Being a huge fan of hemp for its amazing nutrition properties, I enjoy eating natural hemp seeds (hemp hearts) on almost a daily basis for several years now. However, while I love the hemp seeds themselves, I have not been a fan of hemp protein powders. Every so often, for about 3 years now, I have the chance or get myself to try a hemp protein powder to see if my preferences have changed and each time I am not won over by the experience. While they are not for me though, hemp protein powders can be valuable options for many. It all depends on our needs and how we are going to use this product.
One of the leading hemp food companies for years now has been Manitoba Harvest. In a previous review I shared with you about their Hemp Protein Powder, which is no longer available today and has been reformulated into a new line. I also shared with you about their Hemp Pro 70 protein powder which is part of the new line since a couple of years ago. Thus in this review, I wanted to share with you a summary of the entire current line of the Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro Protein powders to help you learn about them and choose the right one for you if you are called to this product.
Manitoba Harvest is a Canadian company that was co-founded by Mike Fata in 1998. It shares that it is the only vertically integrated hemp food company in the world, meaning they control every aspect of the process from the farm gate to end packaging. The company operates a kosher and organic certified facility, and supports renewable energy.
Currently, they offer several hemp food products like hemp seeds, butter, oil and milk, as well as their hemp protein powder line which includes 5 varieties. I will talk about each in more detail below.
Hemp Pro 70
Ingredients: Hemp protein concentrate (70% by weight), natural plant extracts
Nutrition per 30g serving (4 tbsp):
Protein: 21g
Omega-3: 800mg
Fiber: 0g
Calories: 140
Flavor: natural hemp flavor
Features: water soluble, soy-free, gluten-free, hexane-free, most expensive of the 5 varieties
Personal Experience: see the following detailed Hemp Pro 70 review
Recommended Use: if you are looking for a natural, very high protein powder that is easier to mix in liquids, and includes a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids
Hemp Pro 50
Ingredients: Hemp protein powder (50% by weight)
Nutrition per 30g serving (4 tbsp):
Protein: 15g
Omega-3: 1200mg
Fiber: 4g
Calories: 134
Flavor: natural hemp flavor
Features: no additives, no preservatives, soy-free, gluten-free, hexane-free
Personal Experience: harder to mix in liquids (more obvious) than hemp pro 70, not pleasant taste or texture
Recommended Use: if you are looking for an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, with a high protein amount and some fiber
Hemp Pro Fiber
Ingredients: Organic hemp protein & fiber powder
Nutrition per 30g serving (4 tbsp):
Protein: 11g
Omega-3: 600mg
Fiber: 14g
Calories: 127
Flavor: natural hemp flavor
Features: no additives, no preservatives, soy-free, gluten-free, hexane-free
Personal Experience: no noticeable difference between this product and hemp pro 50 in terms of taste and texture for me
Recommended Use: if you need more fiber in your diet and want to benefit from a protein and omega-3 source as well
Hemp Protein Vanilla
Ingredients: Organic hemp protein powder, organic palm sugar, organic vanilla flavor
Nutrition per 30g serving (4 tbsp):
Protein: 9g
Omega-3: 400mg
Fiber: 11g
Calories: 130
Flavor: pleasant vanilla flavor
Features: no additives, no preservatives, soy-free, gluten-free, hexane-free
Personal Experience: taste can be barely noticeable if you blend into a fruit/veggie smoothie, more noticeable with full serving and more simple smoothie, has some noticeable texture
Recommended Use: if you want to add some extra protein, fiber and omega-3 to your diet and require a flavored product
Hemp Protein Dark Chocolate
Ingredients: Organic hemp protein powder, organic palm sugar, organic fair trade cocoa powder
Nutrition per 30g serving (4 tbsp):
Protein: 8g
Omega-3: 400mg
Fiber: 9g
Calories: 120
Flavor: pleasant natural cocoa taste
Features: no additives, no preservatives, soy-free, gluten-free, hexane-free
Personal Experience: most enjoyable of all 5 products, taste can vary between stronger or very delicate chocolate flavor depending on number of tablespoons used and what it is mixed with
Recommended Use: if you want to add some extra protein, fiber and omega-3 to your diet and require a flavored product
Conclusion
In general, although each of the above protein powders has slightly unique characteristics, their overall experience for me is very similar. Knowing that I would not enjoy them at all with water alone, anytime I used these, I mixed them in with my typical green smoothies. I also tend to stick with half the serving size, 2 tablespoons, instead of 4 to have a more enjoyable experience. In this form, they were doable and neither amazing, nor horrible.
Other people who try these, have varying experiences from loving a particular variety to not being able to stomach them at all. So before you commit to a large size, try the smallest sizes possible and experiment with it in different additions, and portions of it. You may also wish to compare Nutiva’s Hemp Protein powder to see if you have a preference in one company over the other. There are slight differences, and when it comes to the Hemp Pro 50, I enjoyed Nutiva’s equivalent of it more. For logistic reasons, if you are from the US you may wish to stick with Nutiva, and if you are from Canada you may wish to stick with Manitoba Harvest, to make it a more locally sustainable product.
Given what I eat, I personally don’t feel a need for these in my diet, and am definitely not drawn to their taste or texture enough to “make a need” for them. Some people may benefit by making these a part of their daily or occasional meal routine and wish to use them. If it is about protein and omega-3 fatty acids, I would still recommend the hemp seeds themselves for a less processed product and with more complete nutritional benefits. However aside from the recommended uses I mention above, these products can most benefit athletes or very active people who want to conveniently increase their protein intake, in as clean and natural as possible way. They are also a good option for people whose diets may be lacking in complete nutrition or do not allow for proper meal preparation. It is way better to consume something like this on the go, over any fast food or heavily processed product.
So given the price, nutritional qualities, taste and texture experience, I recommend contemplating each aspect to decide for yourself if you: a) really need this product, b) will benefit from this product and c) if there isn’t another product on the market that would be better suited to your taste preferences and personal nutritional needs.
Packaging
The powders come in 3 sizes:
- Small 454g/16oz
- Large 908g/32oz
- Bulk 2.27kg/5lbs
The containers they come in are black to shield the product from light damage and are #2 recyclable plastic jars, with screw on caps.
Price (as of this posting)
- Around $15.00 – $30.00 CDN for the 454g/16oz size depending on variety in local health food stores or from Manitoba Harvest or
- Around $27.00 – $54.00 CDN for the 908g/32oz size depending on variety in local health food stores or from Manitoba Harvest or
- Around $60.00 – $100.00 CDN for the 908g/32oz size depending on variety in local health food stores or from Manitoba Harvest or
- $10.00US and up for various sizes and varieties from Amazon.com
Availability
- In Canada & US at local health food stores
- Online Stores
- To find a store in Canada or US see store locator
The Good
- Excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Excellent source of complete
- Can be additional source of fiber
- Some organic varieties
- Vegetarian/Vegan friendly
- No additives
- No preservatives
- Soy free
- Gluten free
- Hexane free
- Non GMO
- Kosher
- Fair Price
The Bad
- Taste(s) will not be suitable/pleasant for everyone
- Texture in plain water is gritty, aside from the pro 70 which is water soluble
- Texture in smoothies or similar mixes will not be suitable for everyone’s preferences
- Flavored varieties have added sugar