Chufa (ground almond)

Chufa comes from the Mediterranean, where it has many names: earthen almond, syt, nut rush. It is very nutritious, it contains valuable oleic acid.

Chufa is an annual plant, belongs to the Sedge family. The sprouts are in many ways similar to chicken millet, while in its developed state, chufa resembles a commonplace sedge. All elements are well developed. Another name is ground almond.

The bushes of the plant are dense, their height can be up to 0.8 meters, the leaves are acutely trihedral. The rhizome is branched, with stolons formed on it. It is on them that the tubers are tied. One plant can include from three hundred up to a thousand tubers.

These tubers are small nuts. Their color is dark brown, the shape is oval, the structure becomes wrinkled after drying. The size is about the size of an almond tree. Inside these nodules is a white nucleus.

Chufa is a subtropical plant, and the place of origin is considered to be North Africa, as well as the Mediterranean region. For industrial purposes, chufa is grown in Italy and Spain, as well as in South America and North Africa.

Today it can be found everywhere, in almost every country. Interestingly, each state, as a rule, gives its own name to the chufe.So, Italians and Germans call it earthen almonds, Arabs - sweet root, Portuguese and Brazilians - tuberous grass, and so on.

The main features of the plant include:

• Nuts are very high-calorie, since their fat content is 35%;
• The fruits are consumed dried or roasted;
• You can make excellent flour from chufa, which is used for baking, halvah and sweets;
• Nuts have a refined taste;
• They are of great benefit;
• Widely used in cooking and medicine;
• Virtually no contraindications.

If we take into account all the nuts known today, then it is chufa that will be the most high-calorie among them. Even the indicators of the oily nut chufa surpassed three times.

For 100 grams of product there are:

The composition of the nut includes components such as starch, fiber, sugar, resins, etc.

If we talk about the chemical composition, in addition to high calorie content, chufa boasts a set of very important trace elements: iodine, sodium, potassium, copper, selenium, zinc. Fresh, it will fill the lack of zinc in the body and prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Vitamins of groups B, A, C, E are also in its composition.

You can get a lot of benefits from these nuts. Of course, with proper use of the product.

One way or another, the useful properties include:

• The presence of B vitamins provides the ability to restore the nervous system, digestion and cardiovascular system.
• Perfectly tones, gives energy and strength.
• Improves mood, promotes muscle and brain activity.
• An excellent remedy for those who suffer from diabetes.
• Milk made from nuts has a positive effect on the digestive tract.
• Raw nuts and chufa leaf tea help in the elimination of toxins and radionuclides.
• In case of sleep disturbance, it is recommended to stuff pillows with foliage from chufa.
• With constant use, a person becomes emotionally more stable, protected from the effects of external stimuli.
• Tincture with the use of vodka and chufa fights many diseases, including colds.
• The extract has an antibacterial effect, cleanses the intestines from pests.

As we have already noted, the fruits of chufa have no contraindications and are practically incapable of harming a person. So there are only two things to highlight:

1. This product is not recommended for those suffering from liver disease.
2. If you are overweight, it is better to refuse chufa, since nuts are very high in calories.

Oil is also obtained from chufa by cold pressing. This allows you to save all the useful and unique properties of the plant.

For the first time, oil was extracted from earthen almonds about four thousand years ago in Egypt. It began to be used much earlier than olive oil.

It has a golden brown hue, rich taste. It is actively used in the production of cosmetics. Due to the content of oleic acid, as well as low acidity, the oil has an incredible effect on the skin.

The benefits of oil are enormous, so let's name the main points:

• Has an antioxidant effect;
• Slows down cell aging, preserves youth;
• Acts as an antiseptic;
• Copes with many skin diseases;
• Nourishes and softens the skin;
• Makes the skin more elastic, eliminates wrinkles, fights rough skin areas;
• Gives strength and strength to nails and hair.

In cooking, chufu is used very often:

• Used as a substitute for almonds.
• Chufa is consumed raw, fried and dried.
• It is used to prepare one of the most famous drinks in Spain - orchad. This is almond milk.
• Chufa oil is used in the confectionery industry, it is added to cocoa, chocolate, pastries, halva, sweets, and so on.

Separately, I want to talk about the preparation of orshads. This is a national treasure of Spain, in honor of which they even hold a special holiday every year. On this day, everyone can try this sweet and refreshing drink.

You can also prepare it yourself.

For this you need:

• Grind fresh nuts and pour warm boiled water. The ratio should be one to four.
• During the day, the mixture is infused.
• Therefore, it is filtered with a fine sieve, rubbing nuts through it.
• Once you have the milk, add some vanilla and cinnamon to your liking, as well as some sugar.
• You need to drink chilled.

If it was not possible to get fresh nuts and eat only dry ones, it's okay. They can be soaked in warm water, and then grind with a meat grinder. Further, the cooking algorithm is the same.

The rich chemical composition makes it possible to successfully use chufu in medicine.

The main medicinal properties of chufa include:

• Nuts provide a boost of energy, strengthen the immune system, improve mood.
• Allow to stimulate the work of the brain, increase efficiency.
• One of the Russian patents provides for the use of chufa tuber powder, which has adaptogenic properties. Per day, 600 mg of the drug is prescribed before meals three times a day. According to studies, this drug increases the activity and performance of people and animals, protects against physical and emotional negative factors.
• The second patent provides for the use of chufa as an antidiabetic drug.
• Studies conducted in the United States have shown that chufa extract has the ability to fight pests such as staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, as well as pneumonia and pathogenic microorganisms.
• According to folk medicine, the prepared tincture from the tubers and leaves of the plant has properties similar to those of ginseng tinctures.
• Tea made from chufa leaves, as well as raw nuts, remove radionuclides.
• If your teeth hurt, they recommend a decoction for rinsing, made from the roots of chufa. In case of gum disease, powder from the roots should be rubbed into the gums.

Grind the nuts, add water and boil over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 1 glass 2-3 times a day.

Almost any soil is suitable for growing this crop, since the plant is not picky. However, it is better to choose a fertile and well-lit soil. Watering is carried out moderately, an excessive amount of water is detrimental.

When the earth has warmed up to about 15 degrees, the nuts can be planted in a permanent place. The depth of the tubers is 7-8 cm. Nests are made where several nuts are placed. The distance between the nests is about 30-40 cm. The first entrances appear already after ten days.

If it is impossible to plant in May, it is better to plant seedlings. This method is good, as it turns out a larger yield.

It is important to follow the rules of soil care. It should be constantly loose and wet, weeds are all removed. Avoid over watering as the roots will start to rot.

Initial autumn frosts for this plant are not terrible.

The tubers are pulled out, shaken off and sent to a metal mesh. There, the plant is watered and left to dry under the sun. It is important that wrinkles appear on the tubers.

You can store nuts in basements, but at the same time provide protection from rodents. In residential areas, they are also well preserved.

If you plan to plant chufu again, then you should be aware of some of the features of this process of choosing the right tubers.

• Only the largest and most mature tubers are taken for planting;
• They need to be washed in a special solution made from potassium permanganate;
• After that, rinse, dry, put in glass jars, fill about 75%;
• The container is covered with a plastic lid and laid on its side on the lower shelves of the refrigerator;
• Storage on windowsills is allowed, but then it is necessary to protect the jar from the sun;
• Observe the storage temperature, which should always be above 1 degree Celsius.