Hemp Bliss Hempmilk

If you don’t know about Manitoba Harvest, they’re a Canadian based hemp-food manufacturer that sells everything from hemp seeds and hemp milk, to hemp butter and hemp protein powder. Well, they’ve just announced a new recipe for their organic hemp milk. As the press release explains:

Winnipeg, Manitoba (March 31, 2010) – Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils™ is proud to launch the new & improved Hemp Bliss Organic Hempmilk. The only organic hempmilk on the market, Hemp Bliss has a new milder and creamier taste, 25% calcium, and more culinary versatility. Still free from common allergens, Hemp Bliss Organic Hempmilk is packed with nutrients like Omega-3 and Omega-6.

“The new Hemp Bliss is designed to appeal to a broader palate and to be a healthy alternative to dairy milk,” says President and co-founder Mike Fata. “We added more calcium (25% of the daily recommended intake) and created a creamy, smooth, allergen-free alternative that has a mouth-feel similar to dairy milk,” notes Fata. “We also added organic hemp oil which provides Hemp Bliss with even more healthy Omega-3 and a creamier texture.”
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Hempmilk contains more Omega 3, 6 and 9 EFAs than any other dairy or non-dairy milk alternative, and those EFAs are present in hemp in an ideal ratio. Hemp foods also have a strong digestible protein profile, fiber and an abundance of vitamins and minerals.
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What has not changed is Manitoba Harvest’s commitment to organic and natural ingredients. “We are proud to be the only organic hempmilk on the market, and we use only organic hemp seed, hemp oil, acacia & guar gum, organic vanilla flavoring and fair trade cocoa powder. All of the ingredients in the new Hemp Bliss are natural and sourced under the company’s mission to support sustainable farming and environmentally friendly practices.

I like hemp seeds and hemp protein, but I gotta tell, any improvement to the flavor of hemp milk is a welcome one. Hemp is one of the few foods that offers a perfect balance of Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, but hemp milk is generally no way to get them. The stuff tasks like a sawdust milkshake. Hemp seeds, on the other hand, have a really nice nutty flavor that goes great on salads, cereals, or even in smoothies.

You can order Hemp Bliss Organic Hempmilk form the Manitoba Harvest site, but I’ve never had a problem finding it in any major urban area. That being said, I’ll have to give hemp milk another shot now that Manitoba Harvest has tweaked its recipe. Maybe I won’t have to cut it with a bunch of fruit and throw it in a blender just to make it bearable.

The local LA ABC channel, KABC, recently compared some mil alternatives, and one of those featured alternative was Hemp Bliss hemp milk. Being a televised segment, it was hosted by Lori Corbin, “The Food Coach.” You can also watch the video coverage here. Of interest, however, are a couple notes from the show notes:

Finally, those looking for a new non-dairy beverage might get a kick out of hemp milk. Hemp is similar to flax in that it contains omega-3 and other unsaturated fats. It has a slightly nutty taste, but does not have any psychotropic compounds. So, the only “high” you might experience is the taste itself.
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Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss
Calories: 110
Fat: 7 g
Sugar: 6 g
Iron: 10 percent

For those of you interested in benefiting from the high amount of essential fatty acids in hemp milk and other products, you can buy hemp foods from Manitoba Harvest. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Manitoba Harvest™ owns and operates a 20,000 Sq Ft. state of the art, kosher certified and organic certified facility. They’ve been in business since 1998, so they’re no bunch fly-by-night snake-oil salesmen trying to get in on a hemp health craze.

The Global Healing Center has a great piece by Dr. Edward Group on the The Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk. The article starts out dispelling some of the myths behind hemp food products, covers how growing hemp in the US is still illegal, offers an overview of the specific nutritional benefits of hemp milk, and even finishes off with a recipe for how to make hemp milk at home! Here’s an excerpt on the health benefits:

Organic hemp milk is also a great alternative to toxic cow’s milk and those who cannot consume dairy because of dietary issues.

One 8-Ounce glass contains the following healthy nutrients:

• 900mg Omega-3 Fatty Acid
• 2800mg Omega-6 Fatty Acid
• All 10 Essential Amino Acids
• 4 grams of Digestible Protein
• 46% of RDA of Calcium
• 0% Cholesterol
• Potassium
• Phosphorous
• Riboflavin
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B12
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Zinc
• And more…

To get the full lowdown and a recipe on how to make your own organic hemp milk at home, check out the original article: The Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk