Living Harvest Hempmilk Vanilla Flavor (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free)
By VeggieGirl – Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, have dairy allergies, or are just someone who simply does not like drinking milk, it seems like more and more individuals these days are turning to “milk alternative” beverages in order to receive proper nutrition. It used to be that the only milk alternatives available in grocery stores were soymilk and rice milk; but now, as I have only just recently discovered, there is a plethora of dairy alternative beverages out there! Joining the ranks of soymilk and rice milk are hazelnut milk, oatmilk, almond milk, and now hempmilk. While I have tried the first three aforementioned beverages before (and, I must say, enjoy them all), I still had not experienced the relatively new, hip milk alternative – hempmilk. After browsing a bit on Living Harvest’s website (www.livingharvest.com) to find out more about hemp and its health benefits (and finding out, thankfully, that it is NOT the same thing as marijuana), I decided to pick up a carton at my local Whole Foods.
Living Harvest hempmilk comes in three flavors (as do most milk alternatives): Original, Chocolate, and Vanilla. I decided to go with the vanilla, since that is the flavor I prefer the most. After pouring myself a glass of the ivory-colored liquid, I found myself gulping down the contents – this beverage was absolutely delicious! It has a smooth, mellow flavor and texture, reminiscent of French Vanilla; and, to my delight, is not overly sweet like other vanilla-flavored beverages (I’m sure this is due to the fact that there are no artificial flavors in this drink – everything is all-natural). Once I finished the serving of hempmilk, I was a bit disappointed at the site of the empty glass – I wanted more! While the flavors of some dairy-alternative beverages tend to be an acquired taste over time, it only took one cup of Living Harvest hempmilk to get me hooked!
One cup of Living Harvest hempmilk is 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) and has 130 calories, 3 grams of fat (0.5 grams of saturated fat), 4 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 18 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of fiber. While the sugar content may be a bit high, and the protein content a bit low, compared to other milk alternatives, it is important to note that the pros of the hempmilk certainly outweigh the cons: Along with all-natural, wholesome ingredients, hempmilk contains several nutrients, including 15% of the RDA for Iron, 46% for Calcium, 25% Vitamin D and Vitamin B12, 5% Folic Acid, 18% Vitamin A, as well as other vitamins and minerals (such as Vitamin E, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Zinc. In addition, it contains 900 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids, 2800 mg of Omega-6 fatty acids with GLA, and all 10 essential Amino Acids. Quite a few nutrients packed into just one cup!
As a vegan, I appreciate the exceptional levels of vitamin B12, calcium, and other important nutrients that Living Harvest hempmilk provides; and, perhaps more importantly, I enjoy its delectable taste and smooth texture as well! Overall, I consider it to be a great substitution for dairy-milk, soymilk, and other nut- and grain-based milk alternatives. I purchased a carton of Living Harvest hempmilk at my local Whole Foods store for $3.69 – although it costs a bit more than other beverages, I feel that it’s well worth the price. Since it is a shelf-stable beverage, I plan to stock my pantry with cartons of Living Harvest hempmilk – yes, it is just that good!
