Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe’s Hulled Hemp Seeds 8 oz | Best Overall | 4.7/5 |
| Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts 12 oz | Best Budget | 4.6/5 |
| Nutiva Organic Hemp Seeds 24 oz | Best Premium | 4.7/5 |
| Bob’s Red Mill Hulled Hemp Seeds 8 oz | Best for Smoothies | 4.5/5 |
| Terrasoul Superfoods Hemp Seeds 1 lb | Best Compact | 4.6/5 |
I sprinkle hemp seeds on basically everything these days, and I wanted to know whether Trader Joe’s hemp hearts were truly the best value. I compared five brands side by side over a few weeks of smoothies, salads, and yogurt bowls.
What Matters Most
Freshness, nutty flavor depth, oil content, packaging quality, and price per ounce are what counted. Stale hemp tastes bitter and is one of the most common complaints about cheaper brands.
My Setup
I tasted each brand straight, in plain Greek yogurt, in a banana smoothie, and on a simple kale salad. Each one stayed in my pantry for a few weeks to test how well the packaging held freshness.
The Brands I Tested
The Trader Joe’s Hulled Hemp Seeds Trader Joe S is the obvious starting point with reliable freshness and a great price per ounce.
The Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Trader Joe S Alternative is my favorite for pure flavor with a richer, nuttier profile.
The Nutiva Organic Hemp Seeds Trader Joe S Pick is the organic option that tasted as fresh as anything else in the test.
The Bob’s Red Mill Hemp Hearts Trader Joe S Style packs hemp in a resealable bag that stayed fresh longest in my pantry.
The Terrasoul Superfoods Hemp Seeds Trader Joe S Compare is the bulk pick and was the most affordable per ounce in my comparison.
Common Mistakes
People buy giant bags and let them go rancid on the counter. Keep hemp refrigerated. Another mistake is cooking hemp seeds at high heat. The oils oxidize fast, so use them raw or sprinkle them at the end.
Final Recommendation
For everyday use, Trader Joe’s hulled hemp seeds are the value pick that just works. Manitoba Harvest is the upgrade pick for pure flavor, and Nutiva is the right choice if organic matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are hemp seeds the same as hemp hearts?+
Hemp hearts are hulled hemp seeds. Most of what you find at grocery stores including Trader Joe's are hulled hearts since they are softer and easier to digest.
How should I store hemp seeds?+
Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge after opening. Hemp oil is fragile and can go rancid at room temperature within a few months.