The country may be a long way off from legalizing marijuana, but CBD (cannabidiol) is all the rage right now. A derivative of the hemp plant, CBD is non-psychoactive (read: it can't get you high). It may make you feel relaxed, however, and is believed by certain health circles to help alleviate aches and pains.
All around the country (except New York City, Maine, and Ohio), chefs and bartenders are flexing their creative chops and infusing CBD into their craft. From doughnuts to ice cream to beer, here are 10 CBD-infused treats worth seeking out.
Grapefruit-rosemary kombucha | Golda Kombucha
Atlanta
Golda Kombucha opened their taproom in 2018, making them Georgia's only kombucha brewery. Found on Atlanta's West End, right off the BeltLine trail, their fermented teas rotate seasonally and incorporate locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible.
The latest brew on their roster is grapefruit-rosemary featuring a CBD infusion. Kombucha is already believed to have wellness properties, such as serving as a digestion aid and offering liver support, so this CBD-infused brew packs an extra punch.
While you're there, check out the taproom's other offerings like fermented vegan cheese by Pure Abundance, which is created on site.
Apothecary cocktail | Haberdish
Charlotte
Sip the refreshing Apothecary cocktail with gin and prickly pear liquor — Photo courtesy of Haberdish
Haberdish in Charlotte specializes in southern eats, and is especially beloved for their sweet potato dumplings and chicken tenders. While the food skews traditional, the drink program, helmed by Colleen Hughes, is decidedly modern.
Hughes concocted a refreshing CBD cocktail using Durham Distillery gin, which happens to be one of the few woman-owned distilleries in the United States. The drink blends CBD concentrate, prickly pear liquor, Cocchi Americano, ginseng, bitter melon, ginger reduction and lime.
Evergreen Buddy truffle | Monarch & the Milkweed
Burlington, Vt.
If you're looking for heaven on Earth, it's at Monarch & the Milkweed in Burlington. Billing themselves as a "fine diner" with an emphasis on pastries, all-day brunch, coffee and cocktails, the eatery also packs plenty of charm.
In addition to their eats, they have a cannabis confection brand called Milkweed. Their most popular treat is the Evergreen Buddy: a dark chocolate truffle filled with 50 milligrams of CBD, Vermont pine, lemon and locally-sourced honey.
More: What is CBD? And why is the cannabis-derived ingredient on the rise for wellness products?
CBD chocolate ice cream | Little Baby's
Philadelphia
Little Baby's in Philadelphia is known for its vibrant, eclectic decor that hearkens to the classic TV show, Saved by the Bell. Their flavor lineup includes traditional favorites, but it's their experimental flavors that make them stand out. Recently, they've added a CBD chocolate ice cream to the collection, and as an added bonus for those with dietary restrictions, it's completely vegan.
Sold only in pints, the dairy-free ice cream is made with a coconut milk base, agave nectar and contains 100 milligrams of full spectrum CBD oil (produced by local brand Bouquet CBD). Each pint is four servings and sold at their six scoop shops throughout Philly.
Chocolate birthday cake doughnut | Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
Los Angeles
It doesn't need to be your birthday to enjoy the CBD-infused birthday cake doughnut — Photo courtesy of Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
After making waves as a coupled doughnut and fried chicken shop in Washington D.C., Astro opened its downtown Los Angeles outpost in 2017. Already a hit on the east coast with its dual threat of fried chicken sandwiches and creative doughnuts in varieties like creme brûlée, chocolate corn flake and cherry blossom, Angelenos flocked to the west coast spot.
Now, the L.A. location has something new to buzz about: the chocolate birthday cake doughnut topped with CBD-infused chocolate mint buttercream frosting and sprinkles. It'll also be available at the Santa Monica location opening soon.
General Washington's Secret Stash beer | Dad and Dude's Breweria
Aurora, Colo.
The original CBD-infused beer can be found at Dad and Dude's Breweria in Colorado. Run by father and son Thomas and Mason Hembree, Breweria first launched its CBD beer in 2015 but had to put production on hold when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration declared that marijuana derivatives like CBD are still Schedule 1 substances and therefore couldn't be sold across state lines.
In July 2018, after a legal battle with the federal government and the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, they began producing the beer again.
The IPA's name is a tribute to George Washington who, besides being our nation's first president, grew hemp for textile purposes. Medium-bodied with notes of citrus, each pint has 4.2 milligrams of CBD. You can buy it in cans or on tap at the brewery.
Food Culture: These are the favorite chocolates of the best chocolate makers in the world
Chocolate chip cookies | Warm Belly Bakery
Chicago
Warm Belly's CBD Cookies are packed with chocolate chips — Photo courtesy of Warm Belly
Known for soft, chewy cookies that are the size of your fist, Chicago's Warm Belly Bakery has two locations in the city (West Loop and Lincoln Park). They make over 70 varieties of cookies, including ube and peanut butter chocolate truffle, but the newest one is a chocolate chip cookie infused with CBD.
The cookie is packed with chocolate chips and 30 milligrams of CBD, and can be found at both locations.
CBD cold brew | Selina Brawlers
Miami
A recent arrival to Miami's Wynwood neighborhood, Selina Brawlers is a coffee shop that doubles as a retail shop, with everything from the couches to artwork for sale. Their coffee offerings are special, too, like the CBD-infused cold brew coffee.
Their specialty coffee is infused with 225 milligrams of hemp extract per eight ounces of coffee, which is then used for a refreshing cold brew drink. If cold brew makes you jittery, you'll find that this one is mellowed out by the CBD. More of a tea person? They also have a CBD chamomile.
Honey latte | Herban Market
Franklin, Tenn.
An organic grocery store with a cafe, Herban Market is found in Franklin, a Nashville suburb. At the shop, you'll find a selection of gourmet food products like wine, olive oils and body care. At their coffee bar, they offer a CBD-infsued honey latte. The dairy-free drink features hemp milk, espresso and honey infused with 25 milligrams of CBD. It's a sweet and chill way to get your caffeine fix.
Honey caramel | French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Asheville, N.C.
French Broad's CBD-infused caramels are hoppy and sweet — Photo courtesy of Sarah Nicholson
No trip to the artsy mountain town of Asheville is complete without a visit to French Broad Chocolate Lounge. The dessert-centric restaurant carries an impressive array of truffles, cakes and sipping chocolate. When it came to using CBD in their confections, they approached it from a flavor perspective.
They infuse cannabis flowers, sourced from a local farm, into their honey caramel along with lemon and lime. The flowers' bitter and citrusy flavor notes play nicely with the honey and caramel resulting in a treat that's a balanced blend of hoppy and sweet.