Information / FAQ

A chufa is a tuber that grows in the earth and is also called tiger nut, ground almond or tubercyperus.

Chufa is gluten-free.

Chufa is a true primal food and has been around for two million years. Oxford University researchers have discovered that our distant ancestors in Africa lived on a diet of fruit, insects and 80% chufa. See also our blog article ‘Chufa and primordial man‘.

From Africa, the crop made its way to Egypt, where it built up a rich history. In turn, the Arabs brought chufa to Spain in the eighth century.

In Spain, the advance of chufa just continued. The area around Valencia is ideally suited for growing chufa due to its climate and soil. Even now, every summer in Valencia the carts pop up where you can buy a freshly made cup of horchata.

Chufa from ChufaFactory comes mainly from Niger in Africa, thus coming full circle!

Chufas are naturally sweet and have a nutty flavour. Hence the other name: ground almond.

Chufas grow among the roots of a species of grass. This grass grows from April to September, is dried in September or October after which the chufas are harvested from December to February. After harvesting, the chufas are washed to rid them of stones and sand. After cleaning, they are dried for 3 months. Temperature and humidity are closely monitored and the chufas are scooped over daily.

Most of our range is certified organic.

Chufa is free of the 14 known and most common allergens, in rare cases an allergic reaction may occur. If you are sensitive to pollen, for example, then it is advisable to start cautiously.

Yes, chufa is a 100% plant product.

Yes, the chufa flour, peeled and original chufa and shavings and topping were processed without being heated.

There are a few key differences. Chufa flour is sweet by itself, you can easily use half the amount of sugar. Chufa flour is also slightly drier (but not as dry as coconut flour) so it benefits the recipe if you add a little more moisture or fat. An extra spoonful of coconut oil, some applesauce or puree of sweet potato or pumpkin.

Yes, chufa has a low glycaemic index which means the sugars and starch are absorbed slowly. The fibre inhibits appetite.

Chufa can be a valuable food for many people. Chufa is rich in fibre that helps with good bowel function. It is ideally suited for people who do paleo, eat raw food, need or want to eat gluten-free or live vegetarian or vegan.

Chufa contains minimal amounts of anti-nutrients. Chufa has the advantage of growing underground so it does not have to defend itself from birds, for example.

With chufa flour you can bake tasty biscuits or make tasty sweet rolls, chufa goes well with sweet. You can also use some in your (vegetable) yoghurt or make rawfood balls of it with some coconut oil and dried fruit.

The oil can be used as a skin oil, it is rich in vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant against oxidative stress, which underlies ageing.

Of course, the oil is very suitable for drizzling over your salad, for instance, and you can fry well with it, chufa oil can be heated well. The vitamin E in chufa ensures that the oil does not oxidise at higher temperatures, which is the case with other vegetable oils.

Chufa contains almost no omega 3, very little omega 6 and mostly omega 9. This is a big advantage of chufa over nuts, (partially) replacing nuts with chufa can help prevent excessive intake of omega 6.

Chufa contains the minerals magnesium, iron, zinc and copper and is rich in phosphorus, manganese and potassium. Chufa is also high in fibre and rich in vitamin E.

Chufa is rich in potassium with 915 mg of potassium per 100 grams of chufa. Potassium contributes to normal nervous system function, normal muscle function and helps maintain normal blood pressure.

Chufa contains 105 mg of magnesium per 100 grams of chufa. Magnesium helps reduce fatigue, supports energy levels, contributes to normal muscle function and memory function. Magnesium also contributes to strong teeth and supports bones.

Chufa contains 2.6 mg of iron per 100 grams of chufa. Iron helps with fatigue and tiredness, contributes to normal immune system function, contributes to normal cell division and supports red blood cell production.

Chufa is rich in manganese with 1.4 mg of manganese per 100 grams of chufa. Manganese supports bone and bone system building, supports energy levels and helps maintain connective tissue. Manganese also helps protect against influences of pollution and sunlight.