurants that offer multi-course meals cooked with cannabis. Unlike their Thai counterparts, chefs in Jamaica are able to perform the basic cooking process needed for cannabis to be effective when used in food. I’m talking about decarboxylation. There’s also more of a cannabis-centric approach here, with chefs actually analyzing each strain’s terpenes and matching the flavors of the other ingredients to the terpenes. Restaurants in Thailand, on the other hand, are taking a more moderate approach, slowly introducing the concept to the locals.

Tourists and locals can also join cannabis cooking classes or retreats to get the full experience of cooking cannabis in Jamaica. If you’re more of the hands-on type, you might want to pay a visit to one of the island’s most famous cannabis restaurants, Kaya Herb House. Both a pharmacy and a grocery store, Kaya has made a name for itself as the premier stop in Jamaica for those seeking Caribbean flavors with a hint of cannabis. Known for their pizza, the only thing you really need to know about this place is that the address of their Drax Hall location is 1 Weed Street.

Canada

Photo by: Jason Ng

Canada is often overlooked as a global food destination. The truth is that its diverse cities offer amazing choice and its indigenous cultures are experiencing a food revival. Now Canadian chefs are trying to make their mark on the cannabis cooking scene as well.

From vegan restaurants in Toronto to supper clubs hosted by former Master Chef Canada contestants, there’s no shortage of innovative cannabis cuisine in the Great White North. With full legalization, entrepreneurs and chefs in Canada can experiment with more diverse ideas. There are companies that offer cannabis cooking classes, but some companies want to go further. Montreal-based food start-up Canolio Gourmet, for example, will allow users to hire chefs to come to their homes and create sophisticated canned dishes.

Around the world, chefs interested in cooking with cannabis flock to Canada to learn in an open and safe environment. Proponents of developing the cannabis cooking scene here say that Canada will benefit from culinary tourism if it plays its cannabis cards right.

How to cook with cannabis

When garnished with cannabis leaves, you might be wondering: what’s the point if the food ends up being so low in THC? Well, some chefs use cannabis simply to enhance the flavor. Have you ever wondered why food tastes so good when you’re high? Why are the Munchies a thing?

Scientists discovered that the leaves of the cannabis plant contain higher levels of glutamic acid than parmesan cheese. What is glutamic acid? That’s what the G in MSG (glutamate) stands for, and MSG is what you put in your food to make it taste better. Why the comparison, why parmesan cheese? That’s because parmesan cheese is considered one of the best examples of umami and is a great way to whet your appetite, which is why people use it as an accompaniment to almost everything. Similarly, some of these restaurants use crushed cannabis leaves as a side dish.

You can also try your hand at some cannabis dishes at home. Check out our recipes to get started!