Types of Kunu & How to Make Kunu Zaki Drink 2019

Here’s a quick update on how to make kunu drink in Nigeria

A northern lady that’s not good at making kunu or fura de nunu, is that one a northerner? Although I’m not sure which tribe originally owns kunu.

Kunu drink has been said to be mostly prepared by the Hausas and so quite popular in the north.

I do not know how to prepare kunu neither was I born in the north but I do take this nutritious drink.

I really do not know who taught my mother the procedures of making kunu, but this drink is so popular that I’ve been taking it right from when I run around in pants.

Are you nodding and saying yes that’s true?

I have never been to the north before I started consuming kunu zaki and kunu gero; so do not blame me for being super excited about this.

What Is Kunu Drink?

The origin of kunu cannot be denied to be of the northern region but how about we rewrite the conclusion of a study that said it is mostly consumed and prepared in the North.

Just as fashion is not exclusive to a particular culture so also is food and drinks. Kunu is not exclusive to the north alone, just so you know.

This article will guide you on how to prepare kunu with the best recipe from tiger nuts, tamarind, guinea corn, millet, rice, groundnut, etc.

Shall we begin?

How to Make Kunu Aya Drink

Knowing the tiger nuts does not give you a certificate as master of kunu production but it does give you some confidence.

This popular Nigerian drink has many names: Kunu drink, Kunu, Kunnu, Kunu zaki or Kununzaki.

I had recently written a project on tigernuts and during research, I had found out how tigernuts can be used in various ways; the kunu aya drink is one of them.

Then life took me to the north and the topic of kunu popped amongst my friends and I did not know to make it but I sure knew how to drink a lot of it.

I was rooting for the kunu I knew, the one mother makes; but Fatima said there was no kunu like kunu aya…eeeeeh, I looked at her, wondering if she was doing the “like no other” indomie advert.

On that fateful day; the girl, that does not know how to make kunu but drink, opened the cap of the bottle and with a straw, took the contents of the bottle into her mouth…

Here is where we are; called Ofio by the Yorubas, Aya by the Hausas, Hausa groundnuts in pidgin, Aki Awusa by the igbos.

Just as ingredients are used when preparing zobo, and kunu drink also has its recipe and ingredients.

Kunu Recipe and Ingredients

The following ingredient is needed if you’re going to prepare kunu

• Tigernuts (fresh or dry)
• Date palm fruits (fresh or dry)
• Coconut
• Ginger
• Cinnamon

Directions Preparing Kunun Aya Drink

Did you know that fermentation must take place if want to have a tasty flavored kunu drink? Now you know and this will require patience on your side.

• STEP 1: Sort the tiger nuts by separating them from stones and other dirt.
• STEP 2: Rinse thoroughly and place in a clean bowl. (Note: if you are using dried tiger nuts, soak in cold water for 48 hours and place in the fridge to halt fermentation.).
• STEP 3: Sort, rinse, and deseed the date palm fruits. (Note: if you are using dried date palm fruits, soak in water to soften it).
• STEP 4: De-hull the coconut.
• STEP 5: Cut the coconut into smaller pieces.
• STEP 6: Peel the skin off the ginger and rinse.
• STEP 7: Add the rinsed tiger nuts, dates, coconut, ginger and little water into a blender and blend till smooth.
• STEP 8: Using a muslin cloth, sieve the content of the blender.
• STEP 9: Transfer the chaff back into the blender, add little water and blend then sieve again.
• STEP 10: Kunu Aya is ready, refrigerate and drink.

NOTE: Be conscious of the water added at the blending stage, do not add much just little.

You can add more water after getting the juice out but do not make the drink too watery like someone who is titrating in the chemistry lab.

Not quite long, I made a post on a balanced food time table and taking kunu makes the list of suggested drinks.

Types of Kunu

There are different types of kunu and they are named after their main ingredient or taste.

Kunu drink is said to be more popular in the north so it is of little wonder they are popularly called by these main ingredients in Hausa names.

Here’s a list of the ones I know:

• Kunu Aya

Tigernuts is called “Aya” in the Hausa language.

These small tubers are nutrient packed and have this nutty flavor they give when chewed on, and the aftermath feels you get after chewing groundnut.

Although its preparation is different from the way normal kunu is produced, experts have assured us it is the right way to prepare it and the name is best suited for it.

• Kunu Zaki

Another type of kunu drink is kunu zaki. Kunu zaki main ingredient is millet. If you know how to or do not know how to make kunu, fret not.

Preparation of kunu zaki involves sorting, rinsing, grinding, etc. The soaking stage is an important stage in the preparation of kunu zaki and it is the kunu drink I grew up used to.

• Kunu Geda or Gyