Allergen Free Tiger Nut Flour Gains Popularity as Wheat Flour Alternative

Tiger nut flour is gaining popularity as an gluten-free alternative to wheat flour. Actually, it is not a nut either, so it is allergen free. So what is tiger nut flour?

Tiger nut or chufa is a tuber from the plant Cyperus esculentus. This tuber is ground and sifted to produce a flour said to have favorable characteristics. Chufa is an ancient food source originating in the Eastern Hemisphere, primarily Africa. In the Western Hemisphere, it has been considered an invasive weed in certain areas.

"Tiger nut flour is rich in calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron and zinc, vitamins C and E and folic acid, as well as unsaturated fats and proteins. It is low in carbohydrates, which makes it ideal for Paleo and Ketogenic diets, and is high in fiber and antioxidants."

"Tiger nut flour is ideal for gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, vegan, keto and paleo diets and can be cooked, baked or fried. While the moist, chewy texture is ideal for a number of applications and recipes, the milky sugary taste is perfect for baked goods as well as sweet breads and tart shells and can be used to add ‘bulk’ to no-bake treats."

And you can even make beer from Chufa.

Forbes
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2021/08/31/five-reasons-why-tiger-nut-flour-is-the-trendiest-alternative-flour/
Five Reasons Why Tiger Nut Flour Is The Trendiest Alternative Flour

Tiger nut (or chufa nut) flour, which is ground from tubers that grow on the yellow nutsedge plant, is gaining popularity globally as the perfect substitute for wheat flour, given its gluten-free properties, its status as a super food and its natural sweet taste. The flour, which is made by grinding tiger nut tubers and sieving the powder through a fine screen, acts like almond flour, adding moisture and chewiness but with a sweeter taste.

Here’s why tiger nut flour ticks all of the current trend boxes.

Ancient ingredients are becoming mainstream again

With the heightened buzz for ancient foods, tiger nuts have been getting a fair amount of attention of late. Researchers at Oxford University have found that between 1.4 million and 2.4 million years ago, early hominins, mankind’s ancient ancestors, in East Africa survived primarily on tiger nuts. According to Gabriele Macho, the lead author of the Oxford study, “'Tiger nuts, still sold in health food shops as well as being widely used for grinding down and baking in many countries, would be relatively easy to find. They also provided a good source of nourishment for a medium-sized hominin with a large brain. This is why these hominins were able to survive for around one million years because they could successfully forage – even through periods of climatic change.” How’s that as an incentive for Paleo eaters?

It is a ‘Super Flour’

As a Super Food, Tiger nut flour is rich in calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron and zinc, vitamins C and E and folic acid, as well as unsaturated fats and proteins. It is low in carbohydrates, which makes it ideal for Paleo and Ketogenic diets, and is high in fiber and antioxidants. It is thought to help with weight loss by reducing blood sugar spikes and maintaining a full feeling for longer periods than other foods with equivalent calories and, as a prebiotic, it stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

“Our mission is to empower our audience with guilt-free snacks that they can eat throughout the day, while also fueling their bodies with various nutrients, like prebiotics and fiber,” says Nicholas Naclerio, Founder of Mmmly, a ‘reinvented’ low-carb functional cookie made from tiger nut flour. “We also use natural sweeteners, like apples and monk fruit, that allow the cookie to be low in sugar, while still tasting delicious, and include agave fiber, almonds and hazelnuts, all of which have many nutritional and healing benefits.”

It is delicious and versatile

Tiger nut flour is ideal for gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, vegan, keto and paleo diets and can be cooked, baked or fried. While the moist, chewy texture is ideal for a number of applications and recipes, the milky sugary taste is perfect for baked goods as well as sweet breads and tart shells and can be used to add ‘bulk’ to no-bake treats.

Spera Foods, manufactured in Holland Michigan, capitalizes on the naturally sweet taste of tiger nut flour in its tiger nut flour mixes such as Tiger Nut Flour Waffle and Pancake Mix, Tiger Nut Granola (in blueberry turmeric, chocolate cherry and cinnamon flavors) and Tiger Nut Cake and Cupcake mix.

From a savory perspective, tiger nut can be used in breads, pizza crusts and as a binding agent in vegan foods such as plant-based burgers. Late July offers Organic Sea Salt Tortilla Chips that are grain-free and corn-free, made simply of tiger nut flour, cassava flour and chia seeds. Vegan Jamaican Toma-Tis Restaurant & Grill located in Long Island New York, offers patrons vegan stewed peas, made of kidney beans and tiger nut, and curried "goat," made from tiger nut flour bonded with flax seed.

Tiger nut flour is also the perfect flour substitute for health foods.

Rest of article - https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2021/08/31/five-reasons-why-tiger-nut-flour-is-the-trendiest-alternative-flour/

Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tiger-nuts
6 Emerging Health Benefits of Tiger Nuts

Tiger nuts, also known as chufa, yellow nutsedge or earth almonds, are not actually nuts, but rather edible tubers.

They’re the size of a chickpea but wrinkly with a chewy texture and sweet nutty flavor similar to coconut.

Tiger nuts were one of the first plants cultivated in Egypt and traditionally used as both food and medicine.

They’re rich in a variety of nutrients and have been linked to several health benefits — ranging from better digestion to a reduced risk of heart disease.

Here are 6 emerging health benefits of tiger nuts.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tiger-nuts#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8