Tiger Nut Milk: The Little Root Behind Every Wellness Cup

There’s a little root doing a lot of work in every Wellness Cup at Süreyya Kahve. It brings a gently sweet, creamy foundation to the oats and chia, and carries a story that reaches from a family kitchen in Australia to farming communities in Burkina Faso.

That ingredient is tiger nut milk. And despite its name, tiger nut isn’t a nut at all.

First things first: tiger nuts are roots

Tiger nuts are small tubers: the edible roots of a sedge plant. They’re naturally sweet, and they’ve been enjoyed in different parts of the world for generations, including as a drink in West Africa.

That botanical detail matters if you’re choosing ingredients with allergens in mind. Tiger nuts are not tree nuts, and Madame Tiger describes its milk as free from dairy, soy, gluten and nuts. Its recipe also uses faba bean protein, so anyone with a known sensitivity to legumes should check the product information and decide what suits them.

The result is a distinctive plant-based milk with a soft, rounded taste: creamy enough to bring ingredients together, but not so strong that it takes over the cup.

A family kitchen idea with a bigger purpose

Madame Tiger is a family-run Australian and New Zealand business founded by Laura Hindson. Laura first discovered tiger nuts through her Malian father-in-law, who grew up enjoying them as a snack, in cooking and as a milk.

After having twins, Laura began experimenting with making tiger nut milk at home. Approaching it as a home cook, she wanted a recipe with a short, considered ingredient list, without seed oils, gums, emulsifiers or artificial additives. Madame Tiger’s Original formula uses Australian extra virgin olive oil and locally grown faba bean protein, alongside tiger nuts and other ingredients.

The brand describes its milk as designed to offer nutrition comparable to cow’s milk, while providing a plant-based option. The Original version contains faba bean protein, as well as added vitamins and minerals. Madame Tiger also makes a Barista version formulated for use in coffee, giving cafés and coffee lovers another way to enjoy tiger nut milk.

It’s a thoughtful example of how a familiar food can inspire a new everyday choice: one built around a specific ingredient, a practical recipe and a clear sense of purpose.

The people and place behind the ingredient

Madame Tiger’s sourcing story includes a partnership with Mousso Faso, a predominantly female farming collective in Burkina Faso. Its name is translated by Madame Tiger as “homeland of the wholehearted woman.”

The collective works with tiger nut farming families, helping them sell directly to international customers. Madame Tiger says this approach is intended to support fairer payment, better working conditions, children’s education and sustainable farming practices. The tiger nuts are rainwater-grown.

This isn’t just a supply-chain detail to skim past. It’s a reminder that a seemingly simple ingredient has a journey: from the people who grow it, through the hands that turn it into milk, and into the breakfast cup you enjoy.

Madame Tiger shares more about its partnership with Mousso Faso and its family-run business and founding story.

The quiet foundation of every Wellness Cup

At Süreyya Kahve, tiger nut milk is the base ingredient in every Overnight Oat, Chia Pudding and OatChia Overnight. It brings a smooth, gently sweet character to the menu, giving each recipe a creamy starting point for its own flavours and textures.

That foundation works across a range of combinations:

• Overnight Oats pair the milk with oats, seeds and toppings such as fruit, dates or honey.
• Chia Puddings use it to complement chia’s naturally soft, spoonable texture.
• OatChia Overnights bring oats and chia together for a heartier cup.

The recipes vary, but tiger nut milk is the common thread. It helps the ingredients feel at home together, whether the cup leans fruity, chocolatey or warmly spiced.

Explore the current Süreyya Kahve Wellness Cups menu to discover the flavours and estimated nutrition for each cup. Some menu options also include KAILO blends for an additional flavour and nutrition dimension. For example, you can learn more about KAILO Plant Well, available in Vanilla Chai and Mango.

A good base lets the details shine

The beauty of a base ingredient is that it doesn’t have to be the star to make a difference. Tiger nut milk adds creaminess and a mild sweetness, while leaving room for fresh fruit, oats, chia and carefully chosen toppings to bring their own character.

It’s also a reminder that “plant-based” doesn’t have to mean complicated. A carefully formulated milk can be one part of an enjoyable, convenient breakfast, without asking you to decode a long list of unfamiliar ingredients.

If you’re considering a new milk alternative, check the ingredients and choose the version that fits the way you’ll use it. Madame Tiger’s Original is positioned as the higher-protein option for cold uses such as smoothies and cereal; its Barista variety is made for coffee. And as with any food, check the label carefully if you manage an allergy or sensitivity.

Little root, meaningful ritual

A Wellness Cup can be a small moment in a full day: a breakfast picked up on the way to work, or a slower start enjoyed spoonful by spoonful. Tiger nut milk gives these cups their shared, creamy base, and brings with it a story of curiosity, family food traditions and a considered connection to the people who grow the ingredient.

MAKE YOUR NEXT CUP A MOMENT TO SAVOUR. Explore the Wellness Cups at Süreyya Kahve, and discover the little root behind every one.