By Olivia Drake
It’s not uncommon to see non-dairy milk in grocery stores and coffee shops. Soy milk and almond milk are the most frequent finds. One of the two is available almost anywhere.
Almond milk comes from a mixture of ground almonds and filtered water. You use a similar process to make soy milk, using soybeans instead of almonds. While both of these are great alternatives, there is quite a large population that can’t consume either of these milks for allergy reasons.
What happens then, if you still need non-dairy milk? Recently, a new milk has come on the market that is safe to drink for almost everyone — hemp milk.
What is hemp milk?
The 2018 Farm Bill opened up a whole new world for hemp production and uses. Hemp products are now legal, and found in many things ranging from dog treats to candles. Every day people are finding brand new ways to use hemp and the latest seems to be as a milk alternative.
Hemp milk comes from two primary ingredients — water and hemp seeds. Hemp seeds go through an absorption process and are then ground down to create a texture similar to milk. You can then add additional flavors like cinnamon and vanilla. The process is super quick and easy.
The benefits of hemp milk
A large part of what makes hemp milk stand out against regular milk is its benefits.
- Hemp milk has approximately 283 milligrams of calcium, which is more than the 276 milligrams in regular milk.
- A standard cup of hemp milk only contains around 60 calories and there is little-to-no added sugar.
- Hemp milk has many healthy fats like Omega-3 and 6 that reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues.
- It’s also nut and gluten free, making it safe for just about anyone to drink.
Hemp milk may even have the potential to help with health issues. It may aid in skin care and offer natural protection from certain diseases. It’s also possible that drinking hemp milk could support brain and immune system health.
The changing milk industry
More and more people today are looking for milk alternatives. The non-dairy milk market has seen around a 23 percent increase in sales since 2015 and is reportedly worth $11.9 billion dollars.
People who are lactose intolerant or suffer from a milk allergy now have alternatives in most coffee shops. The same goes for people who are vegan or have other dietary restrictions. They no longer have to take their coffee black or go without milk when they’re not at home.
This access and awareness of what consumers want makes right now the best time for hemp milk to enter the market. With more buyers and higher profits, hemp milk has a chance to make it big as a top non-dairy milk alternative. Consumers want new forms of milk that still offer health benefits, and hemp milk fits the bill.
Explore the possibilities of your hemp crop with Arbor Vita8
Interested in learning more about the lucrative products you can transform your hemp crop into? Arbor Vita8 can help. Our superior facility and high-end equipment means we’re able to prep your hemp for any product. Our processing capabilities are without equal, and our seed-to-sale services means we’re with you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more.
