Hemp is proving to be one of the most nutritionally fulfilling plants that we have come across on this planet. With over 25,000 different ways in which we can utilize hemp, there are a lot of food-related uses too. With the legalization of hemp through the Farm Act, the market is currently exploding with new products. Among those is hemp milk, but you don’t have to buy the final product. We are going to teach you everything you need to know regarding its benefits, nutritional properties, and most importantly, how to make hemp milk at home!
The process is quite simple and takes very little time. And with the little effort that you put in, what you get is a purely vegan and highly nutritional alternative to dairy milk.
Defining Hemp Milk
Before you get into making and consuming this drink, let us take a look at what hemp milk is. To put it in simple words, hemp mil is created when you blend hemp seeds in water. These seeds are mainly from the Cannabis sativa variant of hemp.
It is truly mind-boggling that a plant that is also responsible for giving you that high effect, can be so safe and healthy. This is because the hemp plant legalized in the USA is bred in a way that it contains the extremely small quantities of THC. THC is the main psychoactive component in cannabis that gives you a high feeling.
When you go to buy it from a store, you may not find the original flavor easily as most products are flavored. However, the original flavor of hemp milk is nutty and earthy in texture with a bit of creamy effect. When people ask how to make hemp milk without additives, the simple answer is to just blend in water and strain it with a fine cloth. However, that raw flavor may not be up to everyone’s alley, so some modification is somewhat preferable.
Nutritional Benefits
If you are asking how to make hemp milk, you most certainly would also want to know about its benefits. And far as the benefits are concerned, a major one is that hemp milk has loads of great nutrients. These include a whole range of vitamins and minerals of different kinds as well. In addition to that, you will also find lots of proteins and fats.
A major question here would be about the fats that are present in hemp milk. However, there is no need for concern as the fats in question are what we refer to as Essential Fatty Acids or EFAs. Hemp is loaded with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids which are highly beneficial to the body. They play a key role in several different functions of your body and are very good for your overall health.
In addition to that, you also find a lot of proteins as well. For each 240ml glass of hemp milk you consume, you get a total of 83 calories. This quantity contains 4.7g of protein, 7.3g of fat, 1.3g carbs, 2% of the daily value of calcium, and 7% of the daily value of iron. However, these are just a few of the benefits you get from using hemp.
If you look at commercially sold hemp milk, you will also find other ingredients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. There will also be calcium and added sugar. In addition to that, hemp milk also comes as a good option for people with several health restrictions. It is gluten-free, suitable for lactose intolerance, and also contains no soy in it. With its nutritional benefits, it is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after milk beverages in the USA.
How to Make Hemp Milk?
Making hemp milk on your own is the best option in our opinion. It allows you to go directly to the source and avoid additives that could be bad for you. Of course, you have to consider the fact that some of the additives are actual nutrients that you may not find in the homemade version.
You can start by taking 1 cup (approx. 130g) of hemp seeds and 4 cups (just shy of 1 liter) of water. Put both ingredients in a high-power blender and start blending. Keep the machine going until you start seeing an evenly smooth texture. If you are looking for flavor, you can choose any ingredient you like. Some great options that could work in this recipe could be sea salt, honey, maple syrup, vanilla extract, or even dates. Choose any flavor you may want to create but make sure it is not an artificial flavor.
One of the most important parts of the process is, of course, the straining of seeds from the final product. You can’t consume it just like that, so you need something to strain out even the smallest particles from the final product. The best option here is to use cheesecloth as that is very fine and provides excellent strain. You could also use a thin towel to further purify the liquid and make it much smoother to consume.
Pour the final product into a glass jar and use within five days. It always has to be refrigerated and must not be put out in the open. Since you have not added any preservatives, do expect it to stay fresh for too long and consume it quickly.
Go Make a Glass!
As you can see, making hemp milk is super-duper easy and all you need are two components. With such a simple recipe that provides such incredible nutritional benefits, you should make yourself some immediately! Also, if you see anyone who asks how to make hemp milk, you know exactly where to send them. We will be waiting to hear your thoughts on this recipe.
