Makhana / Fox Nut

Makhana — also called fox nut, lotus seed or phool makhana — is the popped seed of the prickly water lily, Euryale ferox. It is harvested by hand from shallow ponds in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar, where roughly nine out of every ten of the world's fox nuts are grown. The seeds are sun-dried, graded by size, roasted in hot pans and then struck so the white kernel bursts out of its dark shell.

Nutritionally it is one of the most attractive snack bases available: high in plant protein, naturally low in fat and sodium, gluten-free, and rich in magnesium, potassium and calcium. Those properties have taken makhana from a traditional fasting food to a global healthy-snacking ingredient sold in the same aisle as popcorn and puffed grains.

Grading is by popped diameter and expressed in the traditional suta system — the higher the suta, the larger and whiter the pop, and the higher the price. We supply raw and roasted makhana in bulk, as well as flavoured retail packs (peri-peri, cheese, himalayan salt, cream and onion, tangy tomato) produced under the buyer's own brand.