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In this review, I would like to share with you a product that is gaining a lot of popularity lately with a lot of people, but especially in the raw, vegan and vegetarian communities. This product is hemp seeds and hemp protein.
The product I am going to tell you about today comes from Manitoba Harvest and it is their Hemp Protein Powder.
I found this product early on this year – 2009 – after having researched and read a lot about the amazing properties of hemp as a food. So I ventured to my local health food store to see what I could find and this product seemed to stand out.
To begin with, a lot of people still have many misconceptions when it comes to the hemp plant. It is not unusual for people to associate it with the marijuana drug. Although both hemp and marijuana come from the same plant biologically speaking, there are big differences. The drug associated with marijuana is mainly found in the leaves of the female plants, who are not fertilized, and not in the seeds that are used for food.
As for the company, Manitoba Harvest is a Canadian, farmer owned company that was established in 1998. I am quite pleased with the company itself as they operate an organic and kosher certified facility, as well as adhere to good manufacturing practices.
I bought the product with the intention of using it in smoothies for the amazing benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids and having another source of a complete protein in my diet, among many other nutritional benefits that hemp is known for.
The hemp protein powder comes as a dark olive (brownish-green) powder. One serving is equal to 4 tablespoons and the product is described as having a “gourmet nutty flavor”.
Well let me tell you, I am all for how this product is grown and the amazing nutritional benefits, but the taste is where it loses me. In fact, I am just going to go out and say it, I used to love smoothies, especially green smoothies until I added this product to them. I know that different people have different taste buds out there, but I found using this product a really unpleasant experience. Aside from the change in taste, I also did not enjoy the grainy texture that it left the smoothie with.
At the beginning I put up with it, thinking it was all for a good cause. And I mean don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t horrible, but like I said it wasn’t enjoyable either. So I tried adding less of the powder, but it was still not the same. So I suffered a little, that is until I discovered that there existed the actual hulled hemp seeds.
If you are used to drinking protein powders in your diet, then perhaps you won’t mind this product, but for others I would highly recommend trying the hulled hemp seeds instead. You can sprinkle them on salads or blend them beautifully in smoothies. On top of that they have barely no taste, and the taste they do have is delicious. You can get those from Manitoba Harvest as well, or other hulled hemp seed manufacturers.
Ingredients
- Hemp protein powder (50% protein by weight)
Nutritional Information (per 4 Tbsp/30g serving)
- 134 Calories
- 6 g Fat
- 0.6g Saturated Fat
- 4.5g Polyunsaturated Fat (3.3g omega-6, 1.2g omega-3)
- 0.9g Monounsaturated
- 15 g Protein
- 5 g Carbohydrate
- 1 g Sugar
- 4 g Fiber
- 15 mg Sodium
- 0 mg Cholesterol
Vitamins & Minerals
- 0% Vitamin A
- 1% Vitamin C
- 0 % Calcium
- 4 % Iron
Amino Acid Profile (per 30g)
- Alanine 685mg
- Arginine 1897mg
- Aspartic Acid 1574mg
- Cystine 259mg
- Glutamic Acid 2663mg
- Glycine 693mg
- Histidine 434mg
- Isoleucine 1051mg
- Leucine 1051mg
- Lysine 617mg
- Methionine 350mg
- Phenylalanine 701mg
- Proline 647mg
- Serine 777mg
- Threonine 529mg
- Tryptophan 186mg
- Tyrosine 491mg
- Valine 773mg
Packaging
The powder comes in smaller 454g/16oz and larger 908g/32oz containers. The containers are dark to shield the product from light damage and are #2 recyclable plastic jars, with screw on caps.
Price (as of this posting)
- Around $17.00 CDN fro the 454g/16oz size
- Around $30.00 CDN for the 908g/32oz size
- $11.99US for the 454g/16oz size from Amazon.com
Availability
- In Canada & US at local health food stores
- Online Stores
- To find a store in Canada see the Canadian Merchant Locator
- To find a store in the US see the US Merchant Locator
- For all other international customers see Reidarsson.com
The Good
- Excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Excellent complete protein source
- No additives
- No preservatives
- Pesticide Free
- Gluten free
- Hexane free
- Cold milled
- Fair Price
The Bad
- Taste will not be suitable/pleasant for everyone
- Texture in smoothies or similar mixes will not be suitable for everyone
9 OUT OF 10
About the author:Evita Ochel, B.Sc., B.Ed., CHN - is a certified holistic nutritionist, biologist, educator, writer, researcher and speaker in the areas of health, science and holistic wellness. She is a nutritional science expert and her teaching and writing focus on natural, wholesome, plant-based and organic nutrition to achieve optimal health and longevity. Learn more about Evita Ochel or Follow Evita Ochel on Twitter.
