You may have heard of Sacha Inchi Seeds somewhere and are wondering what they are. Sometimes they’re called Jungle Peanuts, Inca Nut, or Sacha Inchi Nuts. Let’s clear the air upfront: Sacha inchi seeds are not peanuts and they are not tree nuts.
Sacha Inchi seeds are sometimes called jungle peanuts because they grow in rainforest and jungle climates in South America, and some people say they taste like peanuts when you lick them. The name is fitting based on this description, but said name hasn’t always been good for these little seeds.
Sacha inchi seeds are a gluten-free, vegan, and plant-based raw ingredient that provide a range of health benefits (more on that later).
Now that the air is clear, let’s talk all about these awesome seeds that are a plant based nutrition powerhouse with versatile uses.
Related Allergy Info:
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Nutritional Benefits of Sacha Inchi
There are quite a few health benefits you’ll enjoy when regularly consuming sacha inchi seeds (or sacha inchi protein powder) in conjunction with good diet and lifestyle choices. That second part is important because if you’re eating a standard American diet (SAD) and just add a spoonful of sacha inchi protein to your daily life, you’re not going to see the health benefits. Now, let’s take a look at some of the awesome benefits of consuming this South American crop.
- One serving of whole sacha inchi seeds provides 5 grams of fiber, which is 18% of the daily recommended intake.
- Sacha Inchi is a complete protein and has all 8 of the essential amino acids the human body can’t create. The seed is also 30% protein by weight.
- Sacha Inchi is a fantastic source of plant based omega. A one ounce serving can contain upwards of 4,000 mg Omega 3 ALA.
- Sacha Inchi is also a decent source of iron as well, with up to 8% of your RDA in a one ounce serving.
- Cold pressed sacha inchi oil contains omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. You can eat it, as well as use it on your skin.
- Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and improve brain health.
- The omega-3 fatty acids found in sacha inchi is greater than what’s found in chia seeds and flax seeds, making it a great plant based ingredient to add to your diet.
- The protein content of the seed can help with muscle recovery, as well as muscle growth.
- Sacha inchi contains tryptophan which can enhance your serotonin levels and in some individuals help with depression.
You can read a lot more about the health benefits of sacha inchi seeds in this great article by Sun Warrior.
The Taste of Sacha Inchi Seeds
I’ve had my kids try the sacha inchi seeds (AKA sacha inchi nuts) that I purchased, and not a single one of them enjoyed the experience. They did however confirm that sacha inchi seeds legit taste like peanuts when you lick them. However, I’m told that once you bite into them and start to chew, the peanut flavor is gone and it’s all downhill from there.
I had another taster describe the experience as this: “Sacha inchi seeds have the texture of a peanut, and the taste of one when you lick it. It has similar characteristics to peanuts when you bite into it, but it tastes more like sunflower than a peanut as you chew it. I guess someone could develop a taste for it, but it may taste better if you dip it in chocolate. A candy coating around it would be radical.”
The key thing to know when you order sacha inchi products is that you’re signing up for something with a pungent taste. Unless you’re already a huge fan of these types of ingredients, mask the flavor. Once you get used to it over time, then you can grab a handful of sacha inchi seeds and have them as part of a snack.
Sacha Inchi as a Superfood
Sacha Inchi is considered a superfood (remember, that’s a made-up buzz word to sell you something) because of its nutritional benefits. It’s important to remember that the term superfood can be overused, and it’s not uncommon to find a “regular food” with almost just as much nutritional benefits at a fraction of the price.
It’s rare that I hop on the superfood train, however, I’ll make an exception for sacha inchi, and here’s why: Its amazing potential to serve those with multiple and severe allergies. When it comes to food allergies and extreme cases, it can be hard to find a food source that meet all of your daily nutritional needs.
When a super ingredient like this one comes around, you better believe I’ll hop on the train because I want to see everyone in the free-from community thrive.
How To Use Sacha Inchi
There are many different ways you can incorporate this powerhouse into your daily routines and weekly meals. When you purchase sacha inchi, most likely it will be in the form of prepared seeds or sacha inchi powder, as compared to their raw format (they look super cool by the way).
Whole Sacha Inchi Seeds
- Use as a salad topping (the crunch could be a good crouton alternative if you need on)
- Add the seeds to a smoothie.
- Crush the seeds and use a small amount in items such as homemade granola bars or homemade trail mix.
- Add the seeds or seed pieces anywhere you’d like a crunch, but be mindful of how much you use as the taste can be overwhelming.
Sacha Inchi Protein Powder
- Add the powder to a smoothie, which can really help mask the flavor.
