Hemp Milk: Today, you’ve got a significant amount of options when it comes to milk. Whether you drink it straight, add it to your cereal, cook with it, or put a splash in your coffee, milk is a staple.

Cow’s milk, however, isn’t for everyone, and many people are exploring alternatives for a variety of reasons. The newest entry into the list of milk alternatives is hemp milk. It’s slowly working its way in, but the big question is, “What does it taste like?”

Equating the smell of a burning joint to the taste of a cup of hemp milk would deter a lot of wary drinkers, but that’s not how it works. Hemp milk does not taste like burning hemp smells. Not only that, there are a lot of benefits to becoming a hemp milk drinker.

Hemp milk stats

From a nutritional standpoint, hemp milk has a lot going for it, even if it’s not necessarily always the standout choice. It’s low in calories, for example, but not the lowest. It contains a decent amount of protein, but other non-dairy milks do better.

Where hemp milk excels is in fat. Hemp is high in polyunsaturated fats, which are healthier fats. Consuming these, in lieu of saturated fats, may help lower cholesterol. It’s also an overachiever when it comes to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and contains high levels of arginine. This special amino acid turns into nitric oxide in the body, which helps keep blood vessel walls smooth, elastic, and healthy.

Milk for any diet

Another factor to take into consideration when selecting which milk you use is your own diet. There are a lot of milks out there that cater to a vegan, dairy-free lifestyle, including hemp milk. Soy, almond, coconut, oat, and rice milk also work. However, cow’s milk is out.

If you have a gluten intolerance, oat milk won’t work, and diabetics should avoid rice milk since it’s high in carbs. Those with a tree nut allergy can’t drink almond milk, and it’s becoming more common to find those with an intolerance to soy.

Hemp mixes well with almost any diet, making it onto a pretty short list of dairy-free milks with a one-size-fits-all reputation.

The best milk for the environment

If looking at it only from an environmental perspective, hemp milk comes in way ahead. Not only do hemp plants sequester carbon, but the plants grow with very little water usage and don’t require a lot of harmful chemicals. So, the plant helps clean the air while using fewer resources to grow.

Dairy milk takes a hit because it has a high carbon footprint. This comes from both maintaining the cows and processing the milk. Growing soy is often linked to deforestation as farmers need more land for the crop. Almonds require a large amount of water to grow, which does put a strain on natural resources.

These black marks aren’t huge, but they’re not ones that can necessarily get fixed or reduced. That means hemp, without any extra help, takes the gold as the most environmentally-friendly milk substitute.

It comes down to taste

What’s really going to drive preference though, in the race for the most popular milk, is taste. Being environmentally conscious and maintaining dietary restrictions gets harder when you don’t like the taste of a product, and you have alternatives you like better.

Like almond milk, hemp milk has a light and nutty flavor. It’s not too sweet like rice milk and won’t split, like soy milk, when added to hot drinks. The thin consistency of hemp milk makes it a great additive to cereal and smoothies. It’s also good to use for cooking.

One of the stronger-flavored, vegan milks, however, hemp milk is often said to have a hint of sesame, pine, or sunflower to it.

The taste might not be for everyone, but if you enjoy the flavor, the consistency, and its versatility, you may make it your milk of choice.

Milk isn’t the only new hemp product

Hemp products are popping up everywhere these days because hemp is an amazing plant. With applications in so many different industries, it’s no wonder farmers are eyeing this lucrative crop with its vast amount of potential. To gain more insight into the industry, and connect with an experienced and knowledgeable team, reach out to Arbor Vita8. We know hemp, from the right seeds to plant to what extracts are in demand. We’re here to help you every step of the way with excellent service and resources. Contact Arbor Vita8 today to learn more.