FAQ
For reasons out of our control, we recently had to switch delivery partners in order to continue to offer ordering directly via our website. With our new delivery partner, there is a chance we no longer service your neighborhood. Make sure you’re signed up to our email newsletter to hear when we go live in new regions. You can still shop KIKOKO—click here to visit the JANE platform, which shows all the Kikoko products in stock at the nearest retailers.
At this time, we can only be found in California. Due to the federal classification of cannabis, it is highly illegal to ship out of state. But stay tuned, we are planning for expansion into other states in the coming years. However, if you live in California, you can buy our teas directly on our https://kikoko.com and we’ll have them delivered to your door if you are in one of our delivery areas.
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While THCV does have a mild psychoactive effect, you have to take a lot more of it to get high. 5mg provides an energy boost and mental wakening.
Yes, our tea is grown on a certified organic farm in the rural Assam region of northeastern India.
Because of the special process used to dry Assam tea, it is especially high in health benefits, including gut health, fighting inflammation and cholesterol, and boosting the immune system, among others.
Assam tea is strong, and has a rich, malty taste. many say it is the best tasting tea in the world.
Our sleep products are always our best sellers because they work so well. We created four of them (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea and Night tincture). They all have different cannabinoid ratios because we know that everybody’s endocannabinoid system is different. We suggest you try to find the one that works best for you. And if the effect of one ever wanes, temporarily stop and fill in with another. That way your body won’t develop a tolerance.
The first effects of the cannabis/weed tea are usually felt
within 30 to 90 minutes.
Although, it can take longer to reach maximum onset. Wait at least two hours before drinking a second cup. The most common rookie mistake made with weed tea is similar to edibles. People assume they aren’t working and dose more, but haven’t given them enough time to take effect. So just be patient with it. Some people do ask does weed tea work and does weed tea get you high? Yes, it works. Keep in mind that with some of our cannabis teas (Tranquili-tea and Sympa-tea) you may feel no “high” effect at all, or you may just experience a sense of relaxation.
We suggest you use one cannabis-infused tea bag on your first try. Then, if you find you can tolerate more, go for two. As they say in the cannabis world, start low and go slow.
No. There will be very little to no cannabis “active” (the compounds that trigger medicinal and psychoactive effects) remaining after the first use.
Our teas contain from 3mg to 10mg of THC, which is the psychoactive part of the cannabis plant. In short, none will knock you on your ass. Always start low and build from there. If you are apprehensive of how you might react to cannabis, we suggest you try our FOCUS or CALM Little Helper mints in addition to the teas. FOCUS mints only have 1mg THC + 3mg CBD and CALM only have 2.5 THC + 5mg CBD.
Kikoko’s cannabis-infused teas include many non-psychoactive cannabinoids (the chemical compounds in the plant that affect our physiology), all of which are precisely dosed. There are over 120 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant but only one gets you high: THC. That’s the one you need to watch out for. Other chemical compounds found in the plant — THCA, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. — are not psychoactive and will not get you high. Many, however, are helpful in managing pain, insomnia, anxiety and an array of other conditions (see Proof for more information), which is why we include many of them in our teas.
Yes, you can save a portion of the brewed tea and put it in the refrigerator. We suggest you drink the remainder within one week. Our teas are so wonderful (yes, we think so) because they are fully homogenized, meaning the cannabis is suspended throughout the liquid and will not rise to the surface in a nasty oil slick.
Many of our herbal ingredients are grown domestically. We buy imported herbs only when that country grows the best. All are certified organic.
We dislike that nasty aftertaste, too. We worked long and hard with our scientists and artisanal tea experts to create delicious and healthy cannabis teas that have no medicinal or bitter aftertaste.
Adding sugar, honey or milk is fine. Our teas are delicious just as they are, however, and unlike many other canna drinks, no additional ingredients are required to activate the tea.
Our cannabis-infused teas are free of mold, pesticides and other toxins, all of which are prevalent in many cannabis teas and other products. See What Makes Our Cannabis Teas Different for more information.
All of the herbs in our teas are 100% organic certified. Our cannabis is organically grown (but not certified as there is no such thing).
- Place one tea bag in a cup and add 6-8 ounces of almost-boiling or boiling water (the amount of water has no affect on the cannabis potency of your tea).
- Allow to steep for at least 90 seconds (we recommend 3-5 minutes to taste), after which all of the active cannabis ingredient will have dissolved into your tea.
- Remove tea bag when you have steeped to taste, stir and sip.
If you like your tea sweeter, by all means add honey or sugar. However, there is no need to add anything else to your tea. Unlike many other canna drinks, no additional ingredients are needed to activate the tea.
No. So long as you drink the whole amount, you will get the intended effect. But we recommend between 6 and 8 oz. of hot water.
If you don’t like peeing at night but love our Tranquili-tea, we suggest you drink with only 4oz of water.
If you want to split the dose of your Kikoko tea in half, you can either make a regular cup of tea and each drink half (4 oz). Alternatively, you could add 16 oz of water and just allow the bag to steep longer. After a good stir, split the liquid in half between two cups, each amount will be equal to half the tea’s labeled potency. Seal the brewed tea in an airtight container if you aren’t immediately drinking it and store in your refrigerator. For best results, drink within a week. (We love chilling tea and drinking it cold as a cocktail replacement).
Yep, and it is delicious. Prepare as you would any other iced tea, but just make sure you pour boiling water on the tea bags before cooling. Be careful to watch dosing if using more than one bag. See our RECIPES page for delicious canna cocktail recipes.
