Tuesday 24 April 2012

TIGER NUTS

HISTORY
The Tiger nut is not really a nut but a small tuber first discovered some 4000 years ago. It is a native of Mediterranean region. They were also cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and found in paintings in the tomb of Rekhmire. In the tomb was an inscription detailing how to make small loaves of a mixture of tiger nuts and honey. The ancient recipe: - First of all a quantity of tiger nuts should be ground in a mortar until they are of the consistency of flour. Put this in a bowl with honey and mix to form dough. Then put the mixture in a pan with a little oil and cook over a low fire until a firm paste has formed. This should smell toasted but not burnt. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool then take a little of the paste at a time and form into conical “loaves.” This was probably one of Rekhmire’s favourite foods and the recipe would have been written down so that it could be made for him in the next world.
NAMES
It has many other names like Zulu nut, yellow nut grass, Yellow Nut Sedge, ground almond, edible rush, Ofio, motha, Chafu and rush nut.
FAMILY
There are two major species of the nutsedge genus Cyperus found as a weed in the tropics and subtropics on all types of disturbed soil. The genus name Cyperus is from Cypeirus, the ancient Greek name for this genus. The species name esculentus is Latin and means edible and it’s a close relative of Cyperus rotundus (purple nutgrass) a severe problem weed in Florida.
CULTIVATION
Tiger nuts have been cultivated for two main reasons, as a livestock food (the grass) and for human consumption of the tubers. Tiger nuts were widely grown in Florida in the 1940’s. These nuts were widely available in Britain in the 1960’s (Apparently they gained popularity in the post-war years when sugar was in short supply). In the 1980s, they were still grown for livestock feed on a few farms in Florida. In Spain, Ofio is planted outdoors from late spring or from April through to September, dried during September and October until they are finally harvested in November/December. Like rice they need irrigation on a weekly basis, and seem to be particularly well adapted to the climate around the Spanish Mediterranean coast. They are also grown in Egypt where they are used in perfumes, food, medicine and ice cream flavoured with them or biscuits. Tiger nuts are widely cultivated in and exported from China, Mali and the Ivory Coast. Seldom grown as a food item in home gardens anymore, tiger nuts are now only available in health food shops or as fishing bait.
PRESERVATION
Tiger nuts can be kept for several years if dried properly. Usually it takes about three months of even drying to preserve them.


HEALTH BENEFITS


Tiger nuts is widely used all over Africa and it is rich in fibre, has 20-30 per cent tiger-nut oil which is nourishing to the epidermis, nullifies hard-knots in the stomach and acts as a coolant to hot flushes associated with premature menopause. The high fibre content of Ofio makes it a wonderful colon evacuator and cleanser. They have a high content of soluble glucose and oleic acid. They contain minerals: - chromium, sodium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc, and have a high vitamin E and C content. Apart from all these beneficial ingredients, they also contain all the amino acids and some of the B-complex vitamins. The following are also the benefits of Ofio.
1.       It prevents constipation.
2.       It has necessary essential minerals; calcium, magnesium and iron necessary for bones, tissues repairs, muscles and the blood stream.
3.       Ofio contains a good quantity of vitamin B1 which assists in balancing the central nervous system and helps to encourage the body to adapt to stress.
4.       It supplies the body with enough quantity of Vitamin E, very essential for fertility in both men and women.
5.       It is excellent for colitis and assists proper digestion. In China, Ofio juice is used as a liver tonic, heart stimulant, drank to heal serious stomach pain, to promote normal menstruation, to heal mouth and gum ulcers, use in Ayurvedic medicines and is a powerful aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant).
6.       The black specie of the tiger nut is an excellent medicine for breast lumps and cancer (any type of internal canceration and inflammations).
7.       It can be used as eye compress and to bandage wounds.
8.       Tiger nuts give a heating and drying action to the digestive system in general and this gives it the potency to alleviate flatulence.
9.       Ofio promotes the production of urine, this is why it is a preventive measure for cyst, prostrate, hernia, rectum deformation and prolapsed (anal feature-small painful flesh and the tip of the anus) and to prevent endometriosis or fibrosis as well as blockage of the tip of the fallopian tube.
10.    It is believed that they help to prevent heart attacks.
11.    Based on Research, They are thought to be beneficial to for diabetic people due to its nutritional values and presence of sucrose, it is even better than the chocolate “ideal for children, old people and sportsmen”
12.    It is used to increase the size of female breasts
13.    It improves poor eyesight
14.    Regulates body weight
15.    Used to cure skin disorders
16.    Helps uterine contractions in child birth.




COMSUMPTION
Tiger nuts can be chewy and tough just like coconuts, but this toughness can be alleviated by boiling or soaking. They can also be incorporated as a replacement for coconuts in food, sauce, ice creams and so on (creativity is key). Tiger nut milk can be extracted for direct consumption.


MAKING TIGER NUT JUICE
Fetch 260g of dried tiger nut, 11/2 liter of water and one lemon rind, Wash Ofio and soak for 24 hours, change the water 2-3 times to avoid bad smell, drain off water well and blend with a rind of lemon, add 1liter of water and allow standing for about 20 minutes - sieve with a neat cloth two times, Put in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours and serve in glasses of crushed ice. Nursing mothers should eat a lot of tiger nuts for enough production of their breast milk to satisfy their babies.
   
CAUTION
Ofio is cholesterol free but contains 2.9 grams of sodium, so it should be eaten in moderation by people with blood group ‘O’.

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