A perennial herbaceous plant of the Sedge family (Cyperaceae), cultivated as a food plant because of the edible nodules on the roots. A perennial plant, cultivated as an annual, 30-90 cm high.
This nut grows in the Northern hemisphere from temperate to subtropical climate. Although the plant belongs to the perennial in cultivated form, it grows for only a year. After the tubers ripen, they are dug out and the plant dies. Ground almonds are a very tasty nut, with a high content of fats, proteins and sugar.
The nut tastes very sweet with a pronounced nutty taste. Before use, the nut can be lightly fried, although with proper drying it can be eaten like this. The nut tubers are very hard, so they must be soaked before use.
Chufa is undemanding to the soil, but gives the best yield on fertile loose soils, prefers sunny places and moderate watering, grows worse on waterlogged soils.