MILK OR TIGERNUT MILK

What is tigernut milk?

It is a drink drawn from tigernuts, water and sugar. The tigernut is a small and underground tuber with knot shape which comes from the roots of the juncia avellanada, called like that because of its shape similar to the hazelnut.

The tigernut requires a loose and sandy ground for its cultivation and warm temperatures. The town of Alboraya, in Valencia (Spain) is one of the places that gathers the best conditions for its cultivation. A chilled tigernut milk is a typical drink in Spain during the summer season.

The tigernut was already used in the Old Egypt and in Sudan. Arabic population began to cultivate it in the half of the Middle Ages.

The word horchata (tigernut milk) has its own legend.

Once upon a time the king Jaume I of Cataluña and Aragón arrived to Valencia and a little girl offered him a fresh, white and sweet drink. Pleased for its taste the king asked the name of the drink and the girl answered that it was tigernut milk. But Jaume I corrected her saying “Açò no és llet. Açò és or, xata” (This is not milk. This is gold, babe). It is said in Valencia that the name of the drink (orxata in Spanish) comes from that.

Nevertheless the word chufa (tigernut) seems to come from a Sudan area called Chufi, from where it is believed the origin of the tiger nut.

Tiger nut milk properties

- The tiger nut milk is not just a fresh drink, in comparison with any other soft drink, it is very healthy.

- It contributes with level cholesterol reduction. It reduces the LDL cholesterol (the “bad” one), and increases the “HDL (the “good” one) thanks to its contribution of oleic acid (contributes with the same amount as the olive oil does). Its content in vitamin E also collaborates against the cholesterol because it produces an antioxidant effect over the fats. Ideal so for heart illness.

- It is good for the arteriosclerosis, in one hand due the oleic acid and in the other hand because it contains Arginina, which is a precursor of nitric oxide so produces an effect of expansion of the veins.

- Sugar free tigernut milk is suitable for diabetic people, due to its content of carbohydrates with a base of sucrose and starch (without glucose) and its high content of Arginina, which liberates the hormone that produces the insulin.

- Ideal drink for people who do not tolerate gluten or cow milk and its derivates.

- It is recommended for those who suffer heavy digestions, flatulence and diarrhoea because it provides us with a lot of digestive enzymes like the catalasa, lipase and amilasa.

Tiger nut milk nutritional information in each 100ml.

- It contains plenty of minerals, like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron ore, and vitamins like C and E.

- It also provides us with a lot of enzymes which make the digestion easier

- Its energetic value (100kcal /100gr) makes of it a very good energetic drink

- A very important fact is that it does not contain any sodium.

- It does not contain any lactose, casein or gluten either.

Did you know that.?

Nowadays, in the Spanish market, excluding the fresh one, you can find a pasteurized or concentrated tigernut milk. People tend to prefer the fresh one (just made) but this new kind allow the consumer to keep it at home for longer. Once opened both them should be consumed within two days, and meanwhile they must be kept refrigerated.

Josep vicent Arnau
Naturópata y Acupuntor
Enbuenasmanos articler