The New Dairy Alternative: Hemp’s Future

A milk alternative hardly seems cause for protest or legislation but in the case of hemp, all of the above are justified. One might liken the resource as a criminal put in jail without a fair trial, convicted with DNA evidence, for the natural resource has the potential to be as successful as bamboo when it comes to sustainable resources used for food and textiles, as well as its potential as a source of biofuel energy. Trendcetera spoke to Christina Volgyesi, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Oregon-based hemp food company, Living Harvest, about hemp ice cream, farming legislation and Living Harvest’s future.  

Hemp has long been shunned for its association with cannabis sativa, or marijuana. But, there are bills in both the House and the Senate, from different politicans, to remove this association, legally, and recognize that hemp is not a drug. House Bill 1130 sponsored by Jason Holsman seeks to define “industrial hemp” as cannabis sativa L. with no more than 1% THC. Senate bill 1866, or the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009, is sponsored by a group of politicans, but led by Ron Paul and Barney Frank. It aims to change the Controlled Substances Act to “exclude indstrial hemp from the definition of marijuana and for other purposes.” Passing this bill, one might argue, could create jobs by enabling the creation of a larger industrial hemp farming business in the United States, as most hemp comes from Canada, though Oregon just became the latest (sixth) to approve industrial hemp farming. But, it would also encourage more widespread use of hemp, whose oil is rich in omega fatty acids and whose other parts can be used to make clothes and shoes, among other products.

Volgyesi told Trendcetera that Living Harvest started with the goal of educating and pioneering in the hemp space. The company saw a demand for an adjusted protein that has no common allergies. The company started with itsoil, protein, and hemp milk line, Tempt, which was recently expanded to include an ice cream line (pictured above). As Volgyesi noted: “Anything you can make out of soy, you can make it out of hemp.” This is an appealing fact because according to Mayo Clinic, soy is one of the eight most common allergens, which also includes wheat, milk, shellfish, peanuts and eggs.

Tempt ice cream is on par with soy and rice ice cream alternatives, and has a suggested price of about $4.29 for a pint. It comes in five flavors: vanilla, mint chip, coconut lime, chocolate fudge, and coffee biscotti, the latter of which was my favorite. While vanilla and mint chip were delicious, they weren’t exactly the same as a milk-based counterpart and they left a slight aftertaste. The Coffee Biscotti, however, is an addictive blend of coffee and generous chunks of the Italian cookie, with no aftertaste at all. Most varities have about 140-170 calories per half-cup serving (four per pint), with about 7-11 grams of fat and one gram of fiber. The chocolate flavor is a bit higher in calories with 16 grams of sugar and two grams of fiber. All are gluten- and dairy-free, safe for vegans and Kosher. They offer not just dairy-free options, but also a lower-glycemic option than the usual sugar- and corn syrup-based frozen desserts.  The main ingredients in Tempt frozen desserts are: hemp milk, cane juice, tapoica solids, sugar and coconut oil.

When it comes to priorities, Living Harvest is focused on continued growth and supporting hemp legislation, but Volgyesi also noted that yogurt might be the company’s next product line. Living Harvest also makes hemp protein for smoothies and cold-pressed hemp oil, which can be used for salad dressing, marinades and atop pasta.

Click here to learn more about Living Harvest and to find locations. Tempt milk is available at most health food stores but Whole Foods is the best bet for the ice cream, since it is a newer product. Click here to support hemp legislation.