Is a Tiger a nut??

[robnichol]

I was just reading some of julians articles on anglers net when i accedentaly clicked on tigernuts.com. while reading through the site, i read that tigernuts aren't actually nuts, now can anyone verify this for me, as my mum has a nut allergy and won't let me bring tigers back to my house, so if they aren't nuts i will be ok, more importantly, so will she!!! any info would be great

[Stig]

Rob ive just had a look at a few Tiger nut sites and from the actual nutritional content of tiger nuts they appear to be either nuts or very very close to nuts:

Nutritious product with a high energy content (starch, fats, sugars and proteins), rich in minerals such as phosphorous, potassium and vitamins E

Though technically they may not be nuts(cant say for sure if they are or arn't) in reality i would tend to think they are so damn close that i wouldnt want to chance eating them if i had a nut allergy nor would i use any of the stuff in the Kitchen if 1 of my family had a nut allergy .
Get yourself a tiger nut processing plant going in the garage or in the back garden somewhere or get down the charity shops and buy yourself a big pan and buy a couple of cheapo buckets just keep your bait stuff away from mum's cookin stuff & all should be ok.

[Bet]

Hi matey,I've gotta agree with everything Stig says,I had a quick look earlier and found that tigers contain the same proteins as more common nuts,so can cause an allergic reaction to sufferers

[robnichol]

Never mind, back garden it is then!! Thanks for the help

[Julian Grattidge]

Originally Posted by robnichol

...while reading through the site, i read that tigernuts aren't actually nuts...

I’m pretty sure that is correct; a tiger nut is from the tuber family: “A swollen, fleshy, usually underground stem of a plant, such as the potato, bearing buds from which new plant shoots arise.”

Whereas, a nut is usually a hard-shelled, one-loculated, one-seeded fruit, such as an acorn or hazelnut, etc.

That said, I think the reason it’s classed as a nut is because it shares almost all the inherent characteristics of the nut family, thus it’s probably best not to have them in the house!

Cyperus esculentus var. esculentus.
(Chufa Sedge Tigernut Sedge, Earthalmond)

is a species of sedge grass native to warm temperate to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is an annual or perennial plant, growing to 3ft tall, with single stems growing from a tuber. The stems are triangular in section, and bear slender leaves up to a centimeter wide. The flowers of the plant are distinctive, with a cluster of flat oval seeds surrounded by four hanging leaves positioned 90 degrees from each other. The plant foliage is very tough and fibrous, and is often mistaken for a grass.

Cultivation and uses
The tubers are edible, with a slightly sweet, nutty flavour, compared to the more bitter tasting tuber of the related Cyperus rotundus (Purple Nutsedge). They are quite hard and are generally soaked in water before they can be eaten. They have various uses, in particular they are used in Spain to make Horchata. They are sometimes known by their Spanish name, "chufa".

The tubers were originally cultivated by Ancient Egypt's populations at the Nile Valley; their cultivation was subsequently extended throughout other areas with temperate climate and fertile soil. Presently, they are mainly cultivated - at least for extended and common commercial purposes - in Spain, where they were introduced by Arabs, almost exclusively in the Valencia region.

Tigernuts have excellent nutritional qualities with a fat composition similar to olives and a rich mineral content, especially phosphorus and potassium. Tiger nuts are also gluten and cholesterol free, and have a very low sodium content.

According to the Consejo Regulador de Chufa de Valencia (Regulating Council for Valencia's Tigernuts) [1], the nutritional composition/100 ml of a classical Horchata de Chufas, is as follows:

energy content 66 kcal
proteins 0.5 g,
carbohydrates 10 g
starch 1.9 g
fats 2 g.