ALPISTE™ Protein: A Remarkable Grain with a Protein Story

ALPISTE™ is food-grade hairless canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L.), a cereal grain with an interesting nutritional characteristic: its naturally occurring protein content.

Independent laboratory testing of our ALPISTE™ Food Grade Canary Seeds measured 21.14 g of protein per 100 g and 6.3 g per 30 g serving. On the Canadian Nutrition Facts table, the serving amount is displayed as 6 g of protein per 30 g (3 tbsp) serving. [1] 

Published research on food-grade hairless canary seed has reported similar protein levels and has also investigated its amino-acid composition and protein digestibility. [2][3]

But how much protein a food contains is only part of the story. Understanding canary seed protein also means looking at the amino acids that make up that protein and how protein quality is evaluated.

Learn More About ALPISTE™

How Much Protein Is in ALPISTE™?

We had ALPISTE™ Food Grade Canary Seeds independently analyzed by Mérieux NutriSciences / Silliker Canada as part of our nutritional testing.

For the tested ALPISTE™ sample, the laboratory measured:

21.14 g protein per 100 g
6.3 g protein per 30 g serving [1] 

The accompanying Canadian Nutrition Facts information presents this as 6 g of protein per 30 g (3 tbsp) serving. [1] 

The protein analysis was conducted using the AOAC 992.15 method, identified on the Certificate of Analysis as Protein - Combustion. [1] 

Importantly, these numbers come from the actual ALPISTE™ product submitted for testing, rather than from general nutritional averages for canary seed.

How Does That Compare With Published Canary Seed Research?

Our laboratory result is consistent with published nutritional data for food-grade hairless canary seed.

A 2023 study involving researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and McGill University reported approximately 22% protein in the hairless canary seed studied. [2] 

The Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan reports an average of approximately 21% protein for dehulled canary seed, or canary seed groats. [3] 

These published figures describe canary seed generally. Our 21.14 g per 100 g figure comes directly from laboratory analysis of our ALPISTE™ sample. [1] 

What Is Canary Seed Protein Made Of?

Proteins are made up of amino acids. Some amino acids can be produced by the human body, while essential amino acids must be obtained through food.

Published research has examined the amino-acid composition of food-grade hairless canary seed. The Canaryseed Development Commission reports comparatively higher amounts of the essential amino acids tryptophan, phenylalanine, isoleucine and leucine in canary seed than in other cereals, while identifying lysine and threonine as limiting amino acids. [3]

Tryptophan: An Essential Amino Acid

Tryptophan is one of the essential amino acids found in hairless canary seed. Essential amino acids must be obtained through the diet because the body cannot make them in sufficient amounts.

Published research comparing hairless canary seed with wheat and oats found canary seed to have a well-balanced amino-acid profile and highlighted its tryptophan content, noting that tryptophan is often limited in cereal grains.[2]

Tryptophan also has an interesting role in human biology. It serves as a precursor in the biological pathway the body uses to produce serotonin.

Protein Content vs. Protein Quality

There are two different questions worth asking when looking at a protein-containing food:

How much protein does it contain?

and

What is the quality of that protein?

For ALPISTE™, our laboratory analysis answers the first question: the tested sample contained 21.14 g of protein per 100 g. [1] 

Protein quality goes further by considering factors such as essential amino-acid composition and digestibility.

The 2023 study of four hairless canary-seed varieties examined both amino-acid composition and in-vitro protein digestibility. Researchers reported canary-seed protein digestibility in the study as slightly lower than wheat and higher than oat, with differences also observed among canary-seed varieties. [2] 

This is why protein content and protein quality should not be treated as interchangeable terms.

What Is PDCAAS?

PDCAAS stands for Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score.

It is a method of evaluating protein quality that considers amino-acid composition together with protein digestibility. Another method, DIAAS, or Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score, evaluates the digestibility of individual indispensable amino acids. [2] 

The 2023 hairless canary-seed study calculated in-vitro PDCAAS and DIAAS values and found differences between the canary-seed cultivars studied. [2] 

Our current ALPISTE™ laboratory analysis establishes the protein content of the tested product. It should not be confused with ALPISTE™-specific PDCAAS or DIAAS testing.

