tIn the present study the chemical composition of Cyperus esculentus L. (tiger nut) from four distinctgeographical origin (Spain, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa) was assessed to observe the possible effect ofthe cultivation site in the fatty acids profile, sterols composition, and squalene and -tocopherol content.It was verified that the individual fatty acids as well as the different fatty acids fractions were severelyaffected by the geographical origin. Tiger nut oils were predominantly monounsaturated with lowerprevalence of saturated fatty acids, and with capability to provide appreciable amounts of essential fattyacids. The sterols fraction was affected as well, but in lower extent. -sitosterol was the most abundantsterol found, reaching nearly 60% of the total sterols found in tiger nut oils, with significant differencesamong geographical origins.The fatty acids data, together with the sterols and -tocopherol and squalene data were capable toseparate tiger nut samples according to their chemical composition and geographical origin when a prin-cipal component analysis was applied. The fatty acids profile could be applied as a possible geographicalauthenticity marker.
