Tigernuts: The Sweet Prebiotic Superfood

Tigernuts are small, naturally sweet tubers behind tigernut milk. Here is what they are, their benefits, and how to use and buy them.

5 min read

Despite the name, tigernuts are not nuts at all — they are small, naturally sweet tubers with a long history across Africa. They are the base for tigernut milk (horchata), a popular gluten-free and prebiotic-rich ingredient, and they ship beautifully as a dry, shelf-stable product. Here is what tigernuts are, their benefits, and how to use and buy them.

What are tigernuts?

Tigernuts (Cyperus esculentus), also called chufa, are small tubers that grow underground. They are naturally sweet, with a flavour close to coconut and almond.

Because they are nut-free, dairy-free and gluten-free, they suit a wide range of diets — and as a dried tuber or flour they keep for a long time.

Dried golden tigernuts spilling from a linen sack — Tigernuts — naturally sweet tubers, not actually nuts.

Tigernut benefits

Tigernuts are prized for their fibre and gut-friendly profile. They naturally provide:

High fibre, much of it prebiotic (resistant starch)
Healthy monounsaturated fats
Iron, potassium and magnesium
A naturally sweet taste with no added sugar

Dried tigernuts with tigernut flour — Available as dried tubers and as flour.

What is tigernut milk (horchata)?

Tigernut milk — “horchata de chufa” — is made by soaking and blending tigernuts with water, then straining. It is a creamy, naturally sweet, dairy-free milk that is hugely popular and very easy to make at home.

How to use tigernuts

Tigernuts and tigernut flour are versatile:

Tigernut milk (horchata)
Gluten-free baking with the flour
Snacking on the dried tubers
Smoothies and energy balls

Glass of creamy tigernut milk with tigernuts — Tigernut milk — creamy, sweet and dairy-free.

Why sourcing matters

Good tigernuts are clean, plump and well-dried. We work directly with our source in Africa, with no middlemen, so they arrive fresh and traceable. See specifications and request a quote on our tigernut product page.

Buy tigernuts, sourced directly in Africa

Dried tubers and flour — wholesale, shipped worldwide. Request availability and pricing.

View tigernut

Tigernut FAQ

Are tigernuts actually nuts?

No — they are tubers, so they are naturally nut-free and suit many allergy-friendly diets.

Are tigernuts good for gut health?

Yes — they are high in resistant starch, a prebiotic fibre that feeds beneficial gut bacteria.

Where do the best tigernuts come from?

West Africa, especially Nigeria, is a leading source. We source ours directly there.