hemp seed oil vs cbd oil: what's actually in the bottle
Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are different products made from different parts of the same plant. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and sold as a food, like flaxseed or pumpkin seed oil. CBD oil is an extract made mainly from the flowers and leaves, usually dissolved in a carrier oil, and sold under entirely different rules. The words "hemp oil" get used for both, which is where the confusion starts.
The short comparison
| Hemp seed oil | CBD oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Hemp seeds, pressed | Extract of flowers and leaves, in a carrier oil |
| What it is | A culinary oil | A cannabidiol product |
| Typical bottle | 250ml–500ml, for the kitchen | 10–30ml dropper bottle |
| Label shows | Nutrition panel, best-before date | CBD content in mg per bottle or per drop |
| Price | Similar to other speciality cooking oils | Far higher per millilitre |
| Taste | Nutty, grassy, green | Often earthy or bitter; frequently flavoured |
| Use | Dressings, drizzling, smoothies | Taken by the drop |
Why the names overlap
Both come from Cannabis sativa grown as industrial hemp. Seed and flower are very different materials, though. Cannabinoids such as CBD and THC are produced mainly in the resin of the flowers and leaves; the seeds themselves are not where they are made. Pressing seeds gives you a food oil. Extracting flowers gives you a cannabinoid product.
To add to the muddle, many CBD products use hemp seed oil as the carrier, so "hemp oil" can appear on both kinds of label. Read the whole label, not the headline.
How to tell which one you're holding
- Look for a CBD figure. A CBD product states an amount of CBD in milligrams. A culinary hemp seed oil does not, because it isn't a CBD product.
- Look at the size and the dropper. Kitchen oils come in cooking-sized bottles. A 10ml or 30ml bottle with a pipette is a supplement format.
- Look for a nutrition panel. A food oil carries one, with energy and fat per 100g.
- Check the ingredients. A culinary oil lists one ingredient: hemp seed oil. A CBD product lists an extract plus a carrier.
- Check the price. If a small bottle costs several times more than a large bottle of cooking oil, it is almost certainly a CBD product.
Does hemp seed oil contain THC?
Culinary hemp seed oil is not a THC or CBD product. Seeds from industrial hemp varieties contain at most trace amounts of cannabinoids, usually from contact with the plant's resin during harvest rather than from the seed itself, and good cleaning before pressing keeps that to a minimum. Our Hemp Seed Oil is a single-ingredient culinary oil pressed from the seeds and has no psychoactive effect.
If you are subject to workplace or sports testing, it is sensible to check with the organisation doing the testing before eating any hemp foods regularly — that applies to hemp seeds, hemp protein and hemp seed oil alike.
What hemp seed oil tastes like
Distinctly nutty and grassy, a little like sunflower seeds with a fresh green edge, and a natural green colour. It is more characterful than flaxseed oil and milder than walnut. Some people pick up a faint hint of fresh herbs or even pine nuts.
How to use it in the kitchen
Hemp seed oil is a cold-use oil. It is high in polyunsaturated fat, so heat spoils its flavour quickly. Use it:
- In dressings — with lemon, cider vinegar and a little honey, over tomatoes, grains or bitter leaves.
- In pesto — swap half the olive oil for hemp seed oil for a greener, nuttier result.
- Over finished dishes — soups, roasted vegetables, hummus, bean salads.
- In smoothies, porridge and yoghurt — a teaspoon blends in easily.
- With hemp seeds — a sprinkle of hulled seeds and a drizzle of the oil over a salad doubles the flavour.
For anything that needs a hot pan, cook with a stable oil and add the hemp seed oil at the end. Our smoke point guide covers which oils do the frying, and What Is a Neutral Oil? explains when to reach for one.
How to store it
Treat hemp seed oil like flaxseed oil: cool and dark before opening, then into the fridge once opened, cap tight, and finish it within a couple of months. If it starts to smell sharp or like old paint, it has oxidised. Our guide to whether cooking oil goes off covers the signs.
Frequently asked questions
Is hemp seed oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp seed oil is pressed from hemp seeds and sold as a culinary oil. CBD oil is an extract made mainly from the flowers and leaves, usually dissolved in a carrier oil, and it states a CBD content on the label.
Does hemp seed oil contain THC?
Culinary hemp seed oil is not a THC or CBD product. Seeds from industrial hemp contain at most trace amounts, mostly from surface contact during harvest, and hemp seed oil has no psychoactive effect.
How can I tell hemp seed oil from CBD oil?
Look for a CBD figure in milligrams, a small dropper bottle and a much higher price — those indicate a CBD product. A culinary hemp seed oil has a nutrition panel, a single ingredient and a cooking-sized bottle.
What does hemp seed oil taste like?
Nutty and grassy, with a fresh green edge and a natural green colour. It is milder than walnut oil and more characterful than flaxseed oil.
Can you cook with hemp seed oil?
It is best used cold — in dressings, pesto, smoothies or drizzled over finished dishes. Heat quickly spoils its flavour, so cook with a stable oil and add hemp seed oil at the end.
Does hemp seed oil need to be refrigerated?
After opening, yes. Keep it in the fridge with the cap tight and use it within a couple of months.
The short version
Hemp seed oil is a kitchen oil pressed from seeds; CBD oil is an extract sold in a dropper. Check the label for a CBD figure, a nutrition panel and the bottle size, and you'll never mix them up. Use the culinary kind cold, keep it in the fridge once opened, and try our cold pressed Hemp Seed Oil (250ml) in your next dressing.
