Nuts

Oil

Tiger Nut oil is the expressed fat of the sweet tuber of Cyperus esculentus, also called chufa—not a true tree nut, sold for finishing, baking, and sometimes gentle cooking. Cold-pressed oils taste more of the nut; refined oils are milder and sometimes more heat-tolerant. Sensory character: sweet, coconut-almond-like, and crunchy when dried. Composition context: good oil content for a tuber, famous as the base of Spanish horchata de chufa. Drizzle on salads, brush on pastry, or enrich dishes linked to Spanish horchata, West African snacks, gluten-free flours, and dairy-free milks. Many nut oils dislike aggressive deep frying—bitterness and polymerisation appear when abused. Buy small dark bottles and recap promptly. Storage: dried chufa keeps cool and dry; watch for moisture spoilage. Botanically a tuber—important for allergy communication even when sold beside nuts. Allergen oils can still matter clinically: treat as not a tree nut botanically but label for cross-contact and personal allergy histories. Quality oil smells clean and true to tiger nut, never like varnish.