A rare and precious non-psychoactive cannabinoid, THCV is known to promote energy and clarity, and when paired with a little THC, a vital, happy feeling. There is also some research showing that THCV is excellent for pain.
Our sleep products are always our best sellers because they work so well. We created four of them (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea and Night tincture). They all have different cannabinoid ratios because we know that everybody’s endocannabinoid system is different. We suggest you try to find the one that works best for you. And if the effect of one ever wanes, temporarily stop and fill in with another. That way your body won’t develop a tolerance.
Yes, our mints are designed for microdosing cannabis and can be taken throughout the day. The low dose of THC allows you to feel the additional benefits of CBD and other functional ingredients without an overpowering high. Check out our Dosage Guide to learn more.
Yes! Xylitol, the base ingredient of our mints, is sugar-free and actually improves dental health. Xylitol inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that causes cavities, cannot use xylitol to grow. With frequent Xylitol use, the quality of the bacteria in the mouth changes and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive. We derive ours from birch trees and use it as a natural sweetener.
The mints are chewable, similar to the texture of a pressed vitamin.
Functional ingredients provide added health and wellness benefits in addition to the benefits of cannabis. Our functional mint ingredients include vitamins B6 and B12, L-theanine, vitamin D, and organic moringa. These ingredients promote bone, cell and immunity health, relaxation, and a calm mind.
CBN is basically THC that has been subjected to heat, light, oxygen and time. For example, if you left a plastic baggie of weed under your couch for 6 months and you decided to smoke it, it would likely make you sleepy and not very high. That’s because the THC has degraded into CBN. CBN is not nearly as psychoactive as THC, but it is extremely helpful for falling asleep and staying asleep deeply. However, it’s hard to make (thus it’s expensive).
Our sleep products are always our best sellers because they work so well. We created four of them (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea and Night tincture). They all have different cannabinoid ratios because we know that everybody’s endocannabinoid system is different. We suggest you try to find the one that works best for you. And if the effect of one ever wanes, temporarily stop and fill in with another. That way your body won’t develop a tolerance.
CBD, at high doses, is great at reducing inflammation and anxiety, but it does not put most people into a deep sleep. It can be helpful for reducing the mind chatter, but if it’s sleep you are after, THC and CBN are clinically proven to be the most effective combination.
We put 1mg of melatonin in our sleep tincture because not only is it a great natural sleep aid, but it helps with immunity too. If you think you do not like melatonin, we encourage you to try the tincture regardless. We only put 1mg in there because any more can make you groggy the next morning and stops your brain from creating its own melatonin. Most products on the market today have way more than 1mg in them, which simply is not a good habit and you can have a bad reaction. We carefully formulated our sleep tincture so you go to sleep quickly and wake up feeling fully refreshed.
Yes, you can. Sometimes after using any cannabis product consistently, you can develop a short term tolerance and it becomes less effective. When that happens we suggest you stop using the tincture for 12-20 days and instead try one of our other sleep products (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea). Then you can return to the tincture. Mixing up products will stop you from developing tolerances.
The NIGHT tincture is formulated to put you to sleep and keep you asleep deeply. The little bit of THC in there helps with deep sleep, but the cannabinoid that really works is the CBN. CBN is the “drowsy” cannabinoid. Most people feel a strong urge to sleep within 20-30 minutes.
Our DAY tincture is formulated to combat stress naturally by inducing a relaxed body and calm mind without a high. Although everyone experiences cannabis individually, most people feel less stressed, but still fully functioning, after taking the DAY tincture. It has one of the highest doses of CBD on the market (25 mg) with just 1mg of THC (a sub-psychoactive amount). The additional organic ingredients—L-theanine and GABA—also help calm the nervous system and brain, and the turmeric is a bonus dose of anti-inflammatory. Consider this your go-to daily dose of wellness.
MCT is known to spike cholesterol levels, whereas sunflower oil does not. Raw (unheated) sunflower oil is one of the healthiest oils you can put into your body, aiding skin and heart health. It also contains Omega 6, which lowers levels of “bad” cholesterol.
CBD tinctures are usually taken orally and will absorb into your bloodstream through the capillaries in your gum and under your tongue. For maximum absorption, we recommend you place your desired dose underneath your tongue and hold it there for up to 60 seconds.
Our sleep products are always our best sellers because they work so well. We created four of them (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea and Night tincture). They all have different cannabinoid ratios because we know that everybody’s endocannabinoid system is different. We suggest you try to find the one that works best for you. And if the effect of one ever wanes, temporarily stop and fill in with another. That way your body won’t develop a tolerance.
We import our Manuka and Kanuka directly from a remote bee farm in gorgeous rural New Zealand because both are clinically proven to be some of the world’s most healing honeys. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant, Kanuka and Manuka honey are known for their powerful healing properties. (And the honey comes from a bee farm of a friend of our Kiwi co-founder, so we know exactly how it is harvested and processed).
No, neither the cannabis nor the honey will be affected by hot water. Enjoy your honey with warm oatmeal, smoothies or add it to your Kikoko tea.
The cannabis distillate in our honey comes from Northern California, where it is sun-grown using organic practices.
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CBN is basically THC that has been subjected to heat, light, oxygen and time. For example, if you left a plastic baggie of weed under your couch for 6 months and you decided to smoke it, it would likely make you sleepy and not very high. That’s because the THC has degraded into CBN. CBN is not nearly as psychoactive as THC, but it is extremely helpful for falling asleep and staying asleep deeply. However, it’s hard to make (thus it’s expensive).
