Hemp Milk – The Potential of Plant-Based Beverages

These days, plant-based milk alternatives are all the rage, with some of the most popular options being almond milk, soy milk, and hemp milk. These non-dairy alternatives can double as a superfood, providing a source of high-quality amino acids and a wide variety of other trace minerals needed to support optimal health. 

That said, of all the plant-based alternatives on the market, hemp milk ranks among the most nutritious, providing a large number of high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals with each serving.

If you’re interested in learning more about hemp milk and its benefits, then keep on reading. In this guide, we’ll also be teaching you how to make your own homemade hemp milk as well.

Let’s get into it!

What is Hemp Milk?

Hemp milk is a nut milk product made by blending hemp seeds from the cannabis plant with water to create a thick and creamy liquid typically used as a substitute for standard dairy or soy milk. 

While cannabis plants are most notoriously known for producing the psychoactive or body impacting effects of weed, it has also been used for generations as a steady source of crafting materials and food in several different cultures.

Due to hemp milk being made from just hemp seeds and water, unflavoured variants will take on the flavour profile of the seeds themselves. As hemp milk is nut milk, it tends to have an earthy and slightly nutty flavour, finding a balance somewhere in between the taste of pine nuts and hazelnuts. 

It’s also worth noting that this beverage has a relatively neutral flavour, meaning that additives such as maple syrup, cocoa powder, and cinnamon can be added to enhance the flavour and give it some character.

It also adds a fun personalization element to suit whichever flavour you like best. Who doesn’t love to have options?

While hemp milk is plant-based milk like almond milk, it tends to have a relatively thicker consistency compared to other alternatives. Its thick and creamy texture allows it to work well as a dairy-free milk alternative for foods like cereals, smoothies, and caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee.

Thanks to the movement towards dairy-free milk substitutes, hemp milk can be found in most grocery stores alongside various other non-dairy milk alternatives.

Does Hemp Milk get You High?

A common misconception is that consuming hemp seeds will get you high. However, this is not the case.

While the cannabis plant is known to produce Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound most prevalent in dried bud, hemp seeds only contain a trace amount of this compound. 

In this way, it does not possess nearly enough THC to induce any mind-altering effects. 

So, you and your family can drink a tall glass of hemp milk with the added ease of mind knowing that it will not get you stoned out of your mind.

What are the Benefits of Hemp Milk?

As we previously mentioned, dairy and soy-free milk and beverage alternatives are on the rise as people search for more friendly options for their diet, whether it be because of lactose intolerance or soy allergy or simply because they want something healthier. 

However, serving as an alternative is not the only benefit that hemp milk possesses. Other healing properties include:

Healthy Nutritional Profile

Hemp milk has a whole host of advantages when it comes to nutrition. It is packed to the brim with large quantities of healthy amino acids, omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as various other vitamins and minerals that play a role in supporting good health.

Based on a standard 2000 calorie diet, one cup (240 ml) of unsweetened hemp milk will contain approximately:

• 83 calories
• 1.3 g carbs
• 4.7 g protein
• 7.3 g fat
• 2% calcium
• 7% iron

Not only does hemp milk provide a diverse range of essential nutrients, but it also contains fewer calories than standard dairy milk.

Loaded With Vitamins and Minerals

In addition to its already dense nutritional profile, store-bought hemp milks are sometimes fortified with additional minerals and vitamins such as calcium, phosphorus, Vitamins A, B12, and D to enhance its benefits further.

Healthy Fats

What’s more is that hemp milk also contains an ideal ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, essential fats that can only be acquired through food consumption.

Omega 3s are widely known to help promote brain health and act as an effective agent in fighting depression and anxiety.

Lactose, Soy, and Gluten-Free

For those who are sensitive to certain ingredients in food, such as lactose, soy, or gluten, hemp milk and hemp seeds are free of all of these, giving it a great sense of versatility.

Not only that, but it also serves as an excellent ingredient in cooking outside of straight-up drinking it. 

In this way, you can rest assured knowing that you can broaden your culinary horizons without fear of an adverse reaction.

How to Make Homemade Hemp Milk

Homemade hemp milk is incredibly easy to make from home. It only requires a few ingredients and can be customized to your individual liking. 

In the case that you can’t find it at your local grocery store, we’ve included a basic hemp milk recipe that can be made from home.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of hemp seeds (whole hemp seeds or hulled)
• 3 cups of water (amount can be altered to fit your desired consistency)
• 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey, or other sweeteners
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Flavour additives like cocoa powder or cinnamon (optional)
• Some cheesecloth or a coffee filter (optional)
• A secure container (used to store the hemp milk)

How to Make Hemp Milk

1. Combine the hemp seeds, water, sweetener, flavour additives and vanilla in a high powered blender. Blend the ingredients together for 1 minute or until the milk reaches a smooth consistency.
2. Once you achieve your desired consistency, taste the milk to see if any adjustments are necessary. At this point, you can add additional sweeteners or flavour enhancers until you are satisfied with the results.
3. Optional: If you want a finer and smoother consistency in your hemp milk, you can use some cheesecloth or a coffee filter to strain any chunks of seeds out of the milk. Keep in mind, however, that this may reduce the nutritional content of your milk.
4. Pour your milk into a container and refrigerate.

How to Infuse Your Hemp Milk With Cannabis

For those who are looking for psychoactive milk, hemp milk can easily be infused with weed via cannabis oils or cannabutter. 

Alternatively, you can allow 3-5 grams of decarboxylated cannabis to simmer on low heat in the milk for approximately 45 minutes. When attempting to infuse any type of cannabis product with your hemp milk, it is vital to watch the mixture and stir it frequently throughout the cooking process. Not only will it prevent scorching, but it will ensure the cannabinoids are evenly placed throughout the milk. 

Once you’ve finished cooking, simply use a filter or some cheesecloth to strain out the remains of the cannabis and store the now psychoactive hemp milk in a secure container.

Cannabis-infused beverages are quickly becoming some of the most popular items currently available on the market due to them being a healthy and safer smoke-free option for ingesting your favourite icky sticky. 

These bevies also have the added benefit of being cost-effective in that you don’t need to splurge or spend the big bucks on more expensive accessories, such as a bong or a dab rig. 

Everybody wins!

Hemp Milk – Milking the Benefits

Hemp milk is an excellent alternative to standard dairy milk. Store-bought variants are often fortified with a set of minerals and vitamins that help boost good health maintenance and can be found alongside many other plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk at the grocery store.

Alternatively, if hemp milk cannot be found at the grocery store, learning how to make your own is a straightforward and easy process for an at-home culinary DIY project. 

You can easily make it in just a matter of a few minutes. It can also be customized to suit the individual’s specific requirements, such as allergies and taste and flavour preferences, making it an incredibly versatile beverage. 

Its highly nutritious content makes it a fantastic supplement for smoothies, cereals, and coffee or tea.

Not only that, but hemp milk is incredibly simple for infusing cannabis if you are in the market of trying a unique cannabis edible that is a safer and healthier alternative to other weed consumption methods, such as smoking. 

With hemp milk, there’s something for everyone! 

Enjoy!