Holi High! Legendary Bhang!

Hello from EL the Cook! In the spirit of Holi (Festival Of Colors), EL the Cook brings a high to your Holi with Bhaang! If you can get your hands on the ingredients(Legally!) take a sip to make your Holi extra special!

What is Bhang?

Bhang (Hindi: भाँग) is a preparation from the leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant, consumed as a beverage in the Indian subcontinent, especially during Holi!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups water 
• 1 ounce marijuana (fresh leaves and flowers of a female plant preferred) 
• 4 cups warm milk 
• 2 tablespoons blanched and chopped almonds 
• 1/8 teaspoon garam masala (a mixture of cloves, cinnamon, and cardamon) 
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger 
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater 
• 1 cup sugar 

KITCHEN EQUIPMENT:

• Teapot
• Mortar & Pestle
• 2 bowls
• Glasses to serve

METHOD: 

• Bring the water to a rapid boil and pour into a clean teapot. 
• Remove any seeds or twigs from the marijuana, add it to the teapot and cover. Let this brew for about 7 minutes. 
• Now strain the water and marijuana through a piece of muslin cloth, collect the water and save. 

• Take the leaves and flowers and squeeze between your hands to extract any liquid that remains. Add this to the water. 
• Place the leaves and flowers in a mortar and add 2 teaspoons warm milk. Slowly but firmly grind the milk and leaves together. 
• Gather up the marijuana and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Repeat this process until you have used about 1/2 cup of milk (about 4 to 5 times). 
• Collect all the milk that has been extracted and place in a bowl. By this time the marijuana will have turned into a pulpy mass. 

• Add the chopped almonds and some more warm milk. 
• Grind this in the mortar until a fine paste is formed. Squeeze this paste and collect the extract as before. 
• Repeat a few more times until all that is left are some fibers and nut meal. Discard the residue. 

• Combine all the liquids that have been collected, including the water the marijuana was brewed in. 
• Add to this the garam masala, dried ginger and rosewater. 
• Add the sugar and remaining milk. 

Happy Holi Everyone!