The popularity of products made of hemp grows stronger every year. Increasingly, we are obserwing the use of hemp in the cosmetics, textile and even energy industries.
These plants are also used on a large scale as dietary supplements, but this is not the whole range of their possibilities.
Hemp has many valuable vitamins and minerals that are worth introducing into your daily diet. How to do it? How to use hemp in the kitchen and what products are recommended for consumption? Welcome to today’s article.
One of the most popular and most frequently used hemp products in the kitchen are hemp oil and hemp seeds.
Although both variants lead the way in culinary revolutions, it is worth being aware that these are not the only products and possibilities of introducing hemp into your daily diet.
There are many more interesting and noteworthy products on the market, such as hemp flour, hemp pasta, coffee or hemp tea, as well as hemp drinks with a unique taste.
Hemp oil
But let’s start with number one on our culinary list. There are two types of hemp oil – hemp oil from Cannabis sativa seeds obtained by cold pressing and oil produced from hemp flowers, i.e. the well-known CBD. Many CBD oils with different concentrations and flavors are available in our Alba Hemp store.
The oil produced from the seeds has a subtle taste with a noticeable hint of delicate hazelnut, it perfectly harmonizes with many home-made dishes, and the dark green color adds an aesthetic appearance.
The smoke point of the oil is around 170 degrees C, and exceeding this threshold may result in the loss of terpenes or cannabinoids, which is why hemp oil is best used cold. It will therefore be a great addition to salads, dressings, pesto or sandwich spreads.
Despite the fact that hemp oil is not suitable for frying or heating, it will be a good complement to warm dishes already on the plate, e.g. pasta, groats, potatoes or rice.
Hemp seeds
Hemp seeds can be divided into shelled, unshelled and roasted. They have a very large amount of protein and fiber, which is why they are recommended as an ingredient in the diet of vegans and vegetarians.
Hemp seeds are fully edible and can be introduced into your diet in many ways. Many people who are just starting their adventure with hemp wonder what hemp seeds taste like. Just like hemp oil – which is actually made from the seeds of this plant, they have a delicate, nutty flavor. The seeds can be added to many baked goods and dishes. They will work well as an addition to various types of salads, e.g. in the form of seeds roasted in a pan. They will be an excellent element of meat stuffing, an ingredient of sauces or breakfast oatmeal in combination with seasonal fruit. They will also be perfect as an addition to bread baking.
Ground hemp seeds can be a good combination along with yoghurt, a healthy smoothie, and even as a sprinkle for desserts. You can also eat them alone as a wholesome snack between meals.
In the Alba Hemp store, we have a wide selection of shelled and roasted hemp seeds ready for direct consumption.
Hemp drinks, i.e. hemp tea and coffee
Both hemp tea and hemp coffee are relatively new on the Polish market.
Both drinks are valued primarily for their herbal, delicate nutty taste and specific aroma, as well as for natural ingredients.
Hemp coffee is naturally decaffeinated but can be used as an excellent replacement for traditional coffee. It tastes good with both milk and honey.
It is recommended to drink hemp tea once a day, especially in the evening, because it does not contain caffeine and thanks to that we do not have to worry about the stimulating effect before bedtime.
Hemp tea contains trace amounts of CBD, but due to the fact that CBD does not dissolve in water, it is recommended to drink the tea with the addition of fat, such as a tablespoon of butter. Contrary to appearances, brewing hemp tea is not difficult. Just pour a tablespoon of the ready-made mixture into a glass, pour hot, but not boiling water (the optimum temperature is about 80 degrees). Leave the infusion under cover for about 3-5 minutes, and then pour it through a sieve to obtain a clear solution.
You can add a little fat to the infusion, e.g. a teaspoon of butter, cream or coconut oil. You can find ready-made hemp teas in our store.
Hemp flour
Hemp flour is made from ground hemp seeds. It is gluten-free and contains high amounts of protein.
It is characterized by a dark, slightly green color and of course a nut-sunflower flavor. Pastries and products made on the basis of hemp flour are nutritious and easily digestible, and they taste great!
Hemp flour, just like wheat flour, is suitable for all kinds of baking. You can bake bread, muffins, pancakes, dumplings or noodles with it. However, it is worth bearing in mind that gluten-free flour has a different viscosity, it is difficult to roll out dough prepared from hemp flour alone. The best way to introduce hemp flour into baking is to combine it with standard flour, wheat or cake flour, by about 20-30%.
With the addition of hemp flour, it is worth preparing homemade hemp pasta. It is excellent in taste and has an interesting texture. In addition, it is extremely filling, unlike ordinary pasta. Perfect for soups, pasta salads and spaghetti.
References:
Rodriguez-Leyva, G.N. Pierce,The cardiac and haemostatic effects of dietary hempseed,“Nutrition & Metabolism” 2010.
J. Axe, Hemp Seed Benefits and Nutrition Profile, https://draxe.com/7-hemp-seed-benefits-nutrition-profile/
(20.06.2016).
Michaela Hook,
https://nourishmagazine.com.au/food-stories/hemp-in-the-kitchen/
Artykuł Cannabis on a plate. Bring hemp products into your kitchen pochodzi z serwisu Alba Hemp.