- Use the protein powder as part of your dry goods in baking. This cupcake recipe is a great example.
- Add the protein powder to brownies to give them a nutrition boost, and the chocolate will mask the flavour really well.
- Mix some protein powder into power balls to give them a protein upgrade.
- Use a little protein powder in a homemade chocolate ice cream recipe for a little boost.
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Sacha Inchi Oil
- Use sparingly as a finishing oil to create an interesting flavour profile on your finished plated dishes.
- Sacha inchi oil can be used in conjunction with a neutral oil to make salad dressing at home. You’ll want to strike up a balance since the oil is pretty pungent.
- Sacha inchi for haircare: you can massage the oil into your scalp to promote hair health.
As a Peanut Substitute
If you’re allergic to peanuts, sacha inchi seeds would be fantastic in a peanut-style Asian dish to bring back the peanut flavour. Whilst sacha inchi isn’t an exact peanut substitute, it can give you peanut vibes.
If you manage a peanut allergy, you could also use a combination of soy butter, sunflower seed butter, and sacha inchi oil to create a really interesting faux peanut sauce at home.
Sacha Inchi Protein Powder
One of the more interesting sacha inchi products available these days is sacha inchi protein powder. Now, it’s important to note that they aren’t all created equally. Some of the protein powders aren’t made in a way that balance the fat content properly.
My personal favourite brand is Zego Foods. They make a sacha inchi powder that goes above and beyond the call of duty. It’s well balanced, is heavy metal tested, and comes from a top 14 free facility which is great if you manage food allergies and other dietary restrictions.
The protein powder has a great range of uses including:
- Mixed into yogurt & granola bowl.
- Used as part of your dry ingredients when baking.
- Blended into a fruit smoothie,
- Blended into a chocolate smoothie.
- Used to make a homemade protein milk.
Just adding a spoonful of this non-gmo protein powder to a breakfast or snack each day will help you reap the health benefits and increase your overall intake of nutrients. Honestly, I find this type of approach to be the most sustainable with you have a major health goal you’d like to achieve.
When it comes to cooking with sacha inchi protein powder, I’d say be careful. It has a distinct taste and lighter meal such as a cream sauce won’t mask the flavor well. On the other hand, a rich tomato based ragu full of antioxidants or a delicious mole (Mexican sauce) will absolutely mask the flavor of the sacha inchi whilst giving you added vitamins and minerals.
Where to Purchase Sacha Inchi Products
The three main forms of sacha inchi products that you can purchase are whole seeds, oil, and powder form.
My top pick for protein powder is the one made by Zego Foods since it’s sacha seeds only. It’s one of the very few top 9 free (and top 14 free) protein powders that isn’t made from a pea protein isolate. These days, so many proteins contain a major allergen or legumes, so it’s refreshing to have a different option.
For whole sacha inchi seeds, I like the brand Imlak’esh. They sell the seeds as well as powder. They used to sell both in glass jars in some areas, but have recently switched to metal containers. If you have food allergies, get in touch with them before placing an order to double check if there are any allergens being processed in the facility. Last I checked, cashews were on site.
I’ve used sacha inchi oil from Starseed. I picked this brand because it’s a pure oil, and not one that’s mixed with olive oil or other oils. I’ve had my taste testers try it out and you need to know that sacha inchi oil is pungent. It should be used in recipes that will compliment the flavour, rather than be ruined by it.
- Zego Foods Organic Pure Protein on Amazon
- Imlak’esh Organic Sacha Inchi Seeds on Amazon
- Starseed Sacha Inchi Oil on Amazon
An Easy Recipe for Fitness Fans
If you’re looking for an easy way to incorporate sacha inchi protein powder into a shake or smoothie to boost energy and help with muscle recovery, here’s a super basic formula you can follow:
- 2 cups Organic Frozen Fruit of Choice
- 1 cup Water or Milk of Choice
- 30 – 60g Whole Organic Sacha Inchi Seeds OR 2 – 3 Tablespoons Organic Sacha Inchi Protein Powder (up to 30g)
- pinch of Sea Salt or Pink Salt
For chocolate lovers, you can use that formula, but use frozen fruit that pairs well with chocolate, then add 4 Tablespoons of Organic Cacao Powder (not the same as cocoa, cacao doesn’t have additives, etc.).
You can take this basic formula and run with it. Rotate thru different fruits you enjoy, but also incorporate fruits that boost gut health (and biodiversity) and are packed with anti-oxidants. By rotating thru different fruits, you can lean into ingredients that can help reduce inflammation, and have nutritional properties that help you meet your personal fitness goals.