Our sleep products are always our best sellers because they work so well. We created four of them (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea and Night tincture). They all have different cannabinoid ratios because we know that everybody’s endocannabinoid system is different. We suggest you try to find the one that works best for you. And if the effect of one ever wanes, temporarily stop and fill in with another. That way your body won’t develop a tolerance.
Yes, you can. Sometimes after using any cannabis product consistently, you can develop a short term tolerance and it becomes less effective. When that happens we suggest you stop using the tincture for 12-20 days and instead try one of our other sleep products (Sleep mints, Snooze honey, Tranquili-Tea). Then you can return to the tincture. Mixing up products will stop you from developing tolerances.
Yes! Xylitol, the base ingredient of our mints, is sugar-free. Cannabis could actually be the secret to a healthy mouth. Recent studies discuss the plant’s antimicrobial property against dental plaque. Xylitol has also been proven to be great for oral health.
If you’ve taken melatonin before and felt like you have a hangover the next morning, or are groggy, you are likely taking too much. Many people take between 3-5mg, which is way too much and actually can signal your own brain to stop producing its own melatonin. 1mg of melatonin is all you need. So even if you think melatonin is not for you, try it again in Kikoko: it could just be that you’ve got the dose wrong.
CBN is superior to CBD for deep sleep as it is highly sedating. CBD is an anxiolytic, meaning it helps stop anxiety and calm the mind and body. However, a few people find CBD actually activates their brain. That’s why you really need to try different ratios of Kikoko to find the one that works for you.
So does CBN help with sleep? CBN is the cannabinoid that makes most people drowsy. It works for about 85% of people, but the other 15% may experience some mental activation at higher doses of CBN. That’s fun, but not great for sleep, so if it happens to you, we suggest that you try one of our CBD products. For the folks that don’t react well to CBN, we notice that CBD at higher doses (try Sympa-Tea or Calm HoneyShot) works well to help them fall asleep.
We dislike that nasty aftertaste, too. We worked long and hard with our scientists and artisanal tea experts to create delicious and healthy cannabis teas that have no medicinal or bitter aftertaste.
A rare and precious non-psychoactive cannabinoid, THCV is known to promote energy and clarity, and when paired with a little THC, a vital, happy feeling. There is also some research showing that THCV is excellent for pain.
While THCV does have a mild psychoactive effect, you have to take a lot more of it to get high. 5mg provides an energy boost and mental wakening.
Yes, our tea is grown on a certified organic farm in the rural Assam region of northeastern India.
Because of the special process used to dry Assam tea, it is especially high in health benefits, including gut health, fighting inflammation and cholesterol, and boosting the immune system, among others.
Assam tea is strong, and has a rich, malty taste. many say it is the best tasting tea in the world.
Live resin is when the plant is flash frozen right when it’s picked, skipping the drying and curing phase and retaining much more of the terpenes and other plant phytochemicals, most of which add to the healthy benefits of cannabis. Live resin does taste more “weedy,” but we know you’ll come to love that taste
A rare and precious non-psychoactive cannabinoid, THCV is known to promote energy and clarity, and when paired with a little THC, a vital, happy feeling. There is also some research showing that THCV is excellent for pain.
The first effects of the cannabis/weed tea are usually felt
within 30 to 90 minutes.
Although, it can take longer to reach maximum onset. Wait at least two hours before drinking a second cup. The most common rookie mistake made with weed tea is similar to edibles. People assume they aren’t working and dose more, but haven’t given them enough time to take effect. So just be patient with it. Some people do ask does weed tea work and does weed tea get you high? Yes, it works. Keep in mind that with some of our cannabis teas (Tranquili-tea and Sympa-tea) you may feel no “high” effect at all, or you may just experience a sense of relaxation.
First of all, we specifically made these cannabis teas so you won’t get too high. Being too high is not a pleasant experience and can result in paranoia, anxiety, a dry mouth, sweating and a racing heartbeat. It can also lead to a perception that you are unwell or a sense of anxiety. YOU ARE FINE. This feeling will go away and you are not in any danger.
A rare and precious non-psychoactive cannabinoid, THCV is known to promote energy and clarity, and when paired with a little THC, a vital, happy feeling. There is also some research showing that THCV is excellent for pain.
CBN is basically THC that has been subjected to heat, light, oxygen and time. For example, if you left a plastic baggie of weed under your couch for 6 months and you decided to smoke it, it would likely make you sleepy and not very high. That’s because the THC has degraded into CBN. CBN is not nearly as psychoactive as THC, but it is extremely helpful for falling asleep and staying asleep deeply. However, it’s hard to make (thus it’s expensive).
CBD, at high doses, is great at reducing inflammation and anxiety, but it does not put most people into a deep sleep. It can be helpful for reducing the mind chatter, but if it’s sleep you are after, THC and CBN are clinically proven to be the most effective combination.
MCT is known to spike cholesterol levels, whereas sunflower oil does not. Raw (unheated) sunflower oil is one of the healthiest oils you can put into your body, aiding skin and heart health. It also contains Omega 6, which lowers levels of “bad” cholesterol.
We import our Manuka and Kanuka directly from a remote bee farm in gorgeous rural New Zealand because both are clinically proven to be some of the world’s most healing honeys. Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant, Kanuka and Manuka honey are known for their powerful healing properties. (And the honey comes from a bee farm of a friend of our Kiwi co-founder, so we know exactly how it is harvested and processed).
