Move Over Popcorn, Here Come Water-Lily Seeds

Jan 6, 2026 by Chef David

By Chef David [Updated January 2026]

Popped water-lily seeds, a healthier snack craze that offers a taste and palate experience different from traditional popcorn, was introduced to the kosher world by AshaPops when it received its OU certification in 2019. 

While they may be a new and exciting snack in the United States, water-lily seeds have a long and proud history as part of the Ayurvedic (ancient holistic healing) tradition from Asia, where they are still grown. Called makhana, water-lily seeds come from the Euryale Ferox or Gorgon plant, a perennial species of water lilies. 

To make AshaPops, the seeds are sun-dried, roasted, and popped.

Nutritional Value

An Indian superfood known for its alkaline and anti-inflammatory properties, water-lily seeds are filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants and support heart health (because they contain potassium, which aids in regulating blood pressure and heart rhythm). When they are popped, they, like popcorn, are high in fiber, which contributes to digestive health and lower cholesterol. 

In addition, they are said to relieve muscle and joint pain and improve sleep.

The ingredients in AshaPops are simple: water lily seeds and oil, with complementary flavors. AshaPops currently comes in four varieties: Turmeric Garlic, Himalayan Pink Salt, Vegan Cheese, and Chili. 

Each one-ounce bag provides 120 calories and 2 grams of grain-free plant protein. 

• Chili flavor contains cayenne and jalapeno peppers, which contain capsaicin, known for its aid in balancing the metabolism and offering pain relief, along with avocado oil, paprika, citric acid, and onion. Its sharp chili taste is intriguing, stimulating the palate.
• As its name suggests, savory-tasting Turmeric Garlic uses turmeric, which contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Other ingredients are avocado oil, Himalayan Sea Salt, and black pepper. Each bag delivers 1 gram of dietary fiber with a more subtle taste. 
• Himalayan Pink Salt is the purest snack, containing only popped water lily seeds, extra virgin olive oil, Himalayan Pink Salt, and rosemary. It is simple and delightful.
• Vegan Cheese, which approximates a cheese puff, with 3 grams of plant protein and 2% RDA of iron. It contains nutritional yeast, extra virgin olive oil, onion powder, and salt. This flavor was our favorite, delivering a gentle, almost-additive flavor with the crunch of toasted water-lily seeds.

Texture, Size, and Taste

In terms of calories, a one-ounce serving of AshaPops is comparable to an ounce of air-popped popcorn (100). The difference is in texture, size, and taste. Water-lily seeds have a finer texture than popcorn, with a lighter, crunchy-puff consistency that melts in the mouth. Their look is unique, presenting as compressed puffed balls sporting delicate dots.

It’s flavor all its own, and there are no hard kernels like popcorn. AshaPops leaves no messy residue; each perfect bite-sized morsel comes without husks or hulls that so frequently manage to get stuck between teeth. [Each bag comes with a cautionary warning that some seeds may still have part of the shell attached. To date, we have not discovered any. But be warned and chew carefully.]

New Super Food

Make no mistake, this is a gourmet snack that comes in an attractive re-sealable bag, which makes storage easy. It took effort to resist eating the entire bag in one sitting.

AshaPops was introduced by Asha and Jai Farswani, a mother-son duo who chose the name “Asha” because it means “hope” in Sanskrit.

Having choices is important. AshaPops gives the kosher snacker a new superfood!

Eat it for the flavor and let the health benefits come along for the ride.