7 Comments to “Review: Manitoba Harvest Hemp Protein Powder”
This seems to be very similar to my hemp protein. Mine is from a US company, but the hemp comes from Canada.
When you add hemp seeds to smoothie, it doesn’t give the fibrous grainy feel? Does it become more like hemp butter? (Which is very tasty)
I wrote this to my response to your comment on my blog, but the breakdown of amino acid, by itself, is very hard to understand for non-scientists. It’s just a lot of numbers. Amino acid score is a lot easier to grasp idea. But then, there is a mystery how that score is calculated. . .
Wow! I love your honesty. I bought hemp protein powder a few weeks ago and have yet to actually use it… I’m hoping for the best!
@ AKEMI – Hi Akemi, with respect to the hemp seeds, no. They blend very smooth (and I don’t even have a top of the line blender like a vita-mix or anything). No graininess at all. I have not yet tried hemp butter, but I do find the little seeds very smooth and buttery when they are put in salads, and I guess that smoothness translates to the smoothies. The seeds are creamy-white too, so even the color of the smoothie is more pleasant (if that matters).
And you are so right, what do those amino acid numbers really mean? Not much to most of us. I doubt even most doctors would know how to make sense of those numbers. You know who would know the most, body builders as they are always reading about protein this and protein that.
Ultimately, I truly feel that eating a natural, plant based diet, that is varied takes care of the protein factor naturally. For example my husband works out regularly (weight training) and we never even think twice of getting him to unnaturally “bulk” up on protein. Just what we eat, he eats.
So although the numbers are a bit of a mystery, and although it would be nice to know what they are all about, what I am trying to say is that that never has to be an area of concern as to if we are getting “enough” of the right ones. Other things like B12 yes, but protein – no worries :) One would have to have other underlying diseases for the most part for this to be an issue, like liver disease per se.
@ HANLIE – Thanks Hanlie, I try to say it like I feel it or find it, as I really want people to benefit from these reviews and know what are better or worse products to look for in the natural health market.
Evita
Sorry to hear about your disappointment with the taste of the hemp protein powder. Since you appreciate the many nutritional benefits hemp offers, have you tried a flavored hemp protein powder or the new water-soluble HEMP PRO 70? The texture of HEMP PRO 70 is much more ‘creamier’ with a milder flavor. E-mail me and I can send you some samples!
@ KELLY – Hi Kelly, no problem. As I said, it is not suitable for me, but there are many people out there that I am sure will find it pleasant.
I would probably pass on the flavored hemp protein, as even though I did not enjoy this one, I truly think the product is best in its most natural state. The water soluble hemp pro 70 sounds interesting, perhaps I will give that one a try.
But like I said, I am really happy that the actual hemp seeds are available, and enjoying those immensely. I try to tell everyone I know about them because not enough people for sure know about the amazing nutritional properties of hemp. And whether one chooses to eat them as the seeds, powders, milks or butters – it is something to seriously consider adding into ones diet, even more so for the omega 3 even, than the protein in most cases.
I’m relieved. When hemp seeds went on sale (they’re costly!) in the local market, I snapped up a bag, because I remembered a yummy-sounding recipe I’d printed only to learn the seeds were a key ingredient. Now I can’t find the recipe! Adding them to salads will be easy, since I’m used to doing that with hulled sunflower seeds. Thanks, Evita. :)
@ JULIE – Great to hear Julie! Yes, hemp seeds can seem costly, but you know what, when we consider that when we eat nutritionally dense food, we actually eat less food period (generally speaking) – I believe in the end it all works out.
But it is wonderful to hear you have these little seeds and yes, enjoy adding them to salads, or really any other meal you can think of. They go great with almost everything.