The application relates to the use of a powder comprising calcium nitrate as a setting accelerator for a tile adhesive blend, wherein nitrate powder comprising calcium nitrate, and optionally also comprising a nitrate salt different than the calcium nitrate, specifically potassium or ammonium nitrate, and having a particle size of between 0.01 mm and 1 mm is used as the setting accelerator. The application furthermore relates to a process for producing such a setting accelerator comprising, in one possible embodiment, the step of cutting or grinding prills and/or granules comprising the calcium nitrate and optionally the different nitrate salt, and in another embodiment, a spray drying process, resulting into the setting accelerator. The application also relates to a tile adhesive blend comprising at least a cement, sand and a such setting accelerator.