Study shows that hemp flour and oil create gluten-free recipes with perfect texture and high nutritional value
Scientists test cupcakes made with hemp flour and oil and discover a gluten-free recipe with ideal texture and elevated nutritional profile, pointing to the functional potential of the plant
In the heart of Calabria, southern Italy, scientists have turned an ancient grain into the protagonist of a silent revolution in the kitchen. It was there that a team of researchers decided to put hemp to the test not as a raw material for fabrics or green fuel, but as an ingredient in a recipe that warms the heart: the cupcake.
The study, published in the scientific journal Molecules, proposed an almost alchemical challenge: to create a gluten-free cake batter without butter, with perfect texture and rich in nutrients. The magic formula? Flour and oil extracted from hemp seeds, an ancient plant that is now rediscovering its place at the table.
A new texture, a new taste of the world
By replacing traditional butter with hemp oil, carefully enriched with CBD, researchers initially noticed a loss in the consistency of the batter. But nature has its rhythms and secrets. When wheat flour was completely replaced by hemp flour, the batter found its ideal consistency. The texture? Comparable to the classic recipe made with white 00 flour, say the scientists.
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The mixture with corn flour did not yield the same results. But the exclusive combination of hemp flour and oil revealed a unique alchemy, a delicate batter, moist to the right extent, ready to bake and delight health-conscious palates.
"Hemp-derived ingredients have proven to be viable for traditional confectionery, delivering high nutritional value thanks to CBD and the beneficial profile of the flour," describes the article.
Nutrients that nourish body and consciousness
More than texture, hemp delivers nutritional power. Its seeds are rich in proteins, essential amino acids, fibers, and fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, allies of good cardiovascular health. The oil, in turn, not only elegantly replaces conventional fats but also brings the non-intoxicating therapeutic compounds of CBD.
"Hemp is a robust plant, grows with few inputs, and can be transformed into a multitude of products," said researcher Sean Liu from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in an institutional video that also highlighted the plant's potential for fabrics, construction materials, and dietary supplements.
From the oven to the field: hemp for all beings
The movement around hemp goes beyond culinary uses. Scholars and lawmakers have explored its use as animal feed. In the United States, studies have shown that cows fed with hemp cake maintain minimal levels of THC and CBD, signaling safety in consuming their meat by humans. Other tests indicate that hemp can reduce stress in cows and horses.
Recently, hemp seed flour was approved as feed for laying hens. A bill to expand this authorization to other animals, such as horses and even pets, reached the governor of New York but was vetoed due to lack of data. However, science continues to advance.
With information from Marijuana Moment.