Everyone loves almond butter – I mean, it’s hard not to with its rich and nutty taste, health benefits, and sticky texture! But, how does almond butter fare against a nut-free spread with one of the coolest names: tiger nut butter?
As health-conscious food enthusiasts seek alternatives to traditional spreads, these two contenders have each emerged with pros and cons worth exploring. In this “nutty” showdown, we’ll dive into the worlds of almond butter and tiger nut butter, discovering their different characteristics including their flavor profiles, nutritional qualities, and culinary uses.
So, get ready to see this boxing match between almond butter and tiger nut butter – and find out which one stays standing!
Comparing tiger nut butter vs almond butter
Almond butter is made with almonds (you probably could’ve guessed that one) while tiger nut butter has NO nuts! The name is a bit misleading, but tiger nut butter is made from something entirely different from the family of tree nuts which almonds are from (we’ll check it out in more detail down below).
They’re both pretty great for vegan and paleo diets, and almond butter even works for keto diets! Tiger nut butter has a likely low glycemic index considering it’s made from tiger nuts, while almond butter has a known low score. This makes them good for keeping blood sugar levels from spiking, but make sure to talk to your physician first if you have concerns!
| Tiger nut butter | Almond butter | |
| Taste | Earthy (similar to pecans) | Nutty, rich, slightly sweet |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy | Slightly grainy and runny (or crunchy) |
| Allergens | Technically tree nuts (coconut oil added) | Tree nuts |
| Vegan? | Yes | Yes |
| Paleo? | Yes | Yes |
| Keto? | No | Yes |
| Glycemic index (GI) | Unknown; likely low | 0 |
What is tiger nut butter?
So, if there are no nuts in tiger nut butter, why does it have the word “nut” in it?
Well, it’s made from tiger nuts, which are tubers that come from a plant known as “the yellow nutsedge.” These tubers are ground down into a paste, which often has coconut oil added to it – hence the allergen in the chart above. Now, while coconuts are technically classified as tree nuts, it’s very unlikely that people with tree nut allergies have an allergic reaction to tiger nut butter – but talk to your physician to be sure!
What is almond butter?
Out of all the nut butters to choose from, almond butter is one of the most popular. It’s made by grinding almonds into a nutty spread that’s said to be one of the healthiest nut butters, and has even replaced peanut butter in a lot of people’s kitchens!
It’s also one of those nut butters that you can get in a variety of textures, ranging from smooth to crunchy – although it always tends to be a bit grainy!
Differences between tiger nut butter and almond butter
The biggest difference between tiger nut butter and almond butter are their textures and flavors.
Tiger nut butter has an earthy and nutty taste to it like pecans, which makes it pretty hard to tell that it’s not made from nuts! Almond butter has a rich nutty taste to it, with slightly sweet undertones.
Texture-wise, tiger nut butter has thick, creamy, and smooth consistency throughout, while almond butter is the exact opposite with a runny, grainy, and sometimes even crunchy texture (depending on the level of crunchiness you get).
While they’re both quite different, tiger nut butter and almond butter are each quite versatile, and can be used in many different ways…
How to use tiger nut butter vs almond butter
Now the fun part: how can you enjoy each of these delicious spreads?
Well, tiger nut butter and almond butter can both be used in pretty much the same ways. You can simply spread them onto your toast, mix them into your oatmeal and yogurt, add them to your smoothies, or dip vegetables into them.
You could even use them as ingredients in baking, each spread offering a unique flavor profile to your creation. That means your energy bars, cookies, muffins, and more can all benefit from either of these!
Plus, almond butter has some hydrating qualities, meaning you can make almond body butter to treat your dry skin with in a natural and vegan way.
Just be aware that their interchangeability depends on you understanding how their respective textures and flavors will change your dish!
Nutrition: Tiger nut butter vs almond butter
Tiger nut butter has quite the high fiber content, but is poor in protein. It also has more saturated fat and sugar than almond butter, with a high carb content to boot.
Almond butter is higher in the healthy unsaturated fats, with a better protein content as well. It’s also chock-full of vitamin E and has almost no sugar in it. And, it has a fair fiber content that brings down the net carbs, making it a candidate for your keto recipes!
| Serving size: 2 tbsp | Tiger nut butter | Almond butter |
| Calories | 180 | 190 |
| Total fat (saturated) | 13 g (5 g) | 17 g (2 g) |
| Total carbs | 14 g | 7 g |
| Net carbs (fiber) | 7 g (7 g) | 3 g (4 g) |
| Total sugars (incl. added) | 4 (0) g | 1 g (0 g) |
| Protein | 1 g | 7 g |
How to store tiger nut butter and almond butter
Tiger nut butter and almond butter are both best stored in the fridge to prevent them from going rancid too soon. Almond butter also tends to have its oil separate, and the fridge can slow that down a bit. Make sure to stir it before storing to help out with that!
Both usually last around 2-3 months after opening, but make sure to double-check the labels for any specific storage instructions and best-before dates.
Tiger nut butter vs almond butter: The ultimate verdict
Tiger nut butter has a much cooler name, but it’s hard to beat the greatness of almond butter.
While both have nutritional benefits, almond butter is much better than tiger nut butter with its awesome blend of healthy fats, vitamin E, minerals, and protein. The taste is also classic “nut butter,” which a non-nut butter like tiger nut butter has a hard time competing with. And if you don’t like almond butter’s texture, you can throw it into the fridge to thicken it up a bit!
So, almond butter takes the win here as the better option over tiger nut butter – but don’t be afraid to try both out and see which one suits you best!
FAQs
That comes down to a lot of preferences, but almond butter is often said to be one of the healthiest nut butters – and it has a delicious flavor to boot!
This cool name comes from the tiger nuts that tiger nut butter is made from. Tiger nuts aren’t nuts at all, but are actually tubers from the plant known as the “yellow nutsedge.”
Almond butter has a much better protein content than tiger nut butter, with lots of healthy fats as well, making it the better option for smoothies!
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