Why Tigernuts are good for you

High in iron, potassium, magnesium and Vitamins C and E, Tigernuts taste sweet, with a hint of coconut, and have a chewy texture.

Spokesman for Navi Organics, Jemma Brett said: ‘We’ve been selling tigernuts for about a year now, and are definitely noticing more interest recently, and our sales are increasing. We consider them a superfood, especially with their nutrient profile almost mirroring that of human breast milk, and the fact that they are gluten-free and nut-free makes them a wonderful alternative and healthy choice.’

Tigernuts help in weight management: Tigernuts act as a mild appetite suppressant because they contain resistant starch, a type of starch which resists digestion, thereby keeping us feeling fuller for longer, and also reduces the amount of calories we absorb from the food.

‘Resistant starch is also a prebiotic, which helps our bodies to naturally develop probiotic or friendly bacteria ensuring a strong immune system,’ according to Ludovica Vigliardi Paravia, spokesman for Organic Gemini, which will launch tigernuts in the UK this September after their success in the U.S.


In Spain, where tigernuts are known as ‘chufa’ and are grown in the Valencia region, they are used to make the popular drink, Horchata.

Fishermen also use them as bait, particularly for carp. In the eastern Region of Nigeria it is called 'aki awusa'. It is popular in the Northern part of Nigeria.