Bhang plant: tradition, effect and current use

What exactly is bhang - a sacred potion, a cultural relic or simply a cannabis lassi? The answer lies somewhere in between. In India, bhang has a tradition dating back thousands of years, is blessed in temples, distributed at festivals and sold legally - while cannabis remains illegal elsewhere. In this blog, we take you on a journey through the history, effects, preparation and meaning of a very special drink that is more than just a green high.

What is bhang? - More than just a drink

Bhang is... well, kind of everything at once. A drink, a ritual, a piece of history - and a natural part of life for many people in India. It consists of a mixture of cannabis leaves and flowers, which are blended with milk, spices and sometimes nuts or rose water to create a kind of green smoothie. Sounds wild? It is - but in a very unique, spicy and warm way.

What makes Bhang really special, however, is not just what is in it, but what it stands for. It's not a party drink, not a recreational kick. Bhang is deeply interwoven with spirituality, tradition and cultural identity - especially in North India. If you are out and about here at Holi time, you will quickly see that bhang is as much a part of it as the colours, music and exuberant laughter on the streets. 🌸

And yet bhang is not an exotic phenomenon from times gone by. It lives on - not hidden, but visible, legal and socially accepted. Available in licensed shops, blessed in temples, distributed at festivals. It is this mix of ancient culture and contemporary everyday life that makes bhang so fascinating.

You could say: Bhang is like India itself - complex, surprising, full of flavour and with a history that you can't just wash down. It has to be discovered slowly.

A brief history of Bhang: from the god Shiva to the festival street

When talking about Bhang, there's one name you can't avoid: Shiva. The Indian god of destruction - or rather: of transformation. Sounds threatening at first, but in Hinduism he is one of the most popular and powerful gods of all. And he is said to have discovered Bhang. Legend has it that Shiva wandered through the world one day, exhausted, and lay down under a shady hemp bush - where he chewed a few leaves to recharge his batteries. Was it really like that? Who knows. But many in India believe in it - and that is precisely what gives Bhang his spiritual depth. 🔱

For centuries, bhang was part of religious ceremonies and was used by sadhus (holy men) to achieve meditative states. It was never about "getting high" in the Western sense - but about connection. With yourself, with the divine, with the world.

Bhang still plays a central role today, especially during the Holi festival, the festival of colours. In some regions, it is prepared and distributed in large quantities - as a sign of joy, equality and the crossing of social boundaries. For a few days, class differences, rules and worries disappear. There is dancing, singing, celebrating - and yes, even drinking bhang. 🎉

This deep cultural rootedness makes bhang something completely different from what many people understand by "cannabis consumption". It is not detached from context or meaning. It is embedded in a millennia-old system of symbols, beliefs and community.

And perhaps that is the most beautiful thing about it: bhang is not just a drink. It is an invitation to see the world through different eyes - at least for a moment.

The effects of bhang: gentle, psychoactive and often underestimated

Bhang does not work like a joint. Full stop. If you think a few sips of the green concoction are harmless because it's "just a drink", you could be in for a pretty intense surprise - especially if you're not used to it.

This is because Bhang is eaten or drunk - and not smoked. The body processes THC much more slowly via the digestive tract, but often much more intensively. The effect is delayed (sometimes only after an hour or more), but then lasts longer - and, depending on the dosage, can be quite profound.

Typical examples are:

• A feeling of relaxation that slowly spreads through the body

• Slightly altered perception, for example colours or sounds become more intense

• Slowed sense of time - suddenly everything takes forever or just a moment

• Euphoria or a slight feeling of floating

• Occasionally also dizziness, nausea or restlessness, especially if the dose is too high

What surprises many: Bhang is not automatically "light" just because it is part of religious festivals. On the contrary: some mixtures, especially the traditionally prepared ones, are quite a challenge. That's why: if you're trying it for the first time, you should approach it like a strong Indian curry - with respect and small sips. 🌿

The environment also plays a huge role. In a festive, safe context with music, dance and people you trust, bhang can be an intense, almost ceremonial experience. In unfamiliar surroundings or without preparation, on the other hand, it can quickly become too much.

In short: Bhang is not a drug that you can "just take". It's more like a window that opens - slowly, deeply and unpredictably. Anyone who takes it should be aware of this: It's not just about the quantity. But also the moment.

