Singhada

Singhada UK - Delicious Gluten Free Indian Water Chestnuts

Samagri | Uttar Pradesh India Indian Water Chestnuts & Water Chestnut Flour

Samagri | UP Water Ponds and Aquatic Products | Uttar Pradesh India Aquatic Water Bodies

Uttar Pradesh has a wealth of natural resources, and large potential for inland freshwater aquaculture, due to its many inland and rainwater water resources.

The Indian water chestnut, also known as SINGHADA, is a fruit that grows in ponds and is a common part of the Indian diet and preferred on rural and urban platters.

Singhada Flour is an important and common dietary preference amongst people on a weight loss or fasting diet in Northern India.

Fresh and finely chopped it adds a delightful crunch and a mysterious starchy flavour to fillings made for pork dumplings.

The Scientific name of Singhada, Indian Water Chestnuts or Water Caltrops, is Trapa natans. Shape wise it has an interesting look like the head of the copybook Devil with two prickly spines on either side of the head of the fruit.

In its fresh form, the colour varies from deep purple to red to green.

• Other names: Simkhata in Hindi, karimbolam or vankottakkaya in Malayalam
• Nutritional value: High in dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, and vitamin B6
• Uses: Can be eaten raw, dried and powdered into flour, or used in fasting meals
• Health benefits: May help with weight loss, improve heart health, and prevent chronic ailments
• Precautions: Should be eaten in moderation if you have stomach issues, as it can cause constipation

Below are some other facts about Indian Singhada / water chestnuts :

They are native to Asia and Africa. They are an annual aquatic plant that floats freely in shallow water bodies, ponds, or marshes. The fruit of the water chestnut is called the nut. They are also known as water caltrop. They are usually a winter fruit, but their flour is available year-round. They are also cultivated commercially in China, Korea, Japan, and North America.

Water chestnut (Trapa spp.) is an important annual, floated but rooted aquatic plant of temperate and tropical freshwater wetlands of India. The water chestnut is native to Europe, Asia and Africa and has been widely cultivated for centuries in natural and artificial custom made ponds, for food and as a gluten free flour alternative in Asia.

Singhada or Singhara, is unique among freshwater Indian aquatic plants. This distinctive plant, native to Asia and Africa, has been venerated for generations, for its culinary, medicinal, and cultural value.