Is ALPISTE™ a Complete Protein?

We prefer not to describe ALPISTE™ simply as a "complete protein."

While research has established that hairless canary seed contains essential amino acids, lysine was identified as the limiting amino acid in the 2023 study. [2] 

The Canaryseed Development Commission similarly identifies lysine and threonine as limiting amino acids in canary seed. [3] 

A more useful way to understand ALPISTE™ is therefore to look at its measured protein content alongside the growing research into the amino-acid composition and digestibility of food-grade hairless canary seed.

Is ALPISTE™ a Protein Powder?

No. ALPISTE™ is not an isolated or concentrated protein powder.

Food-grade hairless canary seed is a true cereal grain containing bran, germ and starchy endosperm. [3] 

Its protein occurs naturally within the whole seed alongside carbohydrates, fats, fibre and other nutrients.

That makes ALPISTE™ quite different from isolated protein products such as whey, pea or soy protein powders.

Adding ALPISTE™ to Your Diet

Food-grade canary seed can be used in a variety of food applications.

According to the Canaryseed Development Commission, dehulled canary-seed groats can be used similarly to quinoa, added to baked goods or incorporated into snacks. Canary-seed flour can also be used in foods including breads, tortillas, crackers, pasta and muffins. [3] 

For us, that's part of what makes ALPISTE™ interesting.

It isn't a protein supplement. It's a different kind of grain.

Frequently Asked Questions About ALPISTE™ Protein

Does ALPISTE™ contain protein?

Yes. Independent laboratory analysis of our tested ALPISTE™ Food Grade Canary Seeds measured 21.14 g of protein per 100 g and 6.3 g per 30 g serving. [1] 

How much protein is in ALPISTE™?

Our tested ALPISTE™ sample contained 21.14 g of protein per 100 g. A 30 g serving contained 6.3 g analytically, presented as 6 g protein per 30 g (3 tbsp) on the Canadian Nutrition Facts information. [1] 

How much protein is in canary seed?

Published values for food-grade hairless canary seed are approximately 21–22%. A 2023 study reported approximately 22%, while the Canaryseed Development Commission reports approximately 21% as an average value for dehulled canary seed. [2][3] 

What amino acids are found in canary seed protein?

Published research has investigated the amino-acid composition of hairless canary seed. The 2023 study found a well-balanced amino-acid profile and highlighted tryptophan, while identifying lysine as the limiting amino acid. [2] 

Is canary seed a complete protein?

We don't describe ALPISTE™ simply as a "complete protein." Research on food-grade hairless canary seed identifies lysine as a limiting amino acid, making it more useful to consider overall amino-acid composition and protein quality rather than relying on the term "complete protein." [2]

Is ALPISTE™ a protein supplement?

No. ALPISTE™ is a whole food-grade cereal grain. Protein occurs naturally as one component of the seed.

Is protein content the same as protein quality?

No. Protein content measures how much protein is present. Protein quality also considers factors including essential amino-acid composition and digestibility. [2] 

Discover ALPISTE™

ALPISTE™ brings a lesser-known food-grade grain into the modern kitchen.

Independent laboratory testing gives us a clear measurement of the protein present in the ALPISTE™ sample tested, while published research helps tell the larger story of canary-seed protein, amino acids and protein quality.

Discover ALPISTE™ food-grade canary seed and a different way to think about whole grains.

References & Laboratory Testing

[1] ALPISTE™ Independent Laboratory Analysis. Mérieux NutriSciences / Silliker Canada Co. Alpiste Food Grade Canary Seeds LOT#1416, Laboratory ID 453970412. Protein analyzed by AOAC 992.15. Analytical result: 21.14 g protein per 100 g; 6.3 g per 30 g serving. 

[2] L’Hocine L, Achouri A, Mason E, et al. Assessment of Protein Nutritional Quality of Novel Hairless Canary Seed in Comparison to Wheat and Oat Using In Vitro Static Digestion Models. Nutrients. 2023;15(6):1347. Read the research [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[3] Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan. Nutrition & Sensory Profile. View the nutrition profile [canaryseed.ca]