I partnered with Manitoba Harvest for this blog post and farm tour. As with everything I write, my opinions remain my own.Plus, MH is awesome, and I love their products.
A few weeks back, I had the privilege of going on a press trip to Winnipeg to learn all about hemp hearts with Manitoba Harvest! It was so much fun!
If you’ve never heard of Hemp Hearts, they’re the seed of the hemp plant, similar to a chia or flax, but with twice the protein and omegas, and fewer carbs. Hemp Hearts have a buttery texture and a taste that I think is similar to sunflower seeds. They’re rich in plant-based protein – 10 grams for every 3 tablespoons! – and have all 10 essential amino acids.
They also contain magnesium, fiber, iron, zinc and phosphorous. Win-win!
And just in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to worry about feeling funny from eating hemp hearts! Ha ha! Hemp is a species of Cannabis sativa BUT hemp is not the same as marijuana.
Hemp foods contain less than 0.001% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and will NOT cause a psychoactive effect or a false-positive drug test.
When we arrived at the hemp farm, the thing I noticed first was the overwhelming scent of hemp! It’s a lemony smell that perfumes the air around the plants. The plants themselves are really tall, with clusters of hemp seeds along the stalks. All I had to do was shake the plant, and the hemp seeds fell into my palm. Those are Hemp Hearts!
Hemp itself is a sustainable crop that has thousands of uses including food, textiles like rope and clothing, construction material, plastics, fuel, animal bedding, and more. Its fibers are super strong.
Once hemp starts to grow, it has a broad leaf that helps to naturally suppress weeds which means that no pesticides or herbicides are needed to successfully grow hemp. You’ve got to love a crop that’s kind to the environment!
Hemp Hearts are super mild in flavor, and they add a little protein boost to pretty much any food you can think of. I’ve put them in yogurt, on eggs, in hummus, salads, pasta, crackers, whatever. They’re incredibly nutritious and incredibly versatile.
This Hemp Heart Everything Spice tastes just like an everything bagel, and I always keep a jar (or two) of it in my kitchen because I love sprinkling it on anything that needs some seasoning. It’s low in salt, and adds a punch of flavour to foods like roasted vegetables, dips, breads, and proteins. I’ve actually coated an entire chicken in this everything spice before roasting it. Divine. Absolutely spectacular.
Below, you’ll see I used my Hemp Heart Everything Spice on fish, roasted green beans, and of course, avocado toast.
The recipe is simple: equal parts of all ingredients except for salt, which you can adjust to your taste. I also love to be creative with my spices – I sometimes put things like caraway seeds, flaked chilis, and black sesame seeds into my everything spice. Anything goes!
Give it a try and let me know how you use your hemp heart everything spice!
Tag me on Instagram @langernutrition, and use the hashtag #goodthingscometothosewhohemp.
Recipe:
1/4 cup each Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, dried garlic flakes, dried onion flakes, sesame seeds, poppy seeds.
Salt to taste.
Combine and sprinkle on everything!
For more Hemp Heart information and recipes, check out the Manitoba Harvest site and their Instagram!