Preparation and consumption: how the green gold is made

There is something meditative about making bhang. It's not something you simply stir together "quickly" like instant coffee. No, it's more like a ritual - with a lot of manual labour, patience and feeling. The way it's been done for centuries.

Traditionally, it all starts with the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, which are ground together with water or milk in a heavy stone mortar. That takes time. And during this process, these typical, deep green fibres are created, which later form the heart of the bhang drink. Some say that the grinding alone releases a certain "spirit" - and you can really feel that something is happening.

What happens next depends heavily on the region, occasion and personal taste. A classic recipe often contains:

• Milk or yoghurt as a base (important for binding the fat of the active ingredients)

• Spices such as cardamom, black pepper or cinnamon

• Nuts and seeds, for example poppy seeds, almonds or pistachios

• Rose water or sugar, for a subtle sweetness

• and of course the green paste made from hemp

Everything is stirred together, sometimes filtered - and then served as "Bhang Lassi", chilled or lukewarm. Depending on the recipe, the result can be mild and creamy or quite flavoursome. And yes, the first sip is often unfamiliar. But also somehow... earthy and honest. 🌱

In many modern variations - especially in more touristic areas - bhang is now also served as a sweet, for example as a small ball (bhang gola) or mixed with chocolate or honey. The idea is to make it a little easier to access without completely losing its traditional flavour.

And then of course there are the state-licensed bhang shops - for example in Varanasi - where you can legally order different flavours: "Strong", "Medium", "Light". What are the differences? Well... you usually only realise after half an hour 😉

But one thing is always important: The preparation is part of the experience It is the moment when spirituality and substance come together - and a few leaves suddenly become a cultural asset.

Bhang in today's India: between temple ritual and tourist curiosity

Imagine you are walking through the old city centre of Varanasi. Between rickshaws, incense sticks and herds of cows, you discover an inconspicuous shop with a wooden sign: "Government Authorised Bhang Shop". Inside sits an elderly man with an alert gaze, a pile of crumpled rupees - and a mortar. Welcome to the presence of Bhang.

What seems so ordinary at this moment is actually quite special. After all, bhang is a kind of exception in India's drug laws: cannabis itself is illegal in most forms - but bhang, the drink made from the leaves, is officially permitted in some states.

The reality is as follows:

• Bhang is legal in many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh.

• In cities such as Varanasi or Mathura, there are state-licensed bhang shops - sometimes right next to a temple.

• Cannabis flowers and resin, on the other hand, remain prohibited. Possession or trafficking can be severely penalised.

This legal balancing act shows: India is trying to balance between tradition and international drug law. On the one hand, there is the cultural and religious value of bhang - on the other, there is the political pressure not to legalise cannabis completely.

And in the middle of it all are the people who live with this reality. For many believers, bhang is part of their spiritual practice - not an intoxicant. For some politicians, it is a borderline case. For tourists: a legal adventure.

What can we learn from this? In India, many things work not according to Western logic, but according to cultural context. And that also applies to laws.

Conclusion: Why bhang is more than just a cannabis drink

If you are travelling to India and are only looking for curry, yoga and the Taj Mahal, it is easy to overlook how deeply spirituality and everyday life are interwoven. Bhang is a pretty good example of this: at first glance, it seems like an exotic drink with a special kick - but if you look deeper, it is so much more.

It is a piece of lived history that has survived the journey from myth to the modern day. A means of self-awareness that was not born out of escapism, but out of connection. And it is a reminder that not every intoxication has to be an excess - sometimes it is also a ritual, a prayer, a moment of pause.

Of course, bhang is not a harmless toy. Anyone who consumes it should know what they are getting into - physically, mentally and culturally. It deserves respect, not mere curiosity. Because those who understand Bhang also understand a little more about India. Of the way in which spirituality does not stop at the temple, but pulsates in the centre of life.

Perhaps that's the best thing about it: that a drink, however unassuming and green it may look, can build a bridge - between past and present, East and West, body and soul.

And yes, Bhang may not be for everyone. But those who encounter him - with an open heart, an alert mind and a pinch of humility - experience more than just an effect. They experience a different way of tasting the world.