Tigernuts: neither a nut nor a legume, they're tubers

Tigernuts: the tuber that is neither a nut nor a legume

Tigernuts have been on supermarket shelves for years, but many consumers still don't know exactly what they are. A first-time buyer tried them for the first time and, after a bite, wondered out loud: is it a legume or a nut? The answer, as often happens, is more surprising than it seems.

It is neither one nor the other. Tigernuts are tubers, like potatoes or sweet potatoes, although their appearance and their use in baking make them easy to mistake for nuts. This confusion is common, and no wonder: they are sold alongside nuts, eaten as a snack and have a sweet, crunchy flavour.

The soaking trick: 24 hours that change everything

The consumer who tried them dry found them "a bit hard to swallow". And they are not alone: some people chew them and spit them out. The solution, according to experts in traditional eating, is to soak them for 24 hours. That way they soften and release all their flavour. At fairs, where they are sold in paper cones, they are usually served already hydrated, which explains why they are enjoyed more there.

Fibre and tradition: the return of a forgotten food

What's more, tigernuts are a notable source of fibre, as the protagonist of this story discovered after his first experience. This tuber, typical of the Valencia market gardens, has a long tradition in Spain, even if today it may seem a niche product. Its consumption is associated with fairs and horchata, but it can also be enjoyed as a healthy snack.

The surprising fact: it is not a nut, not a legume, it is a tuber. And like every tuber, it needs its cooking or soaking time to show its best side. The next time someone asks what tigernuts are, the right answer is not in the supermarket, but in botany.