Bhang Lassi: The Indian Drink That May Be the World’s Oldest Cannabis Treat
- OG Razor
- May 22, 2023
- 2 min read
"Ask any Indian if they have ever heard of bhang lassi, and chances are you will get a reference to two famous Bollywood movies that brought bhang into the limelight—Aap Ki Kasam (1974) and Silsila (1981). Both these blockbuster Indian films showcased bhang lassi (a cannabis-flavored yogurt drink) as a trippy concoction that people drank to get “high.” While there is some truth in that, it has a lot more cultural significance in India than just a way to get blitzed.
Lassi is a traditional drink that is typically found in many South Asian countries. It is made by blending yogurt, spices, water, and sometimes fruits. It can be either sweet or savory. When cannabis is infused into this drink, it becomes a bhang lassi which is creamy, sweet, and slightly spicy.
Bhang is an edible mixture that is made from the leaves, buds, and flowers of the marijuana plant, which many claim has been used medicinally as early as 2800 BC.In India, it has been added to food and drink for thousands of years and is still prominently consumed during many religious rituals, prayer ceremonies, and festivals."
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"The cannabis plant is often found growing in the wild in India, especially in the mountains and hills around the northern states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. But, in many of the villages around the Indian Himalayas, it is seen more as a weed than an edible.
However, in Indian mythology and ancient Hindu scriptures, bhang is a sacred plant associated with the divine powers of Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and one of India’s most revered deities. It is believed that he used it to focus and harness his powers for the good of mankind, and bhang is often associated with nirvana (salvation).
While bhang lassi is a drink that can be had at any time, it is especially significant during certain Indian festivals—Holi, celebrated in March as an ode to Spring, and Maha Shivaratri in February, which honors Lord Shiva. Bhang lassi is consumed by many adults as a way to acknowledge the change of the seasons and get closer to the gods in a euphoric state of mind."
Karthika Gupta
Karthika Gupta is a lifestyle and travel photographer, freelance writer, and podcaster. She writes about culture, travel, lifestyle and food across several different print and online publications. Follow her adventures on her site CulturallyOurs or on Instagram at @karthikagupta
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