For some of you, hemp milk might be a rather out there concept but I can assure you, it tastes great and is so simple to make. It’s a great source of protein and contains essential minerals and amino acids. It’s made from the seeds of the hemp plant and I promise you, it won’t get you high. The seeds don’t contain any hallucinogenic chemicals!
Hemp milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk and we use it in our smoothies, to make porridge and even for baking. It takes no more than five minutes to make, it’s actually easier than going to the shop! It has a slightly nutty flavour but overall I find the flavour to be quite subtle.
You can make it with either unshelled or shelled hemp seeds, the difference is that you will need to soak the unshelled seeds overnight. I find you get a slightly stronger taste with the unshelled seeds and they are also much cheaper to buy. The milk keeps best stored in a glass airtight container for around four days.
- 5 cups filtered water
- 1 cup unshelled hemp seeds
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 pitted dates
- Soak hemp seeds in water overnight
- Strain the hemp seeds and add to the blender along with the filtered water
- Blend on high for around 2 minutes until the liquid becomes frothy
- Put the nut milk bag/cheesecloth into a glass jar and pour the liquid in to strain
- Push all the liquid out of the cloth and pour back into the blender
- Add maple syrup and dates and blend on high for further minute
- Strain the milk through the nut bag once again and then store in an airtight glass jar for up to four days.
- As there are no additives or fillers in the milk, it will separate, so just give it a shake before use
I have looked at several recipes for hemp milk, and in all the pictures the milk looks really white and creamy! However, I have tried several of the recipes, including this one, and mine is always a greenish color!!! Are the pictures shown actual pictures of the milk you made? Why does mine never turn out white?
That’s really strange! I’d love to help you get to the bottom of it. You aren’t using hemp powder are you? Hemp powder is typically green so that might explain it. If you’re using hemp seeds or the husks I’m not too sure why that would be happening. Are you using a nut bag or cheesecloth to strain the milk through?
When I make my hemp milk with unshelled seeds my milk always turns out more of a brownish color and the taste is more potent than milk with hemp hearts. I thought at first my hemp seeds might have gone bad and been causing the brown color but I guess it is the shell adding both color and flavor.
Yes, it can tend to go a little brown in colour but so long as that doesn’t bother you it’s totally fine
Is hemp milk good for babies too? Can we give hemp milk from unshelled hemp to babies? As it is written it may have little stronger taste than shelled hemp?
It depends how old your baby is. Breast milk is always best but hemp milk could be a good addition. I don’t expect solely hemp milk would be a good choice as i’m not sure it would have all the fats and minerals that your baby needs. You could use unshelled hemp milk, just make sure it is strained very well. I don’t have a baby of my own so I am not an expert.
Thanks Casey. My baby is of 9+ months…i will be using hemp milk as a supplement along with breastfeeding.
That sounds like a good plan to me!