MILK OR TIGERNUT MILK

What is milk or tiger nut milk?

It is a drink obtained from the tiger nuts, water and sugar. The tiger nuts are a small and underground tubers with knot shape which comes from the roots of the juncia avellanada, called like that because of its shape similar to the hazelnut.

The tiger nut requires loose and sandy ground for its cultivation and warm temperatures being Alboraya population, Valencia (Spain) one of the places where are given the best conditions for its cultivation. A tiger nut milk really cold is typical in Spain during the summer season.

The tiger nut was already used in the Old Egypt and in Sudan. Arabic population started t cultivate it in the half of the Middle Ages.

The word horchata (tiger nut 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 for the name of the drink and the girl answered that it was tiger nut milk. But Jaume I corrected her saying “Axo no es llet. Axo es or, xata” (This isn’t milk. This is gold, girl). It is said in Valencia that the name of the drink (orxata in Spanish) comes from that time.

Nevertheless the word chufa (tiger nut) 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 it is not just a fresh drink, comparing it with any other soft drink, is very healthy.

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

- It is good for the arterysclerosis thanks to, in one hand the oleic acid and in the other hand it contains Arginina, which being precursor of nitric oxide helps to the veinexpanded effect.

- Tiger nut milk without sugar can be drunk for diabetics, for its content in carbon hydrates which a base of sucrose and starch (without glucose) and due to its high content of Arginina which liberates the hormone that produces the insulin.

- Ideal drink for people who are not able to take gluten and also for those who are not able to take cow’s milk and derivates.

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

Tiger nut milk nutritious information in each 100ml.

- It is rich in minerals, like the phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron ore, and in vitamins like C and E.

- It provides as well a lot of enzymes which make the digestion easier

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

- A very important point is that it doesn’t contain any sodium.

- It doesn’t contain lactose, casein or gluten.

Did you know that.?

Nowadays, in the Spanish market, you can find the fresh tiger nut milk and also the pasteurized or concentrated ones. But in general people prefer the fresh one (just made) this new kinds permit buying it and having it when wished, because you can keep it in the fridge just within two days.

Josep vicent Arnau
Naturópata y Acupuntor
Enbuenasmanos articler