How to Pair Cannabis & Chocolate for a Dank Valentine’s Day

It’s that time of the year again when all of the telltale signs of the
“love holiday” pop up *everywhere*. The push to buy a gift for your sweetie
starts early in the year, and by the time it gets to Feb. 14, all of the
reds, pinks, stuffed animals, heart-shaped candy boxes, jewelry and
sentimental cards are pretty much impossible to escape.

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. It’s true that after smoking cannabis, snacking on a piece of
chocolate can make you feel like you’re in heaven.

But it’s more than just the munchies that makes the pairing so pleasurable.
All About 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.

When it comes to pairing chocolate and cannabis together, there are a few
things to consider. First, in order to really experience the combined
effects benefits of this duo, you’ll need to be eating high-quality dark
chocolate. Super sweet, sugary milk chocolate will not be as high in
anandamide because it has less cocoa. Luckily dark chocolate comes in many
different flavors and textures, so you can start your pairing adventure
there.

Next, you should be deliberate about the particular strain you choose. Dark
chocolate tends to be richer and more bitter than milk chocolate, so the
strain you pick should be bold enough to stand up against the chocolate
flavor while also complementing it.

Look into the terpene profile of a strain and take it from there. For
example, if you opt for a citrusy, blood orange dark chocolate, look for
strains with limonene in them. A mint dark chocolate would pair well with
pinene, while something like a chili dark chocolate might work well with
strains that have myrcene’s spicy, earthy taste to them.
Cannabis, Chocolate & Chill

You should let your person decide how they’d like to enjoy their cannabis
and chocolate pairing, but you can definitely give them a few suggestions.

If you’ve been really intentional about the strain and type of chocolate,
then it would probably be more interesting for them to smoke or vape and
nibble on some chocolate at the same time to see how the flavors complement
one another. If you’re just banking on the THC and anandamide combination
to boost one another, then they can smoke or vape first and then enjoy
their chocolate afterward.

For anyone who doesn’t smoke or simply prefers to consume their cannabis
via infused treats, then edibles are the way to go. 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.

And let’s not forget the convenience of premade chocolate edibles! 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.

The post How to Pair Cannabis & Chocolate for a Dank Valentine’s Day
appeared first on Cannabis Now.