The cannabis distillate in our honey comes from Northern California, where it is sun-grown using organic practices.
Yes! Xylitol, the base ingredient of our mints, is sugar-free and actually improves dental health. Xylitol inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause cavities. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that causes cavities, cannot use xylitol to grow. With frequent Xylitol use, the quality of the bacteria in the mouth changes and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive. We derive ours from birch trees and use it as a natural sweetener.
Functional ingredients provide added health and wellness benefits in addition to the benefits of cannabis. Our functional mint ingredients include vitamins B6 and B12, L-theanine, vitamin D, and organic moringa. These ingredients promote bone, cell and immunity health, relaxation, and a calm mind.
If you’ve taken melatonin before and felt like you have a hangover the next morning, or are groggy, you are likely taking too much. Many people take between 3-5mg, which is way too much and actually can signal your own brain to stop producing its own melatonin. 1mg of melatonin is all you need. So even if you think melatonin is not for you, try it again in Kikoko: it could just be that you’ve got the dose wrong.
CBN is superior to CBD for deep sleep as it is highly sedating. CBD is an anxiolytic, meaning it helps stop anxiety and calm the mind and body. However, a few people find CBD actually activates their brain. That’s why you really need to try different ratios of Kikoko to find the one that works for you.
So does CBN help with sleep? CBN is the cannabinoid that makes most people drowsy. It works for about 85% of people, but the other 15% may experience some mental activation at higher doses of CBN. That’s fun, but not great for sleep, so if it happens to you, we suggest that you try one of our CBD products. For the folks that don’t react well to CBN, we notice that CBD at higher doses (try Sympa-Tea or Calm HoneyShot) works well to help them fall asleep.
It’s rare, but some people are allergic to cannabis. We suggest you see an allergist if you feel you might be.
Please read all herbal ingredients carefully before consuming our cannabis teas. Rest assured, however, that our machinery is dedicated only to our teas, and no contaminants from other foods — including nuts, soy, wheat, dairy, eggs, peanut, sesame, shellfish products, fish products, saccharomyces, or insect protein—are present.
Our non-herbal ingredients include organically grown cannabis oil, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and organic evaporated sugar cane juice.
PLEASE NOTE: Although we have diligent, food-grade quality control in our production facility and we have no allergens near our machinery, we cannot be held responsible for allergens that may slip into the herbs at point of origin. The herbs are steamed to de-contaminate, but please take note of this caveat.
The first effects of the cannabis/weed tea are usually felt
within 30 to 90 minutes.
Although, it can take longer to reach maximum onset. Wait at least two hours before drinking a second cup. The most common rookie mistake made with weed tea is similar to edibles. People assume they aren’t working and dose more, but haven’t given them enough time to take effect. So just be patient with it. Some people do ask does weed tea work and does weed tea get you high? Yes, it works. Keep in mind that with some of our cannabis teas (Tranquili-tea and Sympa-tea) you may feel no “high” effect at all, or you may just experience a sense of relaxation.
We suggest you use one cannabis-infused tea bag on your first try. Then, if you find you can tolerate more, go for two. As they say in the cannabis world, start low and go slow.
No. There will be very little to no cannabis “active” (the compounds that trigger medicinal and psychoactive effects) remaining after the first use.
Our teas contain from 3mg to 10mg of THC, which is the psychoactive part of the cannabis plant. In short, none will knock you on your ass. Always start low and build from there. If you are apprehensive of how you might react to cannabis, we suggest you try our FOCUS or CALM Little Helper mints in addition to the teas. FOCUS mints only have 1mg THC + 3mg CBD and CALM only have 2.5 THC + 5mg CBD.
Kikoko’s cannabis-infused teas include many non-psychoactive cannabinoids (the chemical compounds in the plant that affect our physiology), all of which are precisely dosed. There are over 120 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant but only one gets you high: THC. That’s the one you need to watch out for. Other chemical compounds found in the plant — THCA, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. — are not psychoactive and will not get you high. Many, however, are helpful in managing pain, insomnia, anxiety and an array of other conditions (see Proof for more information), which is why we include many of them in our teas.
Yes, you can save a portion of the brewed tea and put it in the refrigerator. We suggest you drink the remainder within one week. Our teas are so wonderful (yes, we think so) because they are fully homogenized, meaning the cannabis is suspended throughout the liquid and will not rise to the surface in a nasty oil slick.
Yes, you may find that with frequent use you are able to tolerate THC at higher doses. Click here for the science behind increased cannabis tolerance levels, including how long it takes it to return to lower levels.
Many of our herbal ingredients are grown domestically. We buy imported herbs only when that country grows the best. All are certified organic.
Cannabis contains at least 120 known cannabinoids, plus flavonoids and terpenes (the essential oils that offer amazing medicinal properties of their own). Research shows that these elements offer greater therapeutic impact when they work in concert than when they’re isolated and employed individually, which is why we include a small amount of THC in Sympa-tea, which is our highest CBD tea. (See Proof for more on cannabinoids and the entourage effect.)
Eating does affect the cannabis tea experience for some people, and it’s possible you will feel the effects more quickly and noticeably when taken on an empty stomach. All evidence points towards the fact that when you eat, you are stimulating your digestive system and causing blood to flow towards your stomach in order to facilitate absorption of nutrients from food. This causes a shift in the blood circulation away from the brain and towards the stomach. Net biophysical effect is less THC-enriched blood going to the brain, which may cause a slight dampening of the “high” sensation. It may also take a little longer for the effect to be felt.
