The first time I made homemade hemp milk, my kids drank the entire batch in one setting. Not even joking. Needless to say, I now always double or triple the recipe so that there is a little left over for mama!
Hemp Milk is my favorite non-dairy milk alternative, and definitely one of the easiest to make! Learning how to make hemp milk at home is surprisingly easy. Here’s how:
Blend 4 cups filtered water, 1/2 cup of hemp hearts, 4 medjool dates and a teaspoon of vanilla in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag (optional) and discard the pulp. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve chilled.
It’ time to make up a batch of Healthy No Bake Cookies and pour yourself a nice glass of Hemp Milk! Scroll down for the full recipe
PIN HOW TO MAKE HEMP MILK FOR LATER!
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HEMP SEED MILK BENEFITS AND NUTRITION
Adding a daily mug of cool and creamy hempmilk to your daily diet carries many benefits, but here are a few of my favorites:
- It is the perfect non-dairy alternative for people with nut allergies.
- Hempseeds are full of essential fatty acids and loaded with all of the essential amino acids that our bodies use to build protein with.
- The hearts or seeds are full of essential fatty acids and loaded with all of the essential amino acids that our bodies use to build protein with.
- Also, hemp hearts have a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3’s may also help to lower the risk for cancer, heart disease and arthritis.
- They are a good source of vitamin E, which can help keep your immune system in tip top shape, and aids in the formation of red blood cells.
- The hearts of hemp contains lots of protein.
Protein and Hemp
Protein can be important if you are trying to lose weight and maintain steady energy through out the day. Adding a daily green smoothie with protein is a good way to do this, and is what we focus on in my 7-Day Green Smoothie Challenge.
As a mama, I’m always trying to make sure my little ones are getting enough healthy protein! A lot of plant based milks don’t contain as much protein as dairy milk, but homemade hemp “mylk” is an exception! Some store bought hemp milks don’t contain very much protein, but one glass of homemade hemp milk provides 10g of protein! That almost as much as eating 2 eggs!
Protein Content Comparison of Different Milks
- 1 cup homemade Hemp Milk has 10g protein
- 1 cup Cow’s Milk has 8g protein
- 1 cup Soy Milk has 6g protein
- 1 cup store-bought Hemp Milk has 1.5g protein
- 1 cup store-bought Almond Milk has 1g protein
Here’s an interesting tidbit: The Canadian Food Guide is out, and it’s down one food group…DAIRY. Plant based milks are rapidly gaining in popularity over the past few years, with options such as rice, buckwheat, almond, quinoa, soy and pea. Although many prepackaged brands of plant milks are less than ideal, making your own at home will guarantee a nutritionally superior, family friendly beverage!
“Hemp seeds contain all 8 essential amino acids making it comparable to animal protein. One glass of homemade hemp milk contains more protein than a glass of cow’s milk”
Omega-3 in Hemp Hearts
Another benefit of hemp milk is the amount of essential omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) that it contains.
Omega-3’s have been shown to be important for brain and vision development, especially in young children and pregnant mothers.
And while all Omega’s are important, you want to make sure you get the largest percentage of them from Omega-3 to keep inflammation at bay.
The recommended daily intake of Omega-3 t is at least 2.7g to 5.5g LNA per day, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. And one glass of delicious homemade hemp milk has 8g of omega-3 fatty!
How Much Calcium Does Hemp Milk Have?
Hemp milk is a great alternative to cow milk if you are needing to keep your calcium intake up. An 8 ounce serving of hemp milk contains 450 milligrams of calcium, which is 45% of the RDA.
Is Hemp Milk Good for Babies and Toddlers?
While you wouldn’t want to replace breast milk or formula with hemp milk, once your baby is taking in other healthy foods and drink, hemp milk a perfectly safe and healthy addition to your little ones diet! In one sippy cup of hemp milk, your baby or toddler will get:
- 3 grams Omega-6 Fatty Acid
- 1 gram Omega-3 Fatty Acid
- 4 grams of Digestible Protein
- All 10 Essential Amino Acids
- 46% of RDA of Calcium
- Vitamin A.
- Vitamin E.
- Vitamin D.
- Vitamin B12.
- Magnesium.
- Folic acid.
- Iron.
- Zinc.
- Potassium
- 0% Cholesterol
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Numerous more
WHAT DOES HEMP MILK TASTE LIKE?
Like a delicious, creamy, slightly nutty flavored glass of melted ice cream. But seriously, it’s amazing. It’s slightly thicker than a skim milk, and most similar in taste to a high quality almond milk. It’s delicious in smoothies…I love adding it to my Pumpkin Spice Green Smoothie.
TIPS ON MAKING HOMEMADE HEMP MILK
Blending the Hemp Milk
I use my Vitamix Blender to make hemp milk. But I have heard other blenders can work just as well, including the handy little NutraBullet. Making it in the NutraBullet can be extremely convenient for smaller batches, as you can store the leftover milk right in it.
Do You Need to Strain Hemp Milk?
No, you don’t! You can, but you don’t need to. It will stay nice and creamy without straining for the first two days or so. After that, it still tastes great, but it will begin to separate a bit. I tend to use the older milk in my smoothies, or add it to recipes when baking.
Adding Flavor to Hemp Milk
Plain hempmilk can be a little bland, so I like adding a pinch of sea salt and a soaked date or two. If you are not using a high speed blender, you may want to soak the dates in warm water for 15 minutes before using to make them easier to blend. Here are some more of our favorite flavor ideas:
- Chocolate-y Milk: Add 1 tablespoon cacao powder and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey. Alternately, you can use 3 dates.
- Vanilla Dream Milk: Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and 1 tbsp of maple syrup, honey or 3 soaked dates.
- Matcha Green Milk: Add 1 heaped tablespoon of matcha and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, honey or 3 soaked dates
- Golden Milk: Add 1 heaped tablespoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of ginger powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper and 1 tbsp of maple syrup, honey or 3 soaked dates.
Can You Heat Hemp Milk?
I have found that gently heating hempmilk is fine, but if you let it heat for too long, or bring it to a boil it can curdle. Watch it closely and make sure it is heating without reaching a boil.
Does Hemp Milk Need to Be Refrigerated?
Homemade hempmilk needs to be refrigerated in an airtight container, as it will spoil quickly if left out. The boxed variety of store bought hemp milk is packaged and does not need to be refrigerated until after you open it.
How Long Does Hemp Milk Last in the Fridge?
Hempmilk that you make at home will last about 3 days in the refrigerator. Make sure you store it in an airtight container with a tight lid. I’ve found quart sized mason jars work will, and keep it fresh longer than a plastic container.
HEMP MILK VS. ALMOND MILK
- There is more protein in hempmilk than in almond milk
- Both almond milk and hemp seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol
- Homemade hempmilk doesn’t require any staining, thus maintaining all of it’s nutritional components. Homemade almond milk requires straining out the almond “meal” which leaves only the milk of the almond
- Both milks have a mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor
EASY HOMEMADE HEMP MILK RECIPE
- Servings: 4 Cups
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 5 min
DESCRIPTION
This delicious, creamy, slightly nutty flavored milk will be a hit with the entire family! Easy to make and store, it is slightly thicker than a skim milk, and most similar in taste to a high quality almond milk.
HEMP MILK INGREDIENTS
- 4 cups filtered water
- 1/2 cup hemp hearts
- 4 Medjool dates (adjust to taste)
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until the hemp hearts are completely broken down
- You may choose to strain the hempmilk through a cheese cloth, but this is definitely not required.
- Enjoy!
*Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to a week, and serve well-chilled.
