CBD Tea or Hemp Tea?
In past few years, the popularity of hemp and CBD products has surged, with consumers seeking natural remedies for various ailments and health reasons. Among these products, hemp tea and CBD tea, although not as well-known as CBD oil, have gained attention for their health benefits and potential soothing properties. However, despite their similarities and marketing ambiguities, there are some differences and this article will discuss their composition, effects, and potential uses.
Hemp is a variety of the Cannabis Sativa plant species which has been traditionally cultivated for its industrial uses, such as fabric, animal feed, seeds to make hemp seed oil etc. Unless washed and removed, it can contain trace amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound responsible for the cannabis high. For hemp to be legally grown in the UK, it must contain less than 0.2% THC when cultivated, and be from a list of EU/ US approved hemp strains. If not, it is not considered to be hemp, and falls into the same category as recreational cannabis. The exception to this being if it is sold as an unlicensed cannabis medicine on prescription.
CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plants, including hemp, which unlike THC, is non-psychoactive. Both CBD and THC have medicinal uses and benefits, though as this article is about hemp and CBD Tea, we won’t be discussing THC any further.

What is Hemp Tea?
Hemp tea is typically made from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the hemp plant. These parts of the plant contain naturally occurring cannabinoids, including CBD. Additionally, hemp tea may contain other beneficial compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids, and polyphenol. Polyphenols are a class of micro nutrients which have many health and preventative disease benefits. This includes anti-inflammatory properties which covers a broad spectrum of health issues as inflammation is the root cause of many health-related problems.
What is CBD Tea?
CBD tea often contain hemp extracts or isolates with a high CBD high concentration and is generally extracted using CO2 or ethanol extraction methods.
CBD tea products are sold either as loose-leaf tea, CBD tea bags, or as a blend including additional ingredients. Some manufacturers also infuse CBD into traditional tea blends, offering an easy way to introduce CBD into your daily routine.
The Love CBD Tea is a blended product containing 40% organic hemp, peppermint, chamomile, ginger and lime leaves. We chose to make a blended product primarily because hemp tea without additional ingredients tastes bad (to be blunt). The closest comparison I can think of is ditch water (I imagine). However, the addition of peppermint and ginger dramatically alters the flavour of the Love CBD Tea bags, making it far more palatable.
Because the Love CBD Tea bags contain chamomile, it is an ideal drink to have before bed as chamomile is well known for its sleep aiding properties. Ginger also promotes healthy digestion, and may help to settle the stomach. Anyone who suffers from heartburn will know, that stomach issues do not make for a good night’s rest.

What’s best CBD Tea or Hemp Tea?
A key differences between hemp tea and CBD tea lies is their CBD content. While both may contain CBD, CBD tea is generally designed to provide higher concentrations. It is worth noting that CBD tea if made using CBD isolate, will likely be less beneficial than a product made from either a full or broad-spectrum extract. This is due to the Entourage Effect which is a scientific term that suggests by combining cannabis compounds magnifies the potential benefits and efficacy.
Because hemp tea does not contain an extract of hemp, it will also contain CBDa and not CBD until decarboxylation occurs. The process of heating the tea with boiling water will convert the CBDa into CBD, though theoretically, if you were to use cold water (not recommended) you would retain the CBDa (the acidic form of the CBD compound). CBDa has its own health benefits, though there have been fewer scientific studies on the medical and wellness benefits of this cannabinoid to date.
Hemp tea will likely however contain more plant compounds like chlorophyll than CBD tea, because nothing is removed. It will also contain less CBD because none is added, hemp tea only contains what is naturally present within the plant.
CBD tea products are also likely to be considered by the FSA as a novel food as they contain an extracted form of hemp. However, at the time of writing, there have been no CBD tea products registered with the FSA novel Team or are appearing on the FSA’s list of approved CBD products.
Hemp and CBD Tea Benefits
Both hemp tea and CBD tea have potential health benefits, though scientific research on theses compounds continues to be explored. CBD, in particular, has been studied for its potential anti-inflammatory and pain reducing properties and some CBD users report reduced anxiety, stress, and chronic pain.
In reality both CBD tea and hemp tea contain relatively low levels of cannabinoids, and whilst they undoubtedly offer wellness benefits due to the health properties of hemp, improved sleep and relaxation is a more realistic outcome and expectation.
The Legal Situation
Hemp is legal in the UK provided that the plant is harvested before the plant flowers. Therefore, provided that the product contains no more than 1mg of controlled substances per container (requirements of CBD oils) there is no reason for the product to be unlawful in the UK. The 1mg per container is not per CBD tea bag, but per box.
However, there are a few companies based in the UK that are selling cannabis flowers (buds) which they claim are intended to be used for tea purposes. However, it could be easily argued that what they are actually selling is low THC recreational cannabis. It appears that these companies are relying on a court case which sets a vague precedent that because they are low THC, that they are not breaking the law. We will see how this plays out in time, and if it is anything like the novel food process, it could drag out for years.
Some of the companies have had stock seized, though any enforcement has been sporadic and inconsistent. What is clear is that the legal position of cannabis in the UK is not fit for purpose and urgently needs an overhaul. There is some potential movement on this front, and the Home Office which has been in charge of hemp products could be passing their power to DEFRA, after all hemp is a crop and should be managed as such.
As with any herbal supplement, it’s important to do some research when consuming hemp or CBD products. While these types of products generally considered safe for most individuals (The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that CBD is generally considered to be safe and well tolerated), some people may experience side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, or changes in appetite. Additionally, CBD can interact with certain medications, and it is sensible to consult with a healthcare professional before adding CBD products into your routine if you have concerns or are talking medication.
The best CBD Tea
Not all brands in the CBD space are as compliant focussed. Always ensure that any CBD product that you buy has a certificate of analysis (COA) that is less than 12 months old. Love CBD use Eurofins because they are accredited to undertake cannabinoid testing. Not all labs hold this certification and as such, may not provide reliable and trustworthy data. As mentioned before, all CBD products should be registered with the FSA and appear on their list of approved CBD products. If they are not on the list, it would be wise to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
The primary differences between hemp tea and CBD tea, is that hemp tea contains only naturally occurring cannabinoids, whereas CBD tea has them added, generally in the form of CBD isolate. Hemp tea also does not have any hemp compounds removed, unlike a high concentration CBD based extract. Therefore, hemp provides the user with a wide range of hemp compounds.
CBD Tea has the potential to have a higher concentration of CBD per bag, though this is product dependent and not always the case. whilst hemp tea and CBD tea both contain cannabinoids, they may differ in their CBD content. Hemp tea offers a gentle infusion of cannabinoids and phytochemicals, suitable for those seeking a mild wellness boost. Hemp Tea could also be a great complement to CBD oil or CBD capsules due to all of the wellness compounds found within hemp that could help to promote the Entourage Effect.
CBD tea, on the other hand, can in some cases provide higher concentrations of CBD, which could have potentially therapeutic and wellness benefits.
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