Our cannabis-infused teas are free of mold, pesticides and other toxins, all of which are prevalent in many cannabis teas and other products. See What Makes Our Cannabis Teas Different for more information.
All of the herbs in our teas are 100% organic certified. Our cannabis is organically grown (but not certified as there is no such thing).
The high from cannabis edibles and cannabis-infused products tends to be stronger and last longer than from smoking. As a result, overindulging on cannabis edibles can be uncomfortable and lead to what we call “Riding the Crazy Train.” Yep, we stepped aboard that locomotive more than once during our past two years of research, and let’s just say that the view out the window was blurred. We definitely don’t want you going there.
Cannabis consumables can take up to two hours to kick in fully. Don’t make the mistake of thinking after 30 or 40 minutes that nothing is happening, and drinking or eating more. WAIT. Too many people make this mistake and have a bad experience.
Here is the gist of a white paper Amanda wrote on the subject for her teenage daughters (Jen wasn’t kidding when she said Amanda is a nerd): If someone offers you a homemade brownie, cookie, candy — anything — and there is no label on the package indicating how strong it is, that probably means no one knows and it is likely very strong. Eat either none at all or just a TINY corner. Emphasis on tiny, or you could easily end up riding the Crazy Train for an hour or two.
If you are offered a cannabis edible that is medicinally packaged and lists a dosage, here is a guide: start with 5mg of THC, which is half the legal dose in most legal cannabis states. Just 5mg is plenty to get most people sanely buzzed. Keep in mind that 10mg is the maximum legal dose in legal states, although it’s not uncommon to find cannabis chocolate bars that offer 1,000mg of THC. Those are meant for ill patients — people really in need of cannabis medicine for pain or cancer or some other disease — and who are highly habituated. We recommend taking 5mg or less to begin. Remember, 10mg can be a lot (of fun) unless you are used to cannabis. Start low and go slow. Wait TWO HOURS for full effect. Cannabis takes much longer to kick in when ingested as it goes through the liver before entering the bloodstream.
Both of us have traveled quite a bit, and have learned about the native remedies used in some far-flung places. What has become all too clear to us is how we’ve lost focus in our own culture about the healing properties of plants, including cannabis.
As noted in the previous answer, some people are more sensitive to THC, while others are less so. You may just have a high tolerance when it comes to cannabis. There is nothing good or bad about this, it’s just your brain chemistry. So — as always — start low and go slow. Once you’ve established your tolerance to THC, you can dose accordingly. But if you’re trying our cannabis tea for the first time, wait two hours before having a second cup.
We start our process with crude oil, which means the oil is not as refined as in most edibles and beverages. We do this because we are believers in the entourage effect, meaning that the phytochemicals in the plant work together to create a healthful effect. We use crude because the oil has more of the beneficial terpenes, flavanoids and other cannabinoids remaining in it. However, our focus is not on individual “strains.” Why? Because when you extract the oil from the plant, the cannabis has lost much of its strain identity.
In terms of ratio, we refine the plant material so that it is high in the specific cannabinoids we are looking for. For example, for our Sympa-tea, we start with cannabis oil that has been extracted from a cannabis strain that is high in CBD, which studies show alleviates inflammation and reduce anxiety, pain.
Our cannabis is grown in Mendocino, Calif., in what’s called the “Emerald Triangle.” All cannabis plants are sun-grown using organic farming methods and, whenever possible, purchased from women growers.
No. Steeping our tea longer than two minutes only increases flavor, not the THC potency. You can keep the tea bag in the cup as long as you like. However, with Positivi-Tea we suggest you do not steep for longer than 5 minutes as the green tea may become bitter.
Many people do. We aren’t physicians, however, so we’re not allowed to advise you medically. Please check with your doctor.
No. That is really, really a dumb idea. DO NOT DRIVE under the influence of anything that contains THC. It is just as dangerous as if you have been drinking. Plus, you’ll give us all a bad name.
First of all, we specifically made these cannabis teas so you won’t get too high. Being too high is not a pleasant experience and can result in paranoia, anxiety, a dry mouth, sweating and a racing heartbeat. It can also lead to a perception that you are unwell or a sense of anxiety. YOU ARE FINE. This feeling will go away and you are not in any danger.
- You may have a dry mouth, also known as “cotton mouth.” This is normal. Drink water. Forget about it and go play instead.
- If you feel anxiety, relax and distract yourself. Go to sleep.
- Watch a movie. Get outdoors. Just keep yourself occupied and try not to focus on any insecurity. There is no reason to be anxious or insecure. Sleeping is generally the best remedy for being too high. Laughing is the second best, so put on a funny movie. Better yet, invite your most amusing friends over to begin with.
- If you have any CBD products on hand, use them. It is reported that CBD can help bring people down.
- Do not mix cannabis and alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol actually intensifies the effect of THC.
- A high normally lasts around 3 to 5 hours, but the “too high” part generally only lasts about an hour before your body starts to break down the THC and you begin coming down.
- You may feel a sense of paranoia — as if everything you say sounds really stupid, or that you are not a good person. Again, relax. This is a result of too much THC and the feeling will quickly subside. You are not an idiot. You are a good person.
- Tell someone who is more familiar with cannabis that you are uncomfortable, and ask for help if you are feeling very anxious.
