Your guide to 8 leading CBD gummies in the UK
CBD has been legal in the UK since 2018, and since then, it’s taken the nation by storm.
Praised by users for its ability to bring relief for a range of ailments - from chronic pain and anxiety, to insomnia and depression - its popularity is showing no signs of slowing down.
And as the CBD scene flourishes, increasing numbers of products are hitting the shelves, from capsules to chocolates. But one of the most popular forms of CBD? Edible CBD gummies.
Manufacturers are moulding CBD sweets into shapes from worms to sugar-dusted cubes, creating morsels devoid of the bitter taste carried by some hemp products, and offering a quick, convenient way to get a daily dose of CBD.
What is CBD?
CBD - also known as cannabidiol - is a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. Like marijuana, hemp is part of the cannabis family. The major difference is that it contains much lower levels of ‘THC’, the cannabinoid that causes the intoxicating effects of a marijuana high.
You will find trace levels of THC in hemp, but manufacturers need to limit this amount to less than 0.2 per cent to sell their products legally in the UK. These trace levels won’t have intoxicating effects.
What should you look for in a high-quality CBD gummy?
- Broad spectrum CBD vs isolate Along with CBD and trace levels of THC, you’ll find many other cannabinoids present in the hemp plant. When taken in conjunction with CBD, they work together to create a stronger effect – in the CBD industry, this is called the ‘entourage effect’. Whether or not your gummies have these extra cannabinoids depends on which type of extract is used. ‘Broad spectrum’ means these cannabinoids have been kept in the dose, but ‘isolate’ means they’ve been stripped out entirely, so you’re just consuming pure CBD.
- Dosage Before making a decision, scan the label of your gummies to check how much CBD you’re getting in each sweet. The amount tends to vary between about 5mg and 50mg, and the price of your gummies should reflect the dosage of CBD you’ll receive. The FSA recommends maxing your dose at 70mg a day, but of course, it pays to double-check with your medical professional before your first dose.
- Independent analysis CBD products should be independently analysed to check that the ingredient break-down of the gummies matches what’s printed on the label. You should be able to find the results of this test on the brand’s website.
- Ingredients Like many sweets, some gummies are packed with artificial extras. Therefore, if you have dietary requirements, or you just want to ingest an extra clean supplement, it pays to check the ingredient list.
Best 8 CBD gummies to consider in the United Kingdom in 2022
1. CBII CBD Gummies, £34 for 30 gummies, 25mg CBD per gummy
CBII’s sugar-dusted, soft jelly gummies are presented in a glass jar that comes bursting with 30 coloured cubes. And while the gummies might look like regular sweets, CBII has endeavoured to keep these morsels as clean as possible: you’ll find no artificial preservatives, and the varying colours come from natural ingredients like turmeric, beetroot and carrot.
You’ll receive a mix of four different flavours in each jar: watermelon, tangerine, lemon, and raspberry. The flavours are distinct, fruity and sweet, with no hint of the aftertastes that are present in some CBD products.
The CBD itself is extracted using hemp grown in Oregon, which is one of the most reputable and strictly regulated markets in the world. CBII’s extraction process - said to be cleaner and gentler than alternative methods - further establishes the brand as one of the best, preserving key components of the plant to produce an extract that’s as close to nature as possible.
By the time they’re ready to buy, the gummies will have been tested a total of five times, ensuring quality, consistency, and a product that lives up to its label. Third party lab test results can be readily found on CBII’s website.
At £34, these gummies provide excellent value for money.
2. CBDfx Turmeric and Spirulina CBD Gummies, £50 for 60 gummies, 25mg CBD per gummy
If your top priority is to pack as many healthy ingredients as possible into any food supplement you consume, CBDfx’s sweets could be a good option for you.
As well as 25mg of CBD, these gummies are laced with turmeric and spirulina - superfood ingredients both known for their anti-inflammatory properties. While the appearance - a plain brown disc - may not feel as fun as some alternative options on this list, these gummies still taste pleasant enough.
3. Cannaray CBD Gummies, £18 for 30 gummies, 10mg CBD per gummy
As far as gummies with lower dosages go, Cannaray’s orange-flavoured discs are a good pick. At just 10mg of CBD isolate per sweet, they could be a good option if you’re taking an easy-does-it approach to your dosing – although it pays to note that the isolate extract means you won’t feel the entourage effects.
The vegan, citrus-flavoured discs are zingy in taste, juicy in texture, and come free of sulphates and GMOs. They’re also triple lab tested, with a third-party analysis readily available on Cannaray’s website.
4. CBD Guru CBD Cola Bottles, £29.99 for 30 gummies, 25mg CBD per gummy
CBD Guru’s gummies almost feel too naughty to be true. With the distinctive two-tone hues, a fizzy tang, and a crunchy sugar coating, these CBD cola bottles taste and feel like the real thing.
The use of artificial colours may put some users off these sweets – and it also pays to note that these gummies use beef gelatin, rendering them unsuitable for vegans or vegetarians. However, they certainly taste delicious, and come packed with 25mg of broad-spectrum CBD to boot - a solid option if you want to blend potency with the kind of pleasure only a gummy cola bottle can provide.
5. Endoca CBD Chewing Gum, £6.16 for 10 pieces, 10mg CBD per piece
More into gums than gummies? Endoca’s chewing gum could be the one for you. Delivering 10mg of CBD per stick, the volume of CBD isn’t the highest. However, in a gum format, the CBD is taken in through the mucous membranes under the tongue and on the inside of the cheeks (instead of the digestive tract). This can mean the CBD reaches your system faster.
It pays to remember that this gum will feel stickier than stock-standard gum. That’s because it’s made using chicle tree, a biodegradable alternative to the plastic that makes up most commercial chewing gums. While it can take a little getting used to, it’s a worthwhile price to pay for the environmental credentials.
6. Zen Bears CBD Gummies, £39.95 for 30 gummies, 20mg per gummy
At 20mg of broad-spectrum CBD per gummy, Zen Bears’ dose isn’t the highest on our list, but regular users praise these confections - the only product in the brand’s range - as being a top CBD option.
The gummies’ taste and texture closely mimic that of a regular gummy bear, and similar to the chewing gum mentioned above, the CBD is applied using a pharmaceutical coating method. This means they’re designed to let the CBD diffuse in your mouth (as long as you suck them for over a minute) and therefore reach your system more quickly.
7. Eden’s Gate High Strength CBD Gummies, £44.99 for 25 pack, 20mg per gummy
Eden’s Gate is a family-run business that prides itself on the integrity and traceability of its products. Their gummy bears come in two strengths - 20mg and 10mg - and feature a light sugar coating.
Regular users rave about the bears’ taste and pleasant texture, backing up the praise with tales of improved conditions, from alleviated anxiety to soothed chronic pain. You’ll find full lab reports available on Eden’s Gate’s website.
8. CBDistillery CBD Gummies, £60 for 30 gummies, 25mg CBD per gummy
CBDistillery’s vegan gummies come in three flavours: raspberry-lemon, raspberry, and strawberry. Each sugar-coated cube comes packed with 25mg of CBD isolate, making them a good option for those who want to avoid trace amounts of THC, but don’t want to sacrifice on dose volume.
A clean ingredients list calls on natural extracts from foods such as grape and turmeric, with the use of pectin - instead of gelatin - ensuring these gummies are safe for vegans and vegetarians to enjoy.