What is Finola?
So, you’ve wrapped your head around the fact that hemp is a non-psychoactive type of cannabis. Cannabis comes in three species, Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis. Each of these species has a number of different varieties. Finola is a variety from the Cannabis Sativa Family. Cannabis sativa is one you might have heard of, which is a herbaceous species originating in Central Asia. But did you know there are also different varieties of hemp? And they’re not all created equal. One of the better-known hemp varieties is the Finola plant, and we are Australia’s exclusive grower of Finola, let’s put it in the spotlight…
What is the Finola plant?
Finola is a short and early maturing variety of hemp that’s primarily used for its grain in the production of hemp food products. Its Fatty Acid profile and Omega contents make it particularly favourable in both Dehulled Seeds and as a cold-pressed oil. It’s an incredibly productive plant, growing best in temperate regions. Finola was first recognised by Canada and the European Union, developed for use as a grain (instead of fibre like other hemp varieties). So, what does this mean for you, the health-conscious consumer?
Hemp grain vs hemp fibre
As early as 8000 BCE, hemp fibre strains were used to make rope, pottery, paper, clothing and textiles. Given this was the predominant use of the plant back then, it’s easy to see why hemp varieties were skewed toward genetic selection for their fibre characteristics and not the seeds nutritional values. In recent years, there were increasing interest in the nutritional properties of hemp seeds. So along came the Finola plant, a variety that specialises in producing grain with greater nutritional properties. Not only that, Finola has a sweet, nutty taste, the ideal flavour profile to produce hemp oil. When Finola was developed, the resulting hemp oil was a rich source of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. And the thing with omega fatty acids is that they need to be present in the right ratios for your body to absorb and thrive off them. This ideal ratio sits between 2:1 and 4:1 of Omega 6 to Omega 3 (and Finola passes with flying colours). On the flip side, when hemp is produced primarily for use as a fibre (in strains like cannabis sativa), its speciality lies in commercial applications like hempcrete, paper, nets and textiles
Will Finola get you high?
In a word, no. The Finola plant has been genetically selected to produce a nutritious low THC oil. The levels of THC (the compound that gets you high) are far too low to have any psychoactive effects.
Let’s sum things up...
In the past, hemp was primarily used in commercial applications, which prioritise hemp fibre. But then came along the Finola strain, which was developed for use as a grain, boasting incredible nutritional benefits and a delicious flavour profile. At Australian Primary Hemp, we’ve acquired exclusive rights to the Finola hemp variety in Australia. We use this to produce our delicious hemp oil seeds, protein and we also distribute them to hemp food businesses around the country. We’re proud to be at the forefront of the industry, dedicated to shaking off the stigma and educating the public about this incredible plant.