Chufa (Earth almond): planting and care, beneficial properties, reviews

Content

1 Description of the Chufa plant
2 Chufa varieties
3 What are the differences between Spanish chufa
4 Beneficial properties of ground almonds (chufa)
5 Chemical composition of chufa nuts
6 How to plant chufa
7 How to care for ground almonds
8 Harvesting
9 Features of growing chufa in central Russia
10 How to eat chufu
11 Chufa recipes
12 How to take chufa for diabetes
13 Contraindications to the use of chufa
14 Reviews of earthen almonds (chufa)
15 Conclusion

Many exotic plants take root well in the middle zone. One of them is chufa, imported from the Mediterranean region. The plant is valued for its decorative appearance and beneficial properties. Proper planting and care of Chufa ground almonds will help gardeners obtain a tasty and healthy product.

Description of the Chufa plant

Chufa is a member of the sedge family and grows naturally in the Northern Hemisphere. Found in subtropical and temperate climates.

The plant was cultivated in Ancient Egypt. In the Middle Ages it was brought to Spain and other European countries. Chufa appeared in Russia in the 17th century. It is also called ground almond, winterberry, syt, tiger nut.

Chufa is a perennial herbaceous plant. Height from 30 to 90 cm. Stems are thin and straight, triangular in cross-section. Ground almond produces tufts of linear leaves. The width of the sheet plate is from 3 to 10 mm.

The roots are developed and branched. They form small elongated tubers up to 1 cm wide and up to 3 cm long. The nodules have different colors, from light to rich brown. The pulp is sweetish, firm, white.

Attention! Chufa produces small flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences. In the middle zone, the plant forms nodules, but rarely blooms.

You can see what the chufa looks like in the photo:

Chufa varieties

The most popular varieties of ground almonds are:

Culinary. It has high productivity. Widely used in cooking for marinating and frying.
Confectionery. The variety is valued for its sweet taste. Used for making sweets, drinks, and baked goods. Chufa Confectionery brings a high harvest.
Pharaoh. Produces nutritious medium-sized root vegetables. The fruits are very nutritious and suitable for fresh consumption and processing. The productivity of the variety is high.
LLORGETA MAXI. A fairly new variety, obtained by British breeders in 2014. Features increased productivity. From 10 bushes, up to 1 bucket of root crops is collected.

What are the differences between Spanish chufa

Spanish varieties are not much different from chufa, which is grown in Russia. The main feature is that European varieties contain more starch. Otherwise, the aboveground part and tubers of the plant are identical in appearance and composition.

Beneficial properties of ground almonds (chufa)

Medicinal properties of chufa:

Relieves inflammation. Ground almonds fight pathogenic environments and reduce inflammatory processes. It is used for the prevention and treatment of colds.
Cleanses the body. This includes the removal of waste, toxins and radionuclides. The raw product exhibits these properties best.
Tones. Restores strength, activates the immune system, gives a surge of energy.
Rejuvenation. The effect is explained by the presence of antioxidant components. As a result, free radicals are removed from the body and the risk of cancer is reduced.
Calms and relieves stress. Tiger nut is recommended for people suffering from insomnia and nervous system disorders. The product improves memory and stimulates brain function.
Normalizes digestion. Chufa stimulates intestinal activity and accelerates metabolic processes. As a result, food is better digested and absorbed.
Positively affects the heart and blood vessels. The product breaks down cholesterol, strengthens blood vessels, and is used to prevent atherosclerosis.

Chemical composition of chufa nuts

Ground almond tubers contain:

proteins – up to 4%;
starch – up to 20%;
fats – from 17 to 25%;
sugar – up to 28%.

Calorie content of 100 g of product – 609 kcal. It contains vegetable fats. In reasonable quantities, they have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and hair. The nutritional value of chufa is 3 times higher than that of peanuts.

Chufa groundnut also contains a complex of useful substances:

vitamins B, C, A and E;
lipids;
resins;
oleic acid;
trace elements: sodium, potassium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, calcium.

