How to Produce Tiger Nut Wine

Create a traditional Spanish drink with a few ingredients.

Tiger nuts, also known as chufas, are small tubers native to Western Africa. They're renowned for their nutritional value and also used to make horchata, a Spanish summer wine. Horchata in this instance is made from tiger nuts and not rice, as observed in Mexican cuisine. The original recipe came from Valencia, Spain, and is still widely sought and produced in Europe. Tiger nuts normally cannot be purchased outside Valencia and are notoriously difficult to obtain. However, you can grow Tiger nut from seeds that can be purchased in the United States.

Things You'll Need

• 35 ounces. of tiger nuts (chufas)
• Blender
• 35 ounces. of sugar
• 5 liters of water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Metal mesh filter

Instructions

1. Clean the tiger nuts thoroughly in clean water. Rinse them two to three times before leaving them to soak for 12 hours in cold water. After 12 hours rinse the tiger nuts again until the water runs clear.

2. Mash the tiger nuts into a paste using a blender. You can add a little water (around 1/2 a cup) to the mixture to help it blend.

3. Stir 5 liters of water into the mixture. Add the cinnamon stick. Let the mixture to rest in the refrigerator for two hours.

4. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Strain the mixture through a metal mesh filter and fine fiber damp cloth. Repeat these steps for your desired consistency.

5. Let the mixture to chill overnight in the refrigerator. Serve cold.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also add the zest of 1 lemon to the mixture in step 3.

• Almonds can also be used as an alternative if you cannot find tiger nuts.

References

• Xmissions: Horchata from Chufa
• Foodista: Tiger nut