From brownies to gummy bears, we’ve all heard about cannabis edibles. We’ve even built an entire guide on them! According to The Tasty Future of Cannabis Edibles report, “The Edibles category could be worth more than $4.1 billion in Canada and the United States by 2022, making it an early opportunity for investment in a cannabis sub-sector that is brand-focused and growing quickly.”
“Chocolate bars, brownies, cookies, lollipops, CBD mints, and THC gummies, and certain beverages like CBD coffee blends and non-alcoholic cocktails are among the most popular edibles on the market.”
Christian Antonoff, Content Strategist and Co-Founder of Excel Template
Christian Antonoff, Content Strategist and Co-Founder of Excel Template
But edible marijuana products aren’t just here to stay. They’re here to innovate. It’s not just about the pot brownie anymore – the future of edibles has expanded to encompass all sorts and varieties of food and drink. Let’s discuss a little bit more about edible products and innovations.
What Are Edibles?
We’ve already discussed cannabis edibles and everything you’ve ever wanted to know about them in a previous article. But in a nutshell, a cannabis edible is any type of food or drink that has been infused with cannabis, be it THC, CBD, or both. Depending on the type of strain used to create the edible be it Sativa or Indica, they can either energize or relax you. Or if you try a hybrid they can do both! For more information on how edibles are made & the effects they have on the human body, check out this article.
The Future of Edibles
To understand the difference in cravings, we need to first dive a little bit into the main differences in effects between men and women.
Recent Innovations
“Beverages are getting more popular, as more cannabis producers are starting to make THC-infused drinks like coffee, tea or even sodas. There are even companies making THC-infused wine or brewing beer out of cannabis, so the possibilities are endless here. Just like food, the high takes time to kick in and it’s pretty potent, so be patient!”
Arkady Kats, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Cannabis Sensei
Cannabis-infused drinks are also on the horizon and many are hitting the shelves anytime soon (if they’re not already there). And don’t stop at soft drinks: think energy drinks, coffee, tea, or even infused, clear water. Plus, the most exciting development? Cannabis beer. Dooma Wendschuh, co-founder and chief executive of Province Brands in Canada, is hoping to develop the first cannabis-infused beer, claiming that “our goal is to create what we consider a first-ever, less-harmful alternative to alcohol.” They plan to do it by crafting beers made from hemp and cannabis, along with yeasts that can be used with them.
This innovation makes perfect sense because we’re already used to drinking socially (as opposed to meeting at a friend at a bar to eat gummy bears), so this approach makes a lot of sense in the long run.
“You can find edibles in many forms and types, the most popular being brownies, cookies, chocolates, candies, and lollipops. People are getting quite creative these days, however, so you are bound to find lots of quirky newcomers to the market, for example beef jerky.”
Snezhina Piskova, Copywriter at Independent Fashion Bloggers
Did you hear that? Cannabis. Beef. Jerky. What a time to be alive.
Trends
Aside from recent innovations, there are a few trends worth mentioning where marijuana edibles are concerned. Trends that will shape the entire future of edibles. Let’s discuss them:
Cannabis restaurants
“Competition is growing quickly and producers need to find creative ways to make different edibles. The most well-known type of edible is food, whether it’s the classic brownie or an entire 5-course meal with different strains and THC percentages in different courses, the choices are never-ending here.“
Arkady Kats, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Cannabis Sensei
Luxury cannabis bars and cafés are popping up every which way. But it’s nothing like the famous cafés in the Netherlands. Cannabis edibles are taking over the world of fine cuisine, art, and even design. Take for example byMinistry in Toronto, Canada, a restaurant that offers a design-forward experience, with plates such as infused hand-made burrata or chocolate spheres with matcha chocolate mousse, also cannabis-infused. Their mission is to create “elevated cannabis experiences in food & drink, culture, and wellness that take your plant-forward lifestyle to a higher place.”
Cannabis cooking classes
Anyone can learn to cook, and anyone can certainly create their own infused concoctions in the kitchen. But if you really want to turn up the heat, then it might be time for some cannabis cooking classes! You can sign up for online cooking classes at Soul Fresh Wellness, or attend the classes yourself! The advantage of taking a cooking class is that you no longer depend on a recipe you found online, but instead you will gather all the information from first-hand experts, including cannabis experts and chefs.
Niche bakeries
This is another trend that will be taking up soon. Niche cannabis bakeries, selling delicious, fresh, toasty baked goods all infused with cannabis will get your heart racing and your taste buds flying. If you happen to be in Washington, Sweet Nirvana Bakery can take you straight to the sky with their amazing baked goods, which include chocolate groovy chews, chocolate vanilla creme cookies, brownie bites and even jamrocks. Or you can order online from websites like Coast to Coast Medicinals, an amazing store that sells cannabis-infused Twinkies (called Twonkies!), chocolate rolls, cake pops, and fruit loop bars!
Our Predictions
But the future isn’t just shaped by what’s happening right now. It’s also shaped by the endless possibilities of what we can accomplish later on. And in the cannabis industry, the sky’s the limit. Here are a few of our predictions for the future of cannabis edibles:
Molecular Gastronomy
Just like cooking is creating an entire experience around cannabis, we believe that molecular gastronomy won’t be far behind. If you’ve never heard of it, molecular gastronomy is a type of food science that centers around the physical and chemical transformations of ingredients that occur while cooking. Can you imagine trying guava cannabis foam or chocolate and cannabis oil bonbons, This type of scientific culinary experience will definitely change the gastronomic panorama for the better.
Delivery
Think DoorDash, GrubHub or Uber Eats for cannabis-infused plates. The comfort and safety behind this option is the reason why we believe it will become very popular in the industry. You don’t have to worry about going out to dinner and finding out how you’re going to get back in the middle of your cannabis high. You can relish the delicious dishes from the comfort of your home, relax on your couch, and enjoy the ride. Picture a 4-course dinner party, but much more fun.
Conclusion
Food culture is about to change. In our humble opinion, for the better. This is because food can be a better alternative for cannabis consumption, especially because it does not convey the same risks as vaping or smoking. Also, eating is a social activity, so it’s bound to bring people together even more.
So basically, it’s not about smoking a joint anymore. It’s about having a beautiful experience, all around. Good company, music, food, ambiance, and amazing flavor, all topped with the benefits only cannabis can bring to the table. In the end, the future of cannabis edibles is looking pretty tasty. And may we dare say it, bong appetit!
Learn More About Cannabis Edibles, Extracts & Processing
Want to discover more about cannabis? We have full courses on cannabis processing, horticulture, medical application of cannabis, and even an executive program that will help future cannabis industry leaders push the cannabis market to the limit. Learn more about our courses, programs, and certifications here!