Vermont food and beverage makers are concocting all kinds of creative ways to consume THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Unlike homemade pot brownies, these consumables are designed and tested to ensure each serving has the advertised level of THC — five milligrams, according to state regulations. How many you eat or drink is up to you — though, before you reach for another one, be sure to consider that edibles may take two hours or more to kick in.
We asked around for product recommendations, and several staffers with various levels of THC tolerance volunteered to sample them. Some items proved hard to find; High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider, for instance, was sold out everywhere except at the Lake Effect Vermont dispensary in South Hero. And we struck out entirely with Haute & Heady’s tantalizing Break & Get Baked Frozen Cookie Dough Balls, which are on the company’s website but not yet available for purchase.
The rest of these locally made products are sold in multiple Vermont dispensaries. Use this list as a jumping-off point for your own edible adventures!
High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider by Sunset Lake Cannabis
10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $8 per can at Lake Effect Vermont in South Hero
Sunset Lake Cannabis in South Hero partnered with an experienced fruit-producing neighbor — Hackett’s Orchard — to concoct its THC-infused sparkling cider.
The result of their collaboration is a lightly carbonated, cloudy amber beverage reminiscent of a hefeweizen. High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider has a pleasant mouth feel and well-balanced flavor, neither as dry as a Shacksbury Cider nor as sweet as a Woodchuck Hard Cider. Tasty and smooth, it also lacks the bite and aftertaste of its alcoholic brethren. And, unlike many edibles, it has no discernible cannabis odor or taste.
Generally, I’m not a fan of THC-only edibles, whose buzz can feel less complex than that of a hash rosin edible. But, consuming the can on a full stomach, I found that High Branch delivered a mellow high with a gradual onset. It’s an eminently drinkable adult beverage for those days on the porch when booze isn’t your thing.
Haute & Heady Maple Waffle Bliss Bar
100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $30 per bar at Garcia’s Cannabis Collective in Burlington
Haute & Heady Cannabis Cuisine makes a variety of chocolate bars called Bliss Bars, as well as THC-infused barbecue sauce, honey, maple syrup, nut butters and olive oil.
Since it’s maple season, I was enticed by the Maple Waffle Bliss Bar, which comes in triangular portions with waffle pieces and crumble on top. I found it tough to break off just one serving, so I tried two.
The flavor is predominantly dark chocolate, with a hint of cannabis in the background. The waffle pieces add a fun extra crunch. I did not detect any maple flavor.
My experience was a euphoric, cerebral one. I would recommend this for relaxing and unplugging.
Call of Peaks Plus Sparkling Green Tea
by Taunik
10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $10 per can at Bern Gallery Smoke Shop & Cannabis in Burlington
I told the budtender at Bern Gallery that I was skeptical about THC beverages because of my high tolerance for edibles. He said I might be surprised because they “go through your system faster.” I was curious. When I got home, I forwent my ritual toke and cocktail and tried this sparkling green tea, flavored with lime, peppermint, honey, hemp and hops.
I downed the smooth contents of the 12-ounce can in a few big gulps. No time to waste. It tasted like an unusual green tea, with hints of peppermint and hemp. I paced the house, fed my cat, brought in the trash cans and said hello to the neighbors. By the time I turned on all my lights, sat down at my desk and reconnected my computer, I felt less anxiety than usual.
I managed to tackle quite a bit of nagging, nonwork paperwork that I’d been putting off for weeks. Bills paid, people thanked. The BBC had a lighthearted piece on the radio. My cat was lying by the fire. After about an hour of that, I went into the kitchen and sang a couple songs on the guitar. It sounded good.
Not bad for a Monday night. Thanks, Taunik.
Mango Chili Heat Freaks by Gaston Weed
100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $28 per pack at the Gaston Weed store in Essex
These spicy gummies, which come in Mango Chili and Pineapple Habanero flavors, definitely pack a punch — though it’s not as intense as the one implied by the label’s image of a skull with its eyes popping out. The “heat” is more of a zing in the aftertaste, like that of a Red Hots candy.
I took a Mango Chili gummy before heading to a concert, and it was great for vibing to the music and meeting up with friends. I felt social and relaxed, though I did forget to put in my earplugs at the show. Effects will differ for every user, but most gummies I’ve taken have put me right to sleep, and these did not make me drowsy.
An added bonus: superior packaging. Other gummies I’ve bought have been secured in Mylar pouches, but Heat Freaks come in an Altoids-like metal tin that’s secure and easy to carry in a purse or pocket. I’ll probably reuse the tin for bobby pins and hair ties.
Nom Noms Mini Marshmallows by Inti’s Fire
100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $35 per pack at Garcia’s Cannabis Collective in Burlington
Bored with gummies and chocolate bars? Give these square-shaped THC marshmallows a try. I picked up a pack of 20 at Garcia’s on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. You can add them to beverages such as hot chocolate, but I found them absolutely delicious on their own.
They have a great soft, gooey texture. The flavor is very cannabis-forward, with the sweet, sugary marshmallow as a complement.
Inti’s Fire, a Vermont grower using regenerative practices, makes these treats in small batches using organic sugar and gelatin from grass-fed cows.
My experience was a very relaxing body high, as well as a calming cerebral effect. These marshmallows are a great stress reliever! I found them to be a mellow experience in all the best ways.
Good Guava! THC Seltzer by Upstate Elevator
10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $9 per can at Sweetspot in Essex Junction
Upstate Elevator’s THC-infused seltzers come in many flavors: Think Strawberry Tangerine, Blackberry Zinger and Orange Pop. I picked up a can of Good Guava! at Sweetspot cannabis dispensary in Essex Junction on my way home from work. I wasn’t alone — the dispensary was full of people at the end of the workday. Is this the new “going out with coworkers for a beer”? I wondered.
I drank the seltzer at home at the end of the day. It didn’t have as much carbonation as I expect from a seltzer. But unlike hard seltzers, which always taste a bit chemically to me, this one had no noticeable aftertaste, and the flavor was clearly guava.
The can says it’s “fast acting,” and while I didn’t feel immediate effects, I was definitely relaxed and later drifted off while watching TV. Best of all, I slept well through the night and didn’t feel any kind of hangover in the morning.
Yut Rootbeer
10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $9 per can at Lucky You in Burlington
With THC-infused seltzers all the rage, Yut Rootbeer stands out in the ever-growing field of cannabis beverages. Lucky me, I was able to get two of the last cans at Burlington’s Lucky You.
This soda, crafted in Milton, is not too sweet. That may win over some seltzer jerks. I tasted hints of maple and could barely tell there was cannabis in it. The 12-ounce cans are perfect for sharing if you’re looking for a mellow buzz. Take it up a notch with a whole can, or bring it to the S tier by making a root beer float with your favorite vanilla ice cream.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Taste Test | Sampling THC-infused food and beverages”
This article appears in Vermont Cannabiz Guide • 2026.
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