Last Updated on 13th May 2022 by
If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to cow’s milk and goat’s milk, you might want to try hemp milk. This is a protein-rich milk that’s made from plants and that is a good source of HDL fats (healthy fats) as well as a number of minerals. People drink hemp milk for its health benefits, like cardiovascular disease protection and improved skin health.
What Is Hemp Milk?
Hemp milk comes from whole hemp seeds. You may have concerns about getting high from drinking hemp milk or using hemp seeds, but that’s not an issue. The cannabis sativa plant that is used to make does contain chemicals that can produce a high, but most of that comes from the flowers and not the seeds. There’s so little of this chemical in the seeds that you will not get high from drinking hemp milk.
How does hemp milk compare to cow’s milk? It’s a good source of some nutrients, but it has fewer carbs and protein. To build muscle and provide energy, cow’s milk is a better source, but hemp milk is a good vegan substitute.
How to Make Hemp Milk
I would like to share with you a recipe for making hemp milk at home using hemp seeds.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of hemp seeds, hulled
- one pinch of salt
- 3-4 cups of water
Directions:
- Place hemp seeds, salt, and water into a blender. If you’re adding in other ingredients for flavor, you can put them in at the same time. Cover the blender with a lid and then a towel as well and blend for about a minute. You only need to blend long enough for the mixture to combine evenly.
- Test the hemp milk to see if it needs anything to change the flavor or make it sweeter. It may also need to be thicker or thinner. For a thicker hemp milk, you can strain a portion of it. For thinner milk, add a little more water.
Some people will stream the hemp milk, but it’s not necessary. You can use a strainer or pour it through a thin towel or a piece of cloth, or use a nut milk bag.
Once the hemp milk has been prepared, it should be poured into a resealable container and refrigerated. It can store for five days or more, and its best served cold.
If you wanting to change the flavor, particularly to make it sweeter, there is some other ingredients you may want to add. Vanilla extract is a pretty common choice, and you could use sugar or maple syrup for sweetener as well. To make chocolate hemp milk, just add a little cocoa powder. For a berry milk variation, add fresh berries when you’re putting everything into the blender and blend that together.
What Does Hemp Milk Taste Like?
If you’ve never had this kind of milk before, you may wonder what the flavors like. Now that you know how to make hemp seed milk, let’s talk a little bit about the kind of milk you’ll be making. It has a flavor that can be described as nutty and earthy, similar to almond milk.
Some people even say it has more taste and flavor than dairy milk does, but you can be the judge of that when you make it for yourself.
What Is Hemp Milk Good for?
Compared to dairy milk, hemp milk doesn’t have as much protein or carbohydrates, but it does have more of those components than most other types of milk. It’s a pretty good source of protein as well as several minerals. It is considered a healthy milk, but not necessarily the healthiest one.
What is hemp milk made from, and is it unhealthy or dangerous? Some people may have concerns that hemp milk might be dangerous, but those concerns are from people who don’t know much about hemp milk and don’t understand how is hemp milk made. Because this milk is produced from the seeds, which contain very miniscule amounts of the component that gives someone high, there’s no risk of dangerous side effects from drinking hemp milk.
You don’t have to worry that you’ll get high or experience any psychoactive effects. It would be just about physically impossible for you to consume enough and milk for it to cause any effect similar to what drug would do. You’re more likely to get an upset stomach from just drinking so much liquid at once.
How Long Does Hemp Milk Last?
If you refrigerate hemp milk properly, it can last for a while. Expect freshly made hemp milk to last for at least five days, and it can last for longer than that too. Just keep it cold the entire time and you may get over a week out of it before it starts to spoil.
How do you know if that hemp milk is going bad? Just give it a sniff. Just like regular dairy milk, you can tell when hemp milk is turning. It will have a sour, unpleasant smell when you whiff at it. If the smell has changed, you should toss it out.
You may be tempted to use it in some of your savory dishes, like mac and cheese, cheese sauce, or other foods where you would normally use dairy milk. That’s not a good idea, though. Because of the sweet, nutty flavor, this milk works as an excellent sweetener. So, it’s a good addition to coffee, cereal, or even baked goods that are meant to be sweet. If you’re adding it to something that’s not supposed to be sweet, though, you probably won’t like the end result. In those cases, don’t use hemp milk in place of dairy milk.
Now you know how to make hemp milk at home and you have a few ideas for what you can use it for. It may not be as versatile as dairy milk, but it’s a good alternative if you’re looking for something vegan, tasty, and healthy. Because of the different health benefits, it’s a good substitute for dairy milk.
I'm Pauline, a retired patisserie chef, mother of four and now a full time food blogger! When i'm not cooking i love long walks, reading thriller novels and spending time with my grandkids. Head to my about me page to learn more about the woman behind the food! You can find my Facebook here