Evaluation of the mineral and antinutritional composition of bottled and sterilized Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) milk

Nowadays, beverages are not just considered as thirst quenchers; specific functionality is the major ingredient expected in beverages, which has becomes a lifestyle. In recent years, these initiations have led to newly developed products in the beverages sector. Companies are learning the consumption styles of various individuals and making novel beverages through blends of milk and energy drinks. Tigernut milk is among the most valued plant-based beverages, obtained from the aqueous extract of tigernuts tubers. This study investigated the mineral and antinutritional components of bottled and sterilized tigernut milk. Two varieties of tigernut tuber (Yellow and brown) were processed using three methods (Boiling, soaking and malting), and the milk was bottled and further sterilized. The results obtained showed that Iron recorded the least value at (1.73mg and 2.24mg) for yellow and brown tigernut tubers; alsotigernut tubers were low in some antinutrients except flavonoids. The result for the tigernut milk elucidated that processing and sterilization had little effect on the mineral content of tigernut milk. The study also showed that the pre-processing treatment applied (Soaking, boiling and malting) to the tigernut either increased or caused a decline in the mineral content of the tigernut milk, whereas, processing and sterilization affected the antinutrient content of tigernut milk. All processing methods showed a significant difference (p<0.05.) as there was a decrease in the phytate and oxalate content. The study highlighted the possibility of processing tigernut tubers into milk extract that can be bottled and sterilized for a period of time.