How To Make Kanna Tea? Steps To Follow At Home

Making Kanna tea is a straightforward process that only requires boiling water, tea powder or fresh leaves, along with a few other ingredients that you can easily prepare at home.

Kanna tea not only offers a delicious flavor but also contains numerous health benefits, from promoting relaxation to enhancing emotional support. In this article, we will explore the specific steps to brew this unique tea, allowing you to enjoy and experience the beautiful effects of Kanna easily.

What Is Kanna?

Kanna, scientifically known as Sceletium tortuosum, is a succulent plant native to South Africa. For centuries, indigenous people have valued Kanna for its calming and emotional support properties, helping to uplift spirits.

The benefits of Kanna come from its characteristic alkaloids, such as mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembranol, and mesembrenol, which affect the serotonin system in the brain to promote calmness and relaxation.

Unlike many other plants, all parts of Kanna—stems, leaves, and roots—are used, whether dried, fermented, or fresh. Kanna is processed into various forms to meet user preferences, including tea, to provide a nutritious beverage for mental health.

How To Make Kanna Tea?

Preparation

To brew a delicious and effective cup of Kanna tea, you need:

• Preparing Kanna for tea:
• Using home-grown Kanna: If you are brewing tea with Kanna grown at home, make sure to use only mature leaves, as younger leaves often do not contain enough active compounds and may taste bitter.
• Using dried Kanna: If using dried Kanna to brew tea, you need to grind it into a fine powder; the finer the powder, the better it will infuse in water. However, this method may be a bit challenging when filtering the next steps.
• Preparing tools:
• Teapot or large cup
• Filter
• Sweetener: Sugar, honey, stevia, etc.

Note: To accurately measure the amount of Kanna, it is advisable to use a high-precision scale. Start with a small dosage and gradually increase as you become accustomed to it for the best experience.

Instructions

Step 1: Boil Water

Start by boiling about 8 ounces (240ml) of clean water for each serving of tea. Avoid using pre-heated tap water, as it contains a lot of dissolved air, which can affect the tea's flavor.

• Using an electric kettle: Set the water temperature to 212°F (100°C).
• Using a stovetop: Heat the water until it is just simmering, but do not let it boil vigorously, aiming for around 200°F (93°C) - the ideal temperature for herbal tea brewing.

Step 2: Prepare Kanna Powder

If using Kanna as an ingredient, grind it into a fine powder for better infusion. You should choose about 1-2 grams of Kanna for each serving, depending on personal needs.

Tip: Choosing fermented Kanna will enhance the properties of the active compounds, making it suitable for an optimal experience.

Step 3: Steep Kanna
Place the Kanna in the teapot or cup and pour boiling water over all the ingredients. Steep for about 15-20 minutes to allow the nutrients and active compounds from the Kanna to be extracted into the water thoroughly.

Step 4: Strain Kanna Tea

Use a filter or cheesecloth to strain out the Kanna residue. Pour slowly to avoid splashing or burning yourself, and you can strain it again for a smoother tea.

Step 5: Adjust Flavor

If you prefer a sweeter and less bitter taste for your tea, consider adding sweeteners like sugar, honey, agave nectar (which has a mild flavor that doesn't overpower the unique taste of Kanna tea), stevia (a zero-calorie sweetener), or monk fruit extract.

Additionally, suppose you want your drink to have more unique flavor layers. In that case, you can experiment by adding a few slices of lemon or fresh mint leaves to the Kanna tea for an exciting twist.

Enjoy Kanna Tea

Take your time to sip and savor the gentle flavors and relaxing effects of the tea. A quiet environment will help you fully enjoy the calming benefits of Kanna.

Tasting Tip: Pair it with snacks like nuts or dried fruits to highlight the earthy flavor of Kanna tea, or try some natural sweeteners like honey or agave nectar to create the perfect harmony for your palate.

Enjoy responsibly: If this is your first time trying it, start with around 50-100mg of Kanna to gauge your experience and adjust the dosage accordingly.

Kanna Tea Benefits

When enjoyed in the right dosage and manner, Kanna tea can offer several notable benefits, such as:

Improving Emotional Support

The mesembrine component found in Kanna may influence serotonin in the brain, helping to stabilize emotional support. Although the FDA has not approved Kanna for therapeutic purposes, many people report feeling more relaxed after using it.

Enhancing Focus and Clarity

Some preliminary studies suggest that the alkaloids in Kanna may interact with cannabinoid receptors and inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine—a neurotransmitter essential for memory and learning [1]. This may explain why Kanna is often associated with cognitive flexibility and improved concentration.

Assisting in Discomfort Reduction

A study on Kanna extract in larvae showed that mesembrine might affect neural signalling related to discomfort [2]. Although more research into humans is needed to reach more precise conclusions, this finding aligns with Kanna's long history of use in alleviating minor difficulties in daily life.

Controlling Appetite

Some users claim that Kanna can help control appetite, making it an exciting choice in personal health regimens. While the evidence is still limited and may vary from person to person, this effect has garnered interest and requires further scientific research for validation.

Improving Sleep Quality

Some also use Kanna as a natural sleep aid. Although scientific data is limited, Kanna’s calming effect on the nervous system may contribute to better sleep quality. A warm cup of Kanna tea before bedtime can be a supplementary habit that enhances nighttime relaxation while creating a tranquil environment for sleep.

Dosing For Kanna Tea

Kanna is an herb that is not tightly regulated, so there are no fixed standards for its dosage. Many long-time users of Kanna have suggested various dosages based on personal experience and perception. Below are some recommended dosages for Kanna tea:

• Light Dose: 200mg (about 1/4 gram)
• Average Dose: 400mg (about 1/2 gram)
• Medium Dose: 800mg (about 1 gram)
• High Dose: 1g+ (over 1 gram)

Note: It is advisable to start with a low dose and gradually increase it to find what works best for your body.

While no severe cases related to Kanna use have been reported, excessive use may lead to side effects such as nausea, dizziness, or vomiting.

Other Herbs For Cognitive Function

In addition to Kanna, there are many other herbs used to enhance cognitive function, such as:

• Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): Originating from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, Kratom provides stimulating effects without caffeine. It contains several alkaloids, with the two primary ones being mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, which help users reduce pain.
• Kra Thum Khok (Mitragyna Hirsuta): A relative of Kratom, kra thum khok offers a milder effect and is non-addictive compared to Kratom. With its primary alkaloid being mitraphylline, it is suitable for those seeking gentler support.
• Akuamma (Picralima Nitida): Native to West Africa, the seeds of the Akuamma tree are often used in traditional medicine to reduce fever and discomfort. They can be found in extract capsules.
• Blue Lotus (Nymphaea Caerulea): This herb produces two alkaloids, aporphine and nuciferine, which improve mental health, providing feelings of calm and happiness.

Conclusion

Thus, making Kanna tea at home is not complicated and only requires a few essential ingredients. By following the guided steps, you can easily create a delicious cup of tea that offers relaxation and refreshment.

Experiment and adjust to your personal preferences to find the perfect recipe. Enjoy your beautiful experiences with Kanna tea!