Personally, we’ve never had one, but we’ve heard of people who do too high a dose and say they feel “groggy” or “underwater” the next day. (We can proudly say this has not yet happened on Kikoko products). In any case, clinical studies show that a hangover from weed is a real thing. Another reason to stick to low, reliable doses.
So does CBN help with sleep? CBN is the cannabinoid that makes most people drowsy. It works for about 85% of people, but the other 15% may experience some mental activation at higher doses of CBN. That’s fun, but not great for sleep, so if it happens to you, we suggest that you try one of our CBD products. For the folks that don’t react well to CBN, we notice that CBD at higher doses (try Sympa-Tea or Calm HoneyShot) works well to help them fall asleep.
Both are from the cannabis plant, just different families of cannabis. For lack of a better word, marijuana is cannabis with higher levels of psychoactivity coming from THC and the other cannabinoids. Hemp has very low doses of THC and mainly just CBD. While there is science proving that marijuana has medicinal properties, there has not been much research yet around the efficacy of hemp-derived CBD.
It’s rare, but some people are allergic to cannabis. We suggest you see an allergist if you feel you might be.
Please read all herbal ingredients carefully before consuming our cannabis teas. Rest assured, however, that our machinery is dedicated only to our teas, and no contaminants from other foods — including nuts, soy, wheat, dairy, eggs, peanut, sesame, shellfish products, fish products, saccharomyces, or insect protein—are present.
Our non-herbal ingredients include organically grown cannabis oil, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and organic evaporated sugar cane juice.
PLEASE NOTE: Although we have diligent, food-grade quality control in our production facility and we have no allergens near our machinery, we cannot be held responsible for allergens that may slip into the herbs at point of origin. The herbs are steamed to de-contaminate, but please take note of this caveat.
We are painfully aware of how troubling the Prop 65 warning is. We are forced to include this warning label in order to comply with Prop 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, a CA rule. Under Prop 65, all businesses (not just cannabis-related) are required to select from a list of chemicals and include the warning language you see on your Kikoko package. We go to enormous lengths to ensure that our products are organic and contain no contaminants. We chose Beta-myrcene as it is a naturally occurring terpene in cannabis. Beta-myrcene is a terpene (phytochemical) that occurs naturally in plants such as hops, mangoes and cannabis and is harmless.
The studies on Beta-myrcene have been conducted on mice, and there are differing opinions on whether or not it is a carcinogen at excessively high doses (our teas may contain healthy trace amounts of the phytochemical, which are actually anti-inflammatory). However, it is rather ironic to note that the government itself has released a paper stating that beta-myrcene should not be listed on Prop 65 and is not dangerous.
The main purpose of Prop 65 is to enable you to make educated decisions around exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. An important note about Prop 65 is that it errs on the side of caution and applies to many substances we all consume regularly (for example, coffee).
Although we utilize all certified organic non-cannabis ingredients and pesticide-free cannabis (grown organically), we are forced to include that warning. You can read more Beta-myrcene here.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@kikoko.com with any further questions! Prop 65 is one of the more confusing regulations, so we’re happy to help navigate if you’d like more detail.
Our teas contain from 3mg to 10mg of THC, which is the psychoactive part of the cannabis plant. In short, none will knock you on your ass. Always start low and build from there. If you are apprehensive of how you might react to cannabis, we suggest you try our FOCUS or CALM Little Helper mints in addition to the teas. FOCUS mints only have 1mg THC + 3mg CBD and CALM only have 2.5 THC + 5mg CBD.
Kikoko’s cannabis-infused teas include many non-psychoactive cannabinoids (the chemical compounds in the plant that affect our physiology), all of which are precisely dosed. There are over 120 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant but only one gets you high: THC. That’s the one you need to watch out for. Other chemical compounds found in the plant — THCA, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc. — are not psychoactive and will not get you high. Many, however, are helpful in managing pain, insomnia, anxiety and an array of other conditions (see Proof for more information), which is why we include many of them in our teas.
Without boring you with too much science, (we actually find the research fascinating; if you’re interested, see Proof) the human body has its own endocannabinoid system. Located in the brain and throughout the central and peripheral nervous system, the endocannabinoid system affects a variety of physiological processes including mood, sleep, memory, pain sensation, inflammation and appetite. But, because each person’s endocannabinoid system is unique — kind of like a fingerprint — everyone responds to cannabis differently.
The brain makes its own cannabis-like neurotransmitter called anandamide (stemming from the Sanskrit word for bliss), which causes us to experience pleasure, triggers motivation and regulates appetite. This neurotransmitter is mediated by the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain, which are the same receptors that respond to cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. See our Proof page for more information.
Yes, you may find that with frequent use you are able to tolerate THC at higher doses. Click here for the science behind increased cannabis tolerance levels, including how long it takes it to return to lower levels.
Cannabis contains at least 120 known cannabinoids, plus flavonoids and terpenes (the essential oils that offer amazing medicinal properties of their own). Research shows that these elements offer greater therapeutic impact when they work in concert than when they’re isolated and employed individually, which is why we include a small amount of THC in Sympa-tea, which is our highest CBD tea. (See Proof for more on cannabinoids and the entourage effect.)
The high from cannabis edibles and cannabis-infused products tends to be stronger and last longer than from smoking. As a result, overindulging on cannabis edibles can be uncomfortable and lead to what we call “Riding the Crazy Train.” Yep, we stepped aboard that locomotive more than once during our past two years of research, and let’s just say that the view out the window was blurred. We definitely don’t want you going there.
