Tiger Nut Drink: What It Is, How to Make It

Tiger nut drink isn’t made from nuts, and it’s not made from tigers. It’s a plant tuber, blended into a naturally sweet, creamy drink — and it’s genuinely easy to make at home.

What Is Tiger Nut Drink?

Tiger nuts (also called tigernuts) are small, wrinkled tubers — not a true nut at all, despite the name. Soaked, blended, and strained, they produce a naturally sweet, milky drink, sometimes called tigernut milk. It’s popular in Nigeria on its own and as a base for other drinks, and it’s naturally allergen-friendly, since it’s not a tree nut or dairy product.

What It Tastes Like

Naturally sweet, with a flavor somewhere between coconut and horchata — creamy, a little nutty despite not being a nut, and genuinely pleasant without added sugar, though most recipes add a bit anyway.

How to Make Tiger Nut Drink

Makes about 4 cups

1. Soak 1 cup of dried tiger nuts in water overnight, or at least 8 hours — this softens them enough to blend properly.
2. Drain and rinse.
3. Blend the soaked tiger nuts with 3–4 cups of fresh water until smooth.
4. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the fibrous pulp, keeping the liquid.
5. Sweeten to taste — dates, sugar, or honey all work.
6. Add flavor if you want it: a few pieces of fresh ginger, coconut, or a splash of vanilla are common additions blended in with the tiger nuts.
7. Chill and serve cold, over ice.

A Few Notes on Getting It Right

• Soak longer if your tiger nuts feel especially hard. Some batches need closer to 12 hours to soften properly for blending.
• Straining well matters. Skipping this step, or straining too loosely, leaves a gritty texture instead of the smooth, milky drink you’re going for.
• Dates are the most common natural sweetener, blended in directly rather than added as syrup — they also thicken the drink slightly.

Buying Tiger Nuts in the US, UK, or Canada

Dried tiger nuts are stocked at African grocery stores, and increasingly at health food stores too, since tiger nuts have picked up a following outside Nigerian cooking specifically for being allergen-friendly. You’re buying the dried tuber itself — there’s no shortcut pre-made mix widely available, so making it from scratch is really the only way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tiger nut drink made of? Soaked, blended, and strained tiger nuts (a small tuber, not an actual nut), sweetened to taste.

Is tiger nut drink the same as horchata? Not the same, but often compared — both are plant-based, naturally sweet, milky drinks with a similar creamy quality, made from different base ingredients.

Is tiger nut drink good for people with nut allergies? Generally yes, since despite the name it’s not a tree nut — it’s a root vegetable. Still worth checking with a doctor if you have a severe allergy and are trying it for the first time.

How long does tiger nut drink last in the fridge? About 3–4 days, properly refrigerated. It separates as it sits, so give it a good shake or stir before drinking.

Where do you buy tiger nuts outside Nigeria? African grocery stores, and increasingly health food stores, sold dried. You make the drink from scratch — there isn’t a common pre-made mix.