Kunu (also known as ''kununzaki'') is a popular drink consumed throughout

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, mostly in the North. It is usually made from a grain such as

millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...

sorghum ''Sorghum'' () is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. One species is grown for grain, while many othe ...

, although it can be made from

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

as well. As a grain based beverage Kunu is a member of the

Horchata Horchata (; ), or (), is a name given to various beverages, which are generally plant-based, but sometimes contain animal milk. In Spain, it is made with soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts. In Latin America and other parts of the Americas ...

family. The variety of the drink made from sorghum is a milky light-brown colour, whilst that which is made from millet and maize is whitish in colour. Kunu is made by first allowing the grain seeds to germinate, then soaking the seeds in water for a few days and blending the soaked grain with sweet potatoes and ginger or pepper to form a smooth paste. This paste is then divided into two parts. One part is placed in a vessel and has boiling water poured on it, then it is stirred to give a thick mixture. The other part of the paste is then added to this mixture and it is stirred some more. The mixture is then left for a day or two for the grain husk to settle. After this, the

husk Husk (or hull) in botany is the outer shell or coating of a seed. In the United States, the term husk often refers to the leafy outer covering of an ear of maize (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes the protective ...

and other sediment are filtered out of the mixture, and the filtered liquid is bottled for consumption. This type of kunu is normally referred to as "kunu zaki" the one containing sugar.

KUNU AYA

HOW TO MAKE KUNU AYA (TIGER NUT DRINK) Ingredients: • 2 cups of Tiger Nuts (Dried or Fresh) • 1 medium

Ginger Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices ...

• 10 Dates (Or less) • 1

Coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...

(Crack the shell and extract the flesh for blending) Directions: Step 1: Soak the tiger nuts in clean water Overnight (if you are using the dry tigernuts) Step 2: Rinse the soaked tigernuts and place in a blender. - Remove the seeds from the dates, wash and place in the blender. - Peel and pour your diced coconut in the

blender A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...

as well then add the skinned ginger, a little water or the coconut water and blend smooth. Step 3: With a Pap/Cheese cloth, strain the milk into a bowl. -The first milk strained would be thick then you place the chaff back into the blender, add some more water, blend & strain again until the whole milk is extracted. (Don't make the kunu aya too light for a better taste) Step 4: Place the extracted milk drink in a

refrigerator A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so th ...

to chill up. Step 5: Serve cold😊

Kunu tsamiya

This is specifically made from tsamiya and is also use as drink in hausa communities during naming, marriage and any other types of coronations. Kunu, can be made from "Aya", "Gero", "Dawa" and "Gyada". It's normal made for sales or serves in many Nigerians traditional ceremonies especially in the northern and north central part of Nigeria.

References

Sources

External links

Innovations in the Traditional Kunun Zaki Production Process
Nigerian cuisine Plant milk {{drink-stub