Cannabis consumables can take up to two hours to kick in fully. Don’t make the mistake of thinking after 30 or 40 minutes that nothing is happening, and drinking or eating more. WAIT. Too many people make this mistake and have a bad experience.
Here is the gist of a white paper Amanda wrote on the subject for her teenage daughters (Jen wasn’t kidding when she said Amanda is a nerd): If someone offers you a homemade brownie, cookie, candy — anything — and there is no label on the package indicating how strong it is, that probably means no one knows and it is likely very strong. Eat either none at all or just a TINY corner. Emphasis on tiny, or you could easily end up riding the Crazy Train for an hour or two.
If you are offered a cannabis edible that is medicinally packaged and lists a dosage, here is a guide: start with 5mg of THC, which is half the legal dose in most legal cannabis states. Just 5mg is plenty to get most people sanely buzzed. Keep in mind that 10mg is the maximum legal dose in legal states, although it’s not uncommon to find cannabis chocolate bars that offer 1,000mg of THC. Those are meant for ill patients — people really in need of cannabis medicine for pain or cancer or some other disease — and who are highly habituated. We recommend taking 5mg or less to begin. Remember, 10mg can be a lot (of fun) unless you are used to cannabis. Start low and go slow. Wait TWO HOURS for full effect. Cannabis takes much longer to kick in when ingested as it goes through the liver before entering the bloodstream.
As noted in the previous answer, some people are more sensitive to THC, while others are less so. You may just have a high tolerance when it comes to cannabis. There is nothing good or bad about this, it’s just your brain chemistry. So — as always — start low and go slow. Once you’ve established your tolerance to THC, you can dose accordingly. But if you’re trying our cannabis tea for the first time, wait two hours before having a second cup.
We start our process with crude oil, which means the oil is not as refined as in most edibles and beverages. We do this because we are believers in the entourage effect, meaning that the phytochemicals in the plant work together to create a healthful effect. We use crude because the oil has more of the beneficial terpenes, flavanoids and other cannabinoids remaining in it. However, our focus is not on individual “strains.” Why? Because when you extract the oil from the plant, the cannabis has lost much of its strain identity.
In terms of ratio, we refine the plant material so that it is high in the specific cannabinoids we are looking for. For example, for our Sympa-tea, we start with cannabis oil that has been extracted from a cannabis strain that is high in CBD, which studies show alleviates inflammation and reduce anxiety, pain.
Terpenes is the hot word in the cannabis industry, and for good reason. There’s much behind the science (Leafly offers a good introduction), but here’s our version of the idiot’s guide: Terpenes are organic compounds found in certain plants, and are usually present in their essential oils. In addition to providing many plants with their distinctive scents, they offer medicinal properties of their own. For example, when you smell lavender, you are picking up on the terpene linalool, one of the compounds that stimulate nerves in the nose, which in turn send impulses to the brain that trigger relaxation. Terpenes also appear to work synergistically with cannabinoids.
But here’s the problem: Most cannabis edibles do not retain many terpenes; nearly all are burned off in the process of refining the cannabis into oil. However, with all our products other than honey, we start with crude oil, which contains more terpenes and flananoids that refined oil. With our teas, however, you are also getting terpenes from the herbal tea ingredients, which are loaded with them.
We ran laboratory terpene tests on our herbal tea ingredients and confirmed that the following terpenes are among those present. Also noted are their researched benefits.
- Limonene — elevates mood
- Myrcene — promotes relaxation and sleep
- Caryophyllene — relieves pain, slows bacterial growth, relieves symptoms of depression, reduces systemic inflammation, inhibits cancer cell growth, prevents oxidation damage to other molecules in the body, helps relieve anxiety, and slows damage to the nervous system and brain
- Beta-Caryophyllene — reduces anxiety and depression
- Alpha-Humulene — anti-inflammatory properties
- Carvone — decongestant, diuretic, antiviral and tonic properties; may also have an anti-tumor effect
- Eucalyptol — relieves pain, reduces inflammation, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, inhibits cancer cell growth
- Linalool — promotes sleep, relieves anxiety, reduces inflammation, anti-epileptic properties
- Terapinyl Acetate — antispasmodic and sedative properties
- Alpha-Pinene — reduces inflammation, bronchodilator, antibiotic and anti-cancer properties, increases alertness
- Levomenthol — reduces pain and swelling of respiratory tract mucous membranes, relieves cough, alleviates bronchitis and other respiratory infections, anti-asthmatic properties
- Beta-Bisabolene — anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties
- Aromandendrene — anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties
- Trans-Cinnamaldehyde — reduces respiratory ailments and digestive disorders, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
- Anethole — antiviral, antibacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-fungal properties
- aR-Turmeron — stimulates regeneration of brain cells; anti-epileptic properties
- Alpha-Curcumene — anti-inflammatory properties
Many people do. We aren’t physicians, however, so we’re not allowed to advise you medically. Please check with your doctor.
No one has ever overdosed or died as a physiological result of ingesting too much cannabis. No one. Ever. (See our Proof page for more details.) This is not true of alcohol (88,000 reported deaths in 2014), prescription medications (27,000 deaths in 2014), cocaine (5,500 deaths in 2014) or heroin (10,500 deaths in 2014). These drugs kill people all the time, and there are 21.5 million Americans currently living with a substance use disorder involving alcohol, prescription medications or street drugs.