How to plant chufa

Chufa nut is propagated by seeds quite rarely. It is best to use tubers. First, they are soaked for 3 days in water at room temperature. The water is changed every day to avoid rotting of the planting material.

In cool climates, ground almonds are sprouted at home. To do this, prepare containers into which soil is poured. Place 2 - 3 tubers in each container and keep them in a warm place. They usually germinate within 14 days.When sprouts appear, the containers are moved to the windowsill.

When the spring frosts pass, the seedlings are transferred to open ground. In the southern regions, tubers are planted immediately in a permanent place. The plant prefers sunny areas; it develops much worse in the shade.

Advice! Chufa loves moisture, but its stagnation is detrimental to the root system.

Ground almonds develop well in peat, black soil, and sandy soil. It is more difficult to grow tiger nuts on clay, loamy soils and saline soils.

Tubers are planted in prepared holes. Leave 12 cm between plants. Planting material is deepened by 5 cm, a layer of soil is poured on top and watered. The seedlings are also transferred into the holes, trying not to damage the root system.

How to care for ground almonds

Growing Chufa earthen almonds involves caring for the plantings. Plants are watered 2 times a week, in drought - up to 3 times. Use warm, settled water. The best time for watering is morning or evening hours. If it has rained heavily, there is no need to add moisture.

When the bushes reach a height of 15 cm, they are hilled. This leads to the growth of the root system and the appearance of new tubers. The garden beds are regularly weeded weeds and loosen the soil.

Chufa does not require regular feeding. Twice a season it is watered with an infusion of mullein or herbs. Between procedures there is a gap of 2 weeks or more. After harvesting, microtubers remain in the soil. They decompose and saturate the earth with nitrogen. After ground almonds, any kind of crops are grown.

Harvesting

Chufa is harvested in the fall, at the end of September and later. Work begins when the leaves of the plant turn yellow and dry out. If early frosts are expected, the plantings are covered with film or agrofibre.

Important! The later the ground almond tubers are harvested, the more oil they contain.

Bushes are dug up with a pitchfork. The nuts are separated from the plant, washed and dried in the sun. The middle tubers are left for planting next year. They remain viable for 7 years. Rhizomes are stored indoors, in a dry and dark room.

Features of growing chufa in central Russia

Chufa grows successfully in the middle zone. To obtain a high yield, it is important to take into account the characteristics of the region. Otherwise, the plants provide normal care.

The nuances of growing ground almonds in the middle zone:

obtaining seedlings at home;
fertilizing the soil with humus;
planting in the ground in early to mid-May, when frosts have passed;
in cold climates, planting in a greenhouse is allowed;
protection of plantings from ants and wireworms.

How to eat chufu

Chufa tubers are used fresh. They taste sweetish, reminiscent of nuts. Root vegetables are dried and roasted. It is recommended to remove the skin first. To soften ground almonds, you need to immerse them in water for 12 to 24 hours. The product increases the nutritional value of the dish.

Ways to use chufa:

adding to sweets, pies, halva and other confectionery products;
grinding into flour;
obtaining starch, sugar and oil;
preparing milk and other drinks;
as an ingredient for salads with vegetables and fish;
roasted tubers can replace coffee;
brewing leaves and nuts as tea.

Chufa oil, whose composition is close to olive, is especially valued. The product has a golden hue and a pleasant taste. Used in cooking for first and second courses, confectionery.

Chufa recipes

Chufa is useful not only in its fresh form.Its rhizome is used for pickling, producing milk and honey preparations. All recipes are simple and easy to make at home.

Recipe for marinating chufa

Pickled ground almonds are an excellent option for homemade preparations. The appetizer is served with meat dishes or used on its own.

Ingredients for marinating:

ground almonds – 200 g;
white vinegar - 5 glasses;
peppercorns – 2 tbsp. l.;
dried ginger root – 2 pcs.;
allspice – 2 tbsp. l.

Procedure for marinating chufa:

Root vegetables are washed, peeled and placed in clean water for 12 hours.
To obtain the marinade, mix vinegar, ginger and peppers.
The water is drained and the nuts are placed in a jar.
The mixture is poured with marinade and covered with a lid.
The nuts are left to marinate for a month.

Chufa groundnut recipe with honey

Delicious vegan candies are made from chufa. The recipe requires honey and other healthy ingredients.

Full list of ingredients:

tiger nut – 30 g;
dates – 200 g;
peeled walnuts – 50 g;
honey – 100 g;
coconut flakes – 50 g;
cocoa powder – 50 g.

Candy recipe:

Dates are pitted, and ground almonds are peeled.
The ingredients are ground in a blender.
Honey is added to the mixture, then balls are formed from it.
The candies are dipped in coconut or cocoa.

Chufa nut milk

Chufa milk is a nutritious product rich in calcium, fiber, fatty acids and vitamins. However, it does not contain lactose. Milk activates the immune system, strengthens the heart, bones and muscles, improves digestion, and cleanses the body of toxins. The product is consumed on fasting and fasting days, and is included in the vegetarian menu.

Interesting! Milk made from ground almonds is called horchata.It is popular in Spain and African countries.

The store-bought drink contains a lot of sugar, preservatives and other unhealthy ingredients. Therefore, it is better to cook it yourself.

Ingredients for Chufa milk:

ground almonds – 250 g;
clean water – 1 l;
cinnamon – 1 stick (to taste);
coconut or palm sugar - 200 g (to taste).

Milk recipe:

Ground almonds are peeled and washed in clean water.
Nuts and cinnamon are dipped into water, then left for a day. Wait until the almonds become soft.
The tubers and cinnamon are ground in a blender. The water after soaking is not drained, but added to the total mass.
The resulting milk is filtered.
The product is kept in the refrigerator, natural sugar is added if desired.

Milk is served chilled. To taste, add not only cinnamon, but also lemon zest, cardamom, vanilla, and fruit.

How to take chufa for diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the body cannot independently absorb glucose. People of all ages are susceptible to the disease. With this disease, special attention is paid to diet.

Chufa is recommended for people suffering from diabetes. Ground almonds have been found to lower blood sugar levels. Diabetics can take them fresh or after processing in any suitable way. A medicinal tea is prepared from the leaves to enhance immunity. The plant is also used to prevent diseases of the endocrine system.

Contraindications to the use of chufa

Before planting, take into account the beneficial properties and contraindications of the chufa nut. To avoid health problems, follow the consumption norm.Ground almonds should be included with caution in the diet if you have diseases of the kidneys and other internal organs. You should first consult your doctor.

Chufa is high in calories. Therefore, its use should be limited to overweight people. An individual reaction to the product is possible. Women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as young children, should avoid using ground almonds.

Reviews of earthen almonds (chufa)

Polozova Svetlana Petrovna, 34 years old, Moscow region

Several years ago I read about the chufa plant in a magazine. I bought tubers at a gardening store and planted them in my dacha. They sprouted well. All summer I took care of the plantings: watered, weeded, loosened the soil. At the end of September I dug up the roots. In total, we got two handfuls of root vegetables, each measuring no more than 1.5 cm. The pulp is crispy and sweetish. Chufa is very healthy and contains many minerals. You can eat it fresh or after roasting.

Eremenko Vitaly Ivanovich, 46 years old, Samara

I have long heard reviews about Chufa earthen almonds, about the simple planting and care of this plant. I bought several nuts at the store and decided to plant them on the plot. First, I soaked the planting material for 10 hours. The work was carried out after the May holidays, when the frosts passed. From 20 tubers we managed to grow 15 bushes. They quickly grew and took the form of small hummocks. In the fall I dug up the roots, they turned out to look like sweetish nuts. We prepare healthy decoctions from them, add them to tea and baked goods.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Chufa ground almonds will help to grow this useful plant. It is processed or used fresh. Chufa is unpretentious and has decorative properties.