Chufa
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Chufa |
| Cyperus Esculentus |
Chufa is a wonderful plant - and like many very useful plants, in many areas of the US it is
considered a weed, something to be kept out of cultivated areas.
It is also known by the name of Tiger, Cyperaceae and Ground Almond. Though the name ground
almond is a common one, the Chufa is not a nut but the tuber of the grasslike plant pictured above. It
grows throughout the world, but likes sandy soils best, and does not produce well in coder climes.
It is related to the papyrus plant, and it's fibers have been used to make ropes and for weaving
various items, but the main draw to this plant is the tuber.
It has been cultivated throughout the world and throughout history, but as mentioned above it is
considered more of a weed in America at this time.
Unlike many tubers, the Chufa fruit can be eaten raw, roasted, boiled or just about any other way
you could think of them. The taste and texture when eaten raw is soft and juicy; with no preparation,
there can be a slightly resinous flavor.
Drying and cooking in any fashion remove the resinous taste, and what is there is similar to coconut
and almonds, hence the name Ground Almond. The plants have a high oil content, as much as 30%,
and this helps them provide energy when used as a trail snack. The food has been highly sought after,
and once a patch of the Chufa is established, it is very self propagating, which is one reason it is
considered a pest. Once established a Chufa patch, even with stiff harvesting of the tubers, will have
enough small ones left in the ground to start again the next spring.
Getting them to grow in the first place can be tricky, as many wild animals enjoy the small plants.
They like sandy soil, and also like marshy conditions, so if you have a spot that does not drain well,
that is the ideal spot for them. The plant, once established, is also an excellent draw for wildfowl of
various types.
We will post more pictures of this plant soon; the above was provided by :
http://freeherbpictures.com/
considered a weed, something to be kept out of cultivated areas.
It is also known by the name of Tiger, Cyperaceae and Ground Almond. Though the name ground
almond is a common one, the Chufa is not a nut but the tuber of the grasslike plant pictured above. It
grows throughout the world, but likes sandy soils best, and does not produce well in coder climes.
It is related to the papyrus plant, and it's fibers have been used to make ropes and for weaving
various items, but the main draw to this plant is the tuber.
It has been cultivated throughout the world and throughout history, but as mentioned above it is
considered more of a weed in America at this time.
Unlike many tubers, the Chufa fruit can be eaten raw, roasted, boiled or just about any other way
you could think of them. The taste and texture when eaten raw is soft and juicy; with no preparation,
there can be a slightly resinous flavor.
Drying and cooking in any fashion remove the resinous taste, and what is there is similar to coconut
and almonds, hence the name Ground Almond. The plants have a high oil content, as much as 30%,
and this helps them provide energy when used as a trail snack. The food has been highly sought after,
and once a patch of the Chufa is established, it is very self propagating, which is one reason it is
considered a pest. Once established a Chufa patch, even with stiff harvesting of the tubers, will have
enough small ones left in the ground to start again the next spring.
Getting them to grow in the first place can be tricky, as many wild animals enjoy the small plants.
They like sandy soil, and also like marshy conditions, so if you have a spot that does not drain well,
that is the ideal spot for them. The plant, once established, is also an excellent draw for wildfowl of
various types.
We will post more pictures of this plant soon; the above was provided by :
http://freeherbpictures.com/
