If you’ve decided to give hemp seeds a try, you’ll quickly find out that there’s a lot of options you can choose from. It’s easy to get confused after searching for options online, as there are many smaller boutique brands that you might not have heard of.

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Here’s the top 7 things you should keep in mind before you buy a package of hemp seeds:

What kind of hemp seeds do I want? Where was the hemp grown? What the hemp taste like? What brand should I buy from? Who offers the best price? Who has the best reviews? What are different ways to eat raw hemp seeds?

Now, let’s start breaking these down one by one.

Why kind of hemp seeds should you buy?

Hulled hemp, often called hemp hearts, is the entire hemp seed with the crunchy outer shell removed. Removing the shell also makes the hemp hearts more nutritious, as it increases the overall percentage of protein and essential fatty acids. Toasted hemp seeds are whole hemp seeds that are roasted in high temperatures for a varied length of time. This results in a popcorn like snack that makes it easy to snack on.

In addition to hulled & toasted hemp seeds, producers add hemp seeds as a key ingredient to hemp bars or spreads. Depending on how you want to eat hemp seeds, you have many choices to choose from

Check where the hemp seeds are from

For good edible hemp seed, Canada is known to be the best quality. This is not only because of the taste of the hemp strain that the Canadian farmers use, but also because of the strict restrictions that the Canadian government enforces.

Canadian farmers are only allowed to use hemp seed varieties that are listed under Health Canada’s List of Approved Cultivars. All hemp seeds from Canada are non-GMO verified, which means the seeds are not genetically modified. Canadian farmers also don’t use pesticides when farming hemp. You can also look for the “Pro-Cert Organic” certifications on the brands that you buy.

Lot of hemp manufacturers are now warning consumers to watch out for Chinese hemp that is flooding the market. Chinese hemp producers aren’t regulated as strictly as Canadian farmers. Since you won’t be able to taste the hemp until you buy a packet, make sure to check their labels to ensure the hemp is certified from Canada!

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What does hemp seed taste like?

Hemp seeds have a pleasant nutty taste that could be compared to unflavored sunflower seeds, but with a much softer texture.

What brand should I buy from?

It’s relatively easy to find hemp seeds online now through Amazon and Google. If you’re strictly looking for raw or toasted hemp seeds, I’d recommend buying through Amazon. We’ve compiled a ranking of brands based on price and reviews below.

If you’re looking to buy other types of hemp seed products (like hemp bars or hemp spreads), there’s actually several domestic brands that offer delicious options.

Amazon Price Comparison: Which hemp brands are most price competitive?

Price for hemp seeds are most cost competitive on Amazon. Products range from $9 per lb to $23 per lb. These prices are dependent on the brand and the packaging size.

Amazon Review Comparison: Which hemp brand has the best reviews?

The quality of hemp seed brands can be attested by their online reviews. On average, hemp protein brands have Amazon reviews higher than 4.6 stars, with most of them having over 100 reviewers. Below are the average ratings of the highest rated protein products on Amazon:

What are different ways I can eat hemp seeds?

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Eat raw as a snack

Mix into your smoothie

Sprinkle on top of cereal, salads, yogurt, or even oatmeal

Substitute hemp for breadcrumbs to coat chicken or fish

Blend with water to make hemp seed milk

Ground hemp seed to use it as a condiment

Toasted hemp seeds can be eaten like popcorn