Healthier edibles?

Cookies, brownies or candies may seem like the only options for edibles, but some companies are providing alternatives especially for health-conscious consumers, or at least those who want something beyond sweet.

There are now a variety of products available for users who want a marijuana experience but are concerned with their sugar intake, who want something more savory, or the flexibility to add marijuana to a beverage or food that’s already part of their diet.

Here’s a run-down of some options available at area retailers.

 

For snacking:

Try Happy Trail Granola from Eleven Window Ventures. These all-natural chewy granola bites are delicious, vegan and filled with nutritious ingredients like cashews, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, and coconut. These are available at both area Cinder locations.

If you like a good crunch, try Firecrackers from Yield Farms, a producer/processor in the Spokane area. These savory baked cheese crackers are mixed with a proprietary blend of seasonings.

Yield Farms also makes Seasoned Roasted Nuts, a signature mixture of cashews, peanuts, almonds, pistachios and seasonings that provide a nutrient-dense punch.

The crackers and seasoned nuts are available in single-serve portions, and the company is working on multi-serving packs. These are currently available at Spokane Green Leaf, The Green Nugget and Smokane.

 “I really love the savory options of our crackers and seasoned nuts,” said Colin Lukey from Yield Farms. “They are a great snack and good for those trying to avoid excess sugar.”

Yield Farms plans to focus strictly on savory options.

”My business partners, Wes Tuttle, from the medical cannabis world, and Lori Sayman, have created dozens of approved infused savory recipes, two of which became our Firecrackers and Seasoned Roasted Nuts,” Lukey said. “They created these recipes because they saw that everybody was doing sweets, so they wanted to offer something different.”

Lukey said Yield Farms is always interested to hear what customers want in the way of non-sweet edibles, which will guide future product development.

 

For sipping:

 

Beverage additives or tinctures are another easy way to consume edibles without having to go for baked goods or candies.

Becca Johnson, general manager of Cinder, says there are several options for shoppers.

“Ethos Innovates beverage concentrates are really popular, not only because they are incredible products from a top shelf producer, but because they are a much more health conscious option,” she said. These products are easy to dose and user friendly.

Retail locations also carry High Tea from Evergreen Herbal, which comes in black, chai, green and PM tea varieties.

“It can be difficult to find edibles that are high quality that aren’t a ‘treat’ item,” she said.

Another option is from botanica Seattle, which offers a low-calorie, easy to control dosage edible coconut oil in its SPOT product line. It’s available in sativa, indica and CBD.

“Each bottle offers a high-efficacy medium to add THC or CBD to anything you are already consuming in the course of your day,” said Lena Davidson, the company’s director of market relations. “You can add it to a smoothie, your morning cup of coffee or place directly on your tongue and swallow for easy, controllable uptake.” This line is available at most Spokane-area retailers.

 

Sweet but not super sweet

 

For people with active lifestyles and concern for personal wellness, Davidson recommends herbal mints. 

Its Mr. Moxey Mints line, for instance, offer good blends of flavors but not heavy sugar.  The cinnamon mint includes chamomile and poppy, the peppermint mint includes ginseng and gingko, and the CBD ginger line includes echinacea and Indian gooseberry. 

“Each mint will prop up your day in the exact way you are seeking, without adding tons of sugar or calories to your diet,” Davidson said.  

ZootRocks are another option. These all-natural cannabis-infused nuggets are high in flavor but not particularly high in THC (5 mg) so are easy to control your experience and could be a good introduction to edibles. The Tart Green Apple, ZootBerry, Lemongrass and Cinnamon flavors are sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan, and the Caramel flavor is gluten-free.