How to Make A Zero Calorie Sparkling Cannabis Drink

Looking for a refreshing way to get your cannabis fix? If you want a smoke-free method that will elevate without weighing you down, try a zero-calorie cannabis drink.

September 14, 2024

There are some zero-calorie cannabis beverages available on the market today that taste great. But why not try your luck at making your own? You can get creative with the flavors and variations and really make it special. Our recipe is incredibly simple and can be modified in numerous ways to fit any occasion.

Some cannabis beverage recipes will recommend using THC distillate. Depending on the drink you’re making and the type of distillate you have on hand, this may be difficult to blend with liquid. Distillate-derived powder, for example, is easier to blend than distillate and won’t leave you with lots of residue on the side of the cup.

For our recipe, the key is using a cannabis tincture instead of distillate. We find that blending cannabis tinctures into liquids is smoother and easier.

What is a tincture?

Tinctures are made by dissolving a drug into alcohol. The alcohol in tinctures works to pull apart active ingredients to concentrate them in liquid form.

Cannabis tinctures are an easy-to-take form of cannabis extracts. Keep in mind though, different forms of cannabis tinctures will have different tastes. Some are strong and earthy while others are mild or covered up by the taste of peppermint or other flavors. If you’re going to use a tincture to make a cannabis drink, be sure it’s one that won’t clash with the flavors.

What is distillate?

THC distillate is a very potent cannabis concentrate. It’s runny and translucent without any additional compounds present. It is both flavor and odor-free because there are no natural terpenes present to give it a distinct aroma or flavor.

Distillate is an important ingredient for a number of products from edibles to vape cartridges. Because it is generally flavorless and odorless, it’s also commonly incorporated in recipes because it won’t alter their flavor too much.

However, in the case of beverages, distillate can be difficult to blend in without additional ingredients because it’s not water-soluble.

Bonus: How to Make Cannabis Coconut Oil

Zero-calorie sparkling cannabis drink recipe

Ready to make your own? You’ll be sipping on a refreshing drink in no time because this recipe is extremely easy!

Keep in mind that while we aim to make a zero-calorie cannabis drink with this recipe, the final product may have a few calories. Your tincture may have a very small calorie count (Leafly estimates 7 calories per mL) which will contribute to a very low overall calorie content for the beverage. Additionally, if you’re adding lemon juice or other flavors, they may have a few calories as well. But who’s counting, right?

Ingredients:

12 ml of sparkling water (from a can or carbonate your own)
½ tsp of your choice of flavored essence*
¼ to ½ tsp of liquid stevia (sweeten to taste)
1-2 drops of cannabis tincture (recommendations for tinctures below)

*Don’t have essence? Try a splash of lemon or lime juice to spruce it up.

If you’re feeling extra fresh, you can even toss in some mint leaves to turn it into a mock mojito.

Steps:

Fill a glass with sparkling water and ice, if desired.
Add the cannabis tincture, stevia, and essence (or lemon/lime juice) to the sparkling water.
Stir well.
Enjoy!

Yep, it’s that easy! Just mix your ingredients and you’re ready to go.

What should I expect from a zero-calorie cannabis drink?

Expect this experience to be like eating a zero-calorie edible. It should take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for effects to take place. Effects should last for several hours before fading away.

If you’re new to the edible game, take it slow. And be sure to pay attention to the dosage on your tincture. If you are someone who gets high from small amounts, go easy on the droplets. If a recommended dose is 1-2 drops, start with 1/2-1 drop before adding any more.

You can expect the sensation from drinking a zero-calorie cannabis beverage to be similar to when you eat any edible. If you’re not familiar with this, anticipate feeling a full-body high as opposed to the more cerebral effects of smoking.

What kind of cannabis tincture should I use?

One of the best things about using cannabis tinctures for beverages is their versatility. You can really optimize your experience by selecting the perfect tincture for your needs.

Seriously. There are tons of options. Some tinctures are cultivated for specific reasons, like to improve focus and energize throughout the day or to improve sleep. Others are crafted to improve menstrual discomfort or support immune health.

For the purpose of making a cannabis beverage, we recommend using tinctures that are water or alcohol-based. Some are made with glycerin or other substances but these do not dissolve as well into liquids.

We particularly like Green Revolution’s 1:1 Water Tincture (make sure to select your store location before ordering) for blending into beverages. It eliminates all the hassle of mixing a tincture with liquid because it’s water-based and water-soluble. Plus, it’s balanced in its CBD to THC ratio, meaning the effects will be calm and balanced as well.

If you’re looking for more of an energizing boost from your beverage, Green Revolution has other tinctures that would work well for this recipe. Their Journey Sativa tincture comes to mind for this. The tincture is also water-based so it dissolves easily into beverages and does not have an overwhelming taste.

We also like Verdure’s 1:1 CBD Indica Honey and Lemon tincture for this recipe. The lemon and honey are a great addition to a refreshing cannabis drink. Though if you’re using essence, make sure it’s a good flavor match with this tincture.

Verdure’s Honey and Lemon tincture is a good choice for this recipe, especially if you’re adding lemon juice to the beverage already. Keep in mind that this tincture uses a base of avocado and coconut oil and may not blend as well.

Ready to make your own zero-calorie cannabis drink?

This recipe is as close to zero calories as we can get. Depending on how much tincture you use, you may have a very small calorie content in your beverage. Additionally, if you add any extra juice like lemon or lime juice, you will be adding a small calorie count to the drink.

Regardless, we think this recipe is perfect for a light, refreshing treat that elevates. It’s versatile, healthy, and can be as potent as you want it to be.

Too lazy to make your own zero-calorie cannabis drink? Try one of our low calorie cannabis drinks!

Wanna save those calories for the munchies instead? Check out some of our favorite low calorie cannabis drinks available at our Bellingham store!

Piece of Mind Cannabis is a medical marijuana and recreational Cannabis dispensary with locations in Bellingham, and Pullman, Washington.