Move Over Popcorn, Here Come Water-Lily Seeds

Mar 5, 2021 by Chef David

By Chef David

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

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 their alkaline and anti-inflammatory properties, water-lily seeds are filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants. They support heart health (because they contain potassium, which aids in regulating blood pressure and heart rhythm), and 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 sunflower oil, with complementary flavors. Its five varieties are: Chili Lime, Turmeric Garlic, Himalayan Pink Salt, Vegan Cheese, and Dark Chocolate.

Except for the dark chocolate variety, they come in one-ounce bag servings that provide 100 calories and four or five grams of grain-free plant protein.

Five Varieties

Chili Lime AshaPops’ flavor comes from the lime, cayenne and jalapeno peppers, which contain capsaicin, known for its aid in balancing the metabolism and offering pain relief.

As its name suggests, savory-tasting Turmeric Garlic uses turmeric, containing curcumin a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.

Himalayan Pink Salt provides trace minerals which let the flavor of the water-lilies shine unmasked and unadulterated, except for a lovely hint of rosemary.

Vegan Cheese, which approximates a cheese puff, yields five grams of plant protein and contains nutritional yeast, which makes it rich in B vitamins.

Dark Chocolate—my personal favorite—comes in a 1.5-ounce bag. Its sweet flavor comes from coconut sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I found the taste combination pleasant.

Texture, Size, and Taste

In terms of calories, a one-ounce serving of AshaPops is comparable to an ounce of air-popped popcorn (100), and the protein count is also about the same (3.7 grams).

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. Its flavor is sui generis, all its own.

In addition, AshaPops leaves no messy residue; each non-splintered, perfect morsel comes without husks or hulls that so frequently manage to get stuck between teeth.

New Super Food

Make no mistake, this is a gourmet snack that comes in an attractive re-sealable bag, which makes storage easy. This was important because, with effort, I was able to resist eating the entire bag in one sitting. The bag comes with a cautionary warning that some seeds may still have part of the shell attached. Therefore, they tell you to chew carefully, and they are right.

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

It is important to have choices, and AshaPops gives the kosher snacker a new superfood! Eat it for the flavor and let the health benefits come along for the ride.