Alcohol, opioids and antidepressants can slow the central nervous system, including breathing and heart rate. While the pathways, or receptors, for these drugs are located in the part of the brain (the brainstem) that controls breathing, cannabis acts on different receptors in the brain and body, none of which control breath, so you never have to worry about falling asleep and not waking up. That doesn’t mean a few people don’t do stupid things while high and end up dead; it just means that getting really high on cannabis isn’t medically dangerous. Normally, you’ll just sleep it off.
No. That is really, really a dumb idea. DO NOT DRIVE under the influence of anything that contains THC. It is just as dangerous as if you have been drinking. Plus, you’ll give us all a bad name.
First of all, we specifically made these cannabis teas so you won’t get too high. Being too high is not a pleasant experience and can result in paranoia, anxiety, a dry mouth, sweating and a racing heartbeat. It can also lead to a perception that you are unwell or a sense of anxiety. YOU ARE FINE. This feeling will go away and you are not in any danger.
- You may have a dry mouth, also known as “cotton mouth.” This is normal. Drink water. Forget about it and go play instead.
- If you feel anxiety, relax and distract yourself. Go to sleep.
- Watch a movie. Get outdoors. Just keep yourself occupied and try not to focus on any insecurity. There is no reason to be anxious or insecure. Sleeping is generally the best remedy for being too high. Laughing is the second best, so put on a funny movie. Better yet, invite your most amusing friends over to begin with.
- If you have any CBD products on hand, use them. It is reported that CBD can help bring people down.
- Do not mix cannabis and alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol actually intensifies the effect of THC.
- A high normally lasts around 3 to 5 hours, but the “too high” part generally only lasts about an hour before your body starts to break down the THC and you begin coming down.
- You may feel a sense of paranoia — as if everything you say sounds really stupid, or that you are not a good person. Again, relax. This is a result of too much THC and the feeling will quickly subside. You are not an idiot. You are a good person.
- Tell someone who is more familiar with cannabis that you are uncomfortable, and ask for help if you are feeling very anxious.
Personally, we’ve never had one, but we’ve heard of people who do too high a dose and say they feel “groggy” or “underwater” the next day. (We can proudly say this has not yet happened on Kikoko products). In any case, clinical studies show that a hangover from weed is a real thing. Another reason to stick to low, reliable doses.
Not until 1937, and the circumstances around it becoming illegal smack of big-industry lobbying.
Alcohol was illegal in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933 during Prohibition, at which time you can bet your bottom dollar people turned to cannabis, which was fully legal and had been used both medicinally and recreationally worldwide for millennia. Once alcohol prohibition was lifted, lo and behold, for the first time in America’s history, a variety of industries (tobacco, alcohol, cotton, petrochemical) came together to lobby hard to outlaw both marijuana and hemp. And in 1937, after four years of extensive lobbying, they succeeded; cannabis in all forms, industrial and otherwise, was made illegal (see our Timeline for more information.)
Yes. Because our tea bags are made from 100% renewably sourced plant material, cannabis tea bags are compostable and non-reusable. It’ll take about six months for them to decompose entirely, but they’ll get there.
Yes. Our cans are made of recycled steel, which means they can (again) be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any integrity.
We realized that a lot of people don’t want to get over-the-top high. Or maybe they don’t want to get high at all. They might just want to relax. Or possibly they’re looking for a healthy, low-dose cannabis alternative to often-toxic drugs, including alcohol and pharmaceuticals.
In addition to all the uncertainty cannabis users face around dosage ambiguity, the industry trend in recent years has been to jack up the THC content of cannabis as high as possible. The average potency of cannabis today is 4x stronger than just 10 years ago. And while it may be the case that some people need higher doses to compensate for increased tolerance, soaring potency is crazy overkill for most of us. We’re working to bring THC back into the realm of sane for the unhabituated.
The cannabis for our tea is organically outdoor-grown in the Emerald Triangle. We then create the dried ingredient in our own lab. Our manufacturing facility is in Emeryville, Calif.
Yes. Because our tea bags are made from 100% renewably sourced plant material, cannabis tea bags are compostable and non-reusable. It’ll take about six months for them to decompose entirely, but they’ll get there.
Yes. Our cans are made of recycled steel, which means they can (again) be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any integrity.
We set out to make healthy, sensibly dosed cannabis-infused tea products for women after watching a friend with ovarian cancer struggle with medicinal cannabis. Every form of medical marijuana Jan tried in her search to ease pain, reduce nausea or get a good night’s sleep got her too high. Dealing with cancer is horrendous enough; to find yourself riding the cannabis Crazy Train when all you’re looking for is relief struck us as a wrong.
Both of us have traveled quite a bit, and have learned about the native remedies used in some far-flung places. What has become all too clear to us is how we’ve lost focus in our own culture about the healing properties of plants, including cannabis.
Nothing. Other than being a tiny town in Kenya (which we discovered while applying for a trademark), Kikoko is a word that we came up with by combining two words: koko, which is a Samoan cocoa drink, and ki, a Hawaiian syllable. When our lawyers demanded we stop waffling about a name, Amanda happened to be in Samoa and Jen in Hawaii. So, voilà! We’ve decided Kikoko means “mighty mojo,” but feel free to assign any meaning you like.
That’s a highly guarded secret, but let’s just say that unlike some other brands, we don’t spray cannabis oil on tea leaves and we don’t grind up weed and stick it in a tea bag.
Still have questions?
hello@kikoko.com