My Personal Takeaway on Sacha Inchi
Like tiger nuts, I’m sorry for anyone that hears sacha inchi nuts and shies away because they think they’re tree nuts rather than the seeds they really are. Personally, I don’t think *everyone* should rush out to purchase sacha inchi products.
If you have severe food allergies and need to incorporate a good source of omegas or protein into your diet, sacha inchi could be a great supplement for you. However, if you have awesome sources already, maybe save the cash and get a LEGO set instead.
If you’re following a vegan diet and find yourself struggling to keep up nutritionally, I think sacha inchi could be a great benefit to you.
For anyone allergic to all tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and peanuts (especially if you’re allergic to all four), I think sacha inchi could add amazing benefits to your life. It would be a great dietary addition for you given how many food groups are off the table.
Should you decide to take the plunge, a natural way to start consuming sacha inchi seeds is to use the protein powder in a smoothie. In terms of how much to use, a great place to start is by adding a spoonful (or less) to a chocolate smoothie. Continue to increase the amount you use until you reach your personal proper dosage.
Answering Your Questions About Sacha Inchi and Sacha Inchi Protein Powder
Would sacha inchi taste good mixed into tea?
I’m sure some individuals would shout yes from the rooftops, but I’m going to tell you no, based on how my kids describe the flavor to me. Unless it’s a tiny amount, the flavor of the sacha inchi will overpower your tea, and you probably won’t like the taste.
If you want to increase your consumption of an ingredient like sacha inchi that contains a potent flavour, I’d suggest mixing it into a smoothie where the taste can be easily masked.
I can tell you that in some places in the world, people make a proper tea from sacha inchi, as compared to mixing it into a different tea. You could look up recipes and ratios and give it a go. Who knows, you may learn that you love sacha inchi tea, or you may stick to sacha inchi chocolate smoothies.
Can sacha inchi seeds help with digestion?
Some individuals will see a positive effect from consuming sacha inchi where digestion is concerned, and that’s because of the fiber content. I say some individuals because no two people are the same. Whilst sacha inchi can be considered a powerhouse in the nutrition department, like with all new changes, start slow.
If you have any kind of underlying medial condition (including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, etc.), talk with your medical team to ensure this new ingredient won’t have a negative effect on your current treatment plan. The goal should always be to have new ingredients like these supplement, compliment, and help improve the treatment plan in place so you can reach your health goals.
Will eating sacha inchi seeds help me lose weight?
Sacha inchi oil has been shown to help give your metabolism a little boost, but also support gut health. Another benefit from consuming the oil is that it can help reduce cravings because of the protein and healthy fat content.
However, please don’t think that eating a tablespoon of sacha inchi seed oil will magically help you lose weight. It’s not a magic bullet and is most effective when used in conjunction with other diet changes, lifestyle changes, exercise, and working with your medical team.
For example, if you have an underlying medical condition that’s preventing you from making the expected progress, that needs to be corrected. Consuming the oil isn’t going to fix that for you.
Unfortunately, we live in a time when health and wellness gurus like to hand out weight loss advice and make it “sound so easy” and that “one size will fit all” when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ultimately, in some people, yes, sacha inchi seeds can be part of their weight loss plan, but it’s not an end-all-be-all kind of ingredient. Wishing you all the best, and hoe you’re able to meet your goals.
Does sacha inchi protein powder taste as good as other protein powders?
My kids would tell you no, loud and clear. Given my food allergies, I’ve never had protein powder before, so I can only go on what they tell me. However, when the protein powder is mixed with other ingredients, they consume it happily.
Keep in mind, a lot of protein powders are flavoured with something, be it chocolate, or artificial flavors. When you purchase sacha inchi protein powder, just about every brand is selling you straight/raw powder, with no other ingredients. So by default, the deck is stacked against sacha inchi, and for the best results, you’ll want to mix it into something.
Is it possible to be allergic to sacha inchi?
Yes, it’s possible to be allergic to anything and in any combination. Whilst allergies to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and even beans are a lot more common, you can still be allergic to sacha inchi seeds.
If you’ve experienced symptoms of an allergic reaction when consuming sacha inchi seeds (including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, hives, throat swelling, stomach pain), seek immediate medical attention. This is just a short list of potential symptoms, as no two people are the same. Each person’s immune response and allergic reaction will be unique to them.
Be sure to work with your medical team to determine if the reaction you had was to sacha inchi, or to something else you consumed with it. You may be asked to keep a food journal, have an allergy test run, or do an oral challenge to help with the diagnosis.
Just remember, you’re in charge. If you’re certain that it was the consumption of sacha inchi that caused the reaction, no matter what test results may say, you don’t need to eat them ever again.
