Hemp Seeds & Hemp Hearts: What They Are & How to Use Them
Hemp hearts have gone from health-shop curiosity to everyday pantry staple — a mild, nutty seed you can spoon over almost anything. This is a plain-English guide to hemp seeds and hemp hearts: what they are, how they differ, how to use them, and the Australian-grown hemp we stock.
Hemp seeds vs hemp hearts
Hemp hearts are hemp seeds with the crunchy outer hull removed — soft, nutty and ready to eat. Whole hemp seeds keep their hull, so they are crunchier and higher in fibre. You will see “hemp hearts” and “hulled hemp seeds” used to mean the same thing. Nothing is added, and any THC or CBD is a natural trace that Australian food law caps at very low levels — this is a food, grown for its nutritious seed.
What’s in them
Hemp hearts are naturally a source of plant protein, dietary fibre, and the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids — with a naturally balanced ratio between the two. That mild, nutty profile is why they slip so easily into everyday meals.
How to use hemp hearts
- Breakfast — stir through yoghurt, porridge or a smoothie bowl; blend a spoonful into smoothies.
- Salads & bowls — scatter over for a nutty crunch, like you would pine nuts.
- Baking — fold into bliss balls, muesli bars, breads and muffins.
- On toast — sprinkle over avocado or nut butter.
Prefer to drink or cook with it? Reach for raw hemp seed oil (drizzle raw over salads), or add plant protein with hemp seed protein in shakes.
Our Australian-grown hemp range
All grown and pressed in Western Australia by Vasse Valley:
- Raw Hemp Hearts — $16.95: mild, nutty, ready to eat.
- Raw Hemp Seed Protein — $16.95: single-ingredient plant protein for smoothies and shakes.
- Raw Hemp Seed Oil — $16.95: a balanced 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio; best raw.
- Vasse Valley 3-pack — $45: hearts, protein and oil together, with a free calico bag.
Prefer a no-measuring format? See our best hemp seed oil capsules guide. Curious about terpenes? Explore the Vasse Valley Terpene Tonics and the wider hemp products range.
Shop Hemp Hearts & Hemp Products
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hemp seeds and hemp hearts?
Hemp hearts are hemp seeds with the crunchy outer hull removed — soft, mild and nutty, ready to eat. Whole hemp seeds keep their hull, so they are crunchier and higher in fibre. “Hemp hearts” and “hulled hemp seeds” are the same thing.
Can you eat hemp seeds raw?
Yes — hemp hearts are delicious raw, straight from the bag or sprinkled over food. They need no cooking; in fact, keeping them raw preserves their delicate oils and nutty flavour.
Do hemp seeds contain CBD or THC?
Hemp seeds and hemp hearts are a food with no added CBD or THC. They can carry a natural trace, which Australian food law caps at very low levels (FSANZ Standard 1.4.4). They are grown for their nutritious seed, not for cannabinoids.
Are hemp seeds legal in Australia?
Yes. Hemp seed foods have been legal to sell and eat in Australia since November 2017. Our hemp is Australian-grown by Vasse Valley in Western Australia.
How do you store hemp hearts?
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer once opened. Like all seeds rich in natural oils, they stay freshest kept cool and out of the light.
