Go Green with Hemp Seed Butter!

Everyday, after my hearty lunch (which usually consists of a legume, whole grain rice and fresh organic vegetables all mixed together with some favourite sauce or yummy oil) but before my dinner (which is often some new cooking concoction or a meal eaten out), I get a yen for a snack! Usually snack time will involve a baggy of nuts or some whole wheat rye crisps or crackers with peanut butter on top. The other day, I was feeling adventurous, so I bought some organic hemp seed butter for a change. The brand is Everland Organic, and the variety is Hemp Seed Tahini. It was green, which I found intriguing and appealing all at once.

I just popped open the jar, and shared some with a friend. She’s a fellow foodie, but by no means a vegan. We both tried it on Wasa Rye Crackers and were amazed with the results! The Hemp Seed Tahini tastes rich and nutty, with a delectable aftertaste. Then, I had 3 more! Then, I continued to eat it out of the jar … and then I started writing this post as I ate it … still crunching … Mmm

Two simple ingredients go into this green butter: hemp seeds and sesame seeds. The taste reminded me of something initially, that I could not quite put my finger on. Then, after a couple of bites, I was able to identify it: Halva. Double Mmmm. I’m excited to experiment with this glamorous green butter in baked goods, pates, dips and dressings – if I don’t eat it out of the jar all at once right now!

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Hemp seed is a magic food, with many health benefits. Here is what NaturalHealthWeb.com has to say about it:

Hemp seed oil is truly unique. Approximately 80 percent is polyunsaturated fat – the highest of any vegetable oil. Specifically, it contains the essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid (omega 6) and alpha linolenic acid (omega 3) in an ideal ratio for absorption by the body. These EFAs cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from our diets. Hemp seed oil also contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA), from which omega 6 is naturally converted. Modern day diets and sluggish enzyme activity often impair this conversion and cause GLA deficiency. Hemp seed oil solves this problem. No other single source oil has this ideal combination of EFAs.



EFA’s are well researched in the literature and are attributed to many health benefits. Some of these include: reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, attention deficit disorder, depression and many others.