By: Abdulhafeez T. Oyewole
Tiger Nut, botanically referred to as ‘Cyperus esculentus’, is not a nut but a tuber. It is found in many warm countries of the world, from the far east to the middle east and Africa through to the USA and South America. It was originally native to the Mediterranean region.
Tiger nut is of three main varieties, namely: black, brown and yellow. The yellow variety is bigger and fleshier than the black and brown. It is the most common variety in Nigeria followed by the brown.
Tiger nut is known by different names in Nigeria. It is called aya (Hausa), aki awusa (igbo), imumu/ofio (yoruba). It is mostly cultivated in the northwestern part of the country. It is sold mostly by Northern Nigerian street vendors from their wheelbarrows in both the fresh and dry form, alongside dry dates (debino), coconut (agbon), watermelon, pawpaw, pineapple and their likes.
The fresh tiger nut is pale yellow in colour. It is also fat and juicy, while the dry tuber is brown, shrivelled with little or no juice in it. Tiger nuts can be eaten raw, fresh, dry, peeled or unpeeled, roasted and baked. It also makes great milk, flour and oil. The majority of the time, Tiger nuts are consumed as raw ‘nuts’ or as tiger nut milk called Kunnu Aya in Nigeria.
It is important to note that tiger nut is a misnomer (inaccurate) because tiger nut has nothing to do with the tiger and it is not a nut. Rather tiger nut is a tuber, a mini tuber.
Fresh tiger nut is crunchy, sweet and juicy, quite similar to coconut. The yellow variety produces more milk and has more protein. Also, it has less fat and fewer anti-nutrients.
It contains vitamins B, C and E, plus insoluble fibre, iron, potassium, proteins, natural sugars, zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous etc.
It contains enzymes that aid digestion such as catalase, lipase and amylase, and are often recommended to those who suffer from constipation, indigestion, flatulence and diarrhoea.
It is ideal for those with nut allergies because it is not a nut because allergies are rare with tiger. It is boiled or grinded and used as fishing bait.
It can be use to make nut butter, just as how you would make homemade peanut, almond, or cashew butter. This is a very healthy way to incorporate tiger nuts into your diet.
Tiger nuts are a great source of natural minerals. They mainly provide calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus and zinc. While Calcium helps to keep teeth and bones healthy, intervenes in blood coagulation and in the transmission of nerve impulses. Magnesium is also involved in the formation of teeth and bones, and also helps maintain the activity of muscles and nerves, promoting a healthy immune system.