Tiger nut butter: what it is, how it tastes and how to eat it

Tiger nut butter is simply tiger nuts ground until they turn into a spreadable paste, with nothing else added. It tastes of horchata, it's sweet all on its own and it works just as well on toast as it does in porridge. Here's what it actually is, what it tastes like and how we eat it at home.

What is a tiger nut (and why isn't it a nut)?

Even though it sits on the same shelf as almond or cashew butter, the tiger nut isn't a nut at all. It's a small tuber that grows underground, on the roots of a grass-like plant. On the outside it's wrinkly and about the size of a chickpea; on the inside it's white, crunchy and surprisingly sweet.

In Spain it's best known as the base of Valencian horchata, but its story goes back much further: it was already being grown in ancient Egypt. So it's been part of Mediterranean eating for thousands of years, and yet plenty of people still think of it as a summer drink and little more. We wanted to take it out of the glass and put it on the breakfast table.

How we make our tiger nut butter

The recipe fits on one line: tiger nuts. Our organic tiger nut butter has a single ingredient, organically grown tiger nuts, and that's it. Ours come from Niger, one of the world's major producers.

The process is just as honest:

• Washing: after harvest, the tiger nuts are cleaned thoroughly.
• Drying: they're left to dry until they wrinkle up. That's where their sweetness concentrates.
• Slow grinding: they're ground slowly until they go from tuber to butter.

We don't add sugar, oils or additives, and it's gluten-free. What you see in the jar is all there is.

What does tiger nut butter taste like?

If you've ever had horchata, you already know the flavour: sweet, mellow and with an earthy note that's instantly recognisable. The difference is that there's no water or sugar involved here, so the flavour is more intense and more rounded.

That sweetness belongs to the tiger nut. On the nutrition table you'll see 20 g of sugars per 100 g: that's what the tiger nut brings naturally, because none is added. So, unlike other butters, you don't need honey or syrup to make it taste like a treat.

As for texture, it's a thick, spreadable butter. Because it has no additives, a little of the tiger nut's own oil may rise to the surface over time. Give it a good stir with a spoon before serving and you're done.

What the label says

No frills: these are the figures on the product page of our organic tiger nut butter, per 100 g:

• Fibre: 28 g. It's high in fibre.
• Fat: 41 g, of which saturates 5.8 g.
• Carbohydrate: 25 g, of which sugars 20 g (no added sugars).
• Protein: 3.9 g.
• Energy: 535 kcal.

An important note for anyone with allergies: although the tiger nut isn't a nut, the product may contain traces of peanuts and other tree nuts.

How to eat it: our favourite ways

The great thing about a naturally sweet butter is that it gets along with almost everything on the breakfast table. These are the ones we keep coming back to:

1. Toast with banana: toasted bread, a generous layer of tiger nut butter, banana slices and a handful of hemp seeds on top.
2. In freshly made porridge: a spoonful on top of hot porridge, not fully stirred in, so it slowly melts. If you don't fancy cooking, our porridge and overnight oats collection has mixes ready to make.
3. In overnight oats: mix it in the night before with the oats and plant drink. By morning everything tastes of horchata.
4. Your express horchata: blend one or two spoonfuls with ice-cold plant drink. It's not traditional horchata, but it's very close and ready in a minute.
5. With yoghurt and fruit: a drizzle of butter over natural yoghurt with strawberries or diced apple.
6. In a smoothie: banana, plant drink, a spoonful of tiger nut butter and a pinch of cinnamon.

With these ideas, the 350 g jar goes a long way.

Fancy an even creamier version?

If you love tiger nuts but want a silkier texture, try our tiger nut, hazelnut and cashew butter. It's 50% tiger nut, 25% hazelnut and 25% cashew, with no added oils, no added sugars and no emulsifiers. The tiger nut brings the sweetness, while the nuts add a finer texture and a bit more protein (8.9 g per 100 g). It's also high in fibre, with 9.4 g per 100 g. Note: this one does contain cashew and hazelnut. It comes in a 350 g jar and a 2 kg format.

And if you'd like to compare it with the rest of the family, have a look at our nut butters: pistachio, almond, cashew, hazelnut… each with its own personality.

Frequently asked questions

Does tiger nut butter contain sugar?

It has no added sugars. Its sweetness comes from the tiger nut itself, which naturally contains 20 g of sugars per 100 g.

Does it need to go in the fridge?

No need. Keep it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat, and close the jar tightly after use. For the best flavour, enjoy it within a few weeks of opening.

Why does the oil separate?

Because it has no additives to hold everything together. It's completely normal: stir before using and the texture comes back.

Can someone with a nut allergy eat it?

The tiger nut isn't a nut, but our butter may contain traces of peanuts and other tree nuts. If you have an allergy, always check the label.

To finish

Tiger nut butter is an easy way to bring the taste of horchata to breakfast all year round, with a single ingredient and no added sugar. If you're curious, start with banana toast and then tell us what you think.