Teri Wallace
Hemp seeds do not mill into flour, they become butter because of the high oil content. In order to get flour, you need to remove the oils. We mill the byproduct of pressing hemp seed for oil, which we call hemp cake, into flour for just such a use. Our certified organic hemp flour is quite nice and is very fine. It is perfect for adding to baking and for bread.
The most recognized health benefits of hemp flour are amino acids, essential fatty acids, blood protein, fiber, and mineral content.
Hemp flour is an excellent source of essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Some of the amino acids hemp protein contains are cysteine, glutamine, glycine, isoleucine, tryptophan, lysine, methionine, and phenylalanine.
Hemp has a 3:1 omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio which is considered to be balanced and ideal for optimal health by the National Institute of Health. Hemp flour also contains alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, gamma linoleic acid, and stearidonic acid.
Hemp flour is high in protein and fiber. Hemp protein is among the most digestible protein available. Your body readily uses the protein, utilizing it for tissue, muscle, and hormone formation. Hemp protein specifically contains two blood building proteins–edistin and albumin. Approximately 65% of the protein in hemp seeds is from edistin. These proteins create antibodies to improve the immune system and allow the other nutrients of hemp flour to be absorbed more rapidly. Hemp flour often offers a range of 15-20% proteins, or higher depending on the specifications.
Hemp flour contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, boron, iron, zinc, manganese, sulphur and chlorophyll, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B3, B5, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
Uses & Interesting Info
Hemp flour can be used in protein shakes, smoothies or power drinks. You can use it topically on soups, yogurt, cereals or fresh fruit. I’ve seen it used in power bars for snacking, too! It is considered to be a raw food. I’ve also read that it tastes great in breads, waffles, pancakes, cakes, cookies, crust, scones, and muffins.
Hemp seeds do not mill into flour because of the high oil content. In order to get flour, you need to press hemp seed for oil, which is called hemp cake. Then, you must mill the hemp seed cake into a hemp flour composition.
Hemp Flour Flavor
Hemp flour has an earthy, nutty flavor. Sometimes, it even carries a plant-like taste into the dish, depending on what you’re making. For example, when I used it to make my breaded chicken tenders, they had a granular, “planty” flavor profile. They looked more dark brown than green.
Flavor, Texture, and Color
Hemp flour is a gluten-free flour that does not rise. It is dense and produces a granular texture when used for cooking and baking, much like corn flour. A protein content of approximately 33% makes it very hearty.
How Much Hemp Flour to Use?
As a general rule, you want to use about 25-33% hemp flour in your flour mixes to have a composition balanced in flavor and texture. Hemp flour doesn’t rise, has no gluten and is very hearty and therefore is not a flour that can be used in bread on its own, you would need to mix it with other flours, unless you are making a flat bread or a cracker. A 3:1 ratio produces a hearty heavy loaf all the way to a 7:1 ratio which produces basically a loaf of bread with hemp flecks in it.
Bragging rights on this post, go to the Groovy Gourmet, inspired by this post! Thank you we enjoyed this!
http://www.groovy-gourmet.com/blog/paleo-hemp-flour-alternative-flavor-textures-tips-uses/
As part of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance’s Hemp Foods Characterization Project we are hempy to share the test results, we often get this question is hemp gluten-free?
