Chufa / Tiger nut

Plant family

Sauergrasgewächse (Cyperaceae)

Also known as

Atadwe, Yellow Nutsedge, Earth Almond

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

3 cm

Instructions

Description

The tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is also known as the tiger nut or chufa nut. It came to Europe in the 8th century via Spain. Contrary to its name, it is not related to the almond, but belongs to the acid grasses (Cyperaceae), so the are also suitable for allergy sufferers. It grows between 30-60 cm high and has grass-like leaves. The yellow flowers rarely form in our country. The light brown-black nodules on the roots grow up to 3 cm in size. They have a sweet-nutty taste, which has given them the name tiger nuts. Due to the high fiber content, they are very well tolerated and can also be eaten raw or ground into flour. However, as it is an invasive species in our country, it multiplies in fields, so root barriers should be placed around the plant and flowering should be prevented. The tiger nut needs a warm, protected location for the nodules to form.

Growing tips

Tigernuts germinate between 20-25°C. The tubers can also be soaked in water overnight for this purpose. After germination, the plants are placed in a slightly cooler place and planted outdoors from mid-May after the last frosts. They can also be cultivated in containers. Cover with a fleece in cool temperatures. Place a root barrier outdoors to prevent proliferation and protect native plants. Tigernuts are generally very easy to care for, but need regular moisture and the soil should be fertilized or enriched with compost before planting out. In mild winters, the plants can even sprout again the following year. For harvesting, the roots of the yellowed leaves are dug up and the tubers removed. However, these should only be washed shortly before use, as otherwise the storage life will be shortened. Otherwise, the tigernut is robust and not very susceptible to disease.