Easy Tigernut Milk (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

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This easy tigernut milk recipe comes together so easily, with a naturally sweet and nutty flavor,and makes a excellent alternative to regular dairy milk. Also known as “horchata de chufa”, this 2-ingredient homemade tiger nut milk is totally gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo and vegan.

A bottle of homemade tigernut milk and raw tiger nuts on wooden board.

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Homemade is Best
What Are Tiger Nuts?
Tigernut Milk (Horchata de Chufa) – A Non-Dairy Milk Alternative
Why This Recipe Works:
Ingredients You’ll Need:
How to Make Tigernut Milk (Step by Step):
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
Recipe FAQs:
Other Basic Recipes to Make:
Easy Tigernut Milk (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Homemade is Best

I’m a big fan of all things homemade, especially when it’s easy to make. Since Juan became lactose intolerant a few years ago, we’ve been making out own homemade non-dairy nut milks, and some of our plant milk favorites include:

And since my friend Sofia gifted me a pack of raw tiger nuts, we’ve also been making a new dairy-free milk: tigernut milk!

What Are Tiger Nuts?

Despite the word “nuts”, tiger nuts are not actually nuts, but are actually edible tubers.

Also known as chufas, yellow nutsedge, or earth almonds, these tiny tubers are roughly the size of chickpeas. With a wrinkly exterior and a chewy texture, tiger nuts have a faintly sweet and nutty flavor.

You can eat these little tubers raw as a healthy snack (my friend Nacho loves munching on them), grind them into tigernut flour to make tiger nut flour bread, or blend them with water to make tiger nut milk!

Hand holding up raw, peeled tiger nuts from a bowl.

Tigernut Milk (Horchata de Chufa) – A Non-Dairy Milk Alternative

While not as common as other non-dairy milks (such as almond milk, cashew milk, rice milk or soy milk), tigernut milk is just as delicious and also extremely nutritious.

In Spanish, tiger nut milk is also known as “horchata de chufa” and according to my friend Sofia’s mum, she gave her two daughters tiger nut milk when they were both babies because she couldn’t produce her own breastmilk, and because tigernut horchata has numerous health benefits and is full of nutrients (particularly fiber and antioxidants).

Because tiger nuts are naturally sweet on their own with a beautiful nutty flavor, tiger nut milk is tasty and sweet and no sugar or additional sweetener is required.

Two bottles of milk and raw tiger nuts on wooden board.

Why This Recipe Works:

Just 2 Ingredients: All you need to make your own tigernut milk is just raw tiger nuts and filtered water. Doesn’t get any simpler than this!
Super Easy to Make: First time making nut milk? Don’t worry! Simply soak the whole tigernuts beforehand and then blend with water for a few minutes before filtering and violà! Homemade chufa milk is ready!
Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: The best part is that this homemade tigernut milk recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy this homemade milk without issues!

Holding a glass bottle of tigernut milk.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Basically, all you need to make your own tiger nut milk are just 2 simple ingrediets: raw tiger nuts and filtered water.

I prefer using raw peeled tiger nuts in this simple recipe, but you may use whichever type you have to make this delicious horchata.

How to Make Tigernut Milk (Step by Step):

1. Soak Tiger Nuts:

Place the raw tiger nuts in a medium bowl and cover them with water. Let them soak for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Raw tiger nuts soaking in water in a bowl.

2. Drain

When the tiger nuts are done soaking, drain the soaked tiger nuts and pour away the soaking water that the nuts were soaked in.

3. Blend

Combine the soaked tiger nuts with the filtered water in the bowl of a high-speed blender and blend for a few minutes until you get a smooth white milk.

Holding a blender with freshly blended tigernut milk.

4. Filter

Pour the milk through a nut milk bag to get rid of any fiber that was not processed.

Filtering homemade tigernut milk through a nut milk bag.

5. Transfer to Bottle

Use the tiger nut milk immediately or transfer the tiger nut horchata to a glass bottle (or glass jar or mason jar) and store in the refrigerator for up 3 days.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

Make Sure to Soak Tiger Nuts: While soaking the tiger nuts beforehand requires a little extra preparation, it results in ultra creamy milk as the tiger nuts absorb some of the water and become slightly softer.
Filter the Milk: For the best results and the creamiest texture, make sure you filter the milk through a nut milk bag, cheese cloth or a fine-mesh sieve to filter out any fiber or leftover tiger nut pulp that was not fully processed.
Extra Sweetness and Flavor: While tigernut milk is naturally sweet by itself, you can also add a sweetener such a maple syrup or agave nectar if you prefer. You may also flavor the milk with cinnamon sticks for extra taste.
No Tiger Nuts? If you don’t have access to tiger nuts, but would still like to make your own homemade lactose-free milk, feel free to use equal amounts of raw almonds, cashews, or walnuts instead.

Recipe FAQs:

How to Store Tigernut Milk?

To store, transfer the freshly blended milk to a glass bottle and store in the refrigerator for up 3 days.

Other Basic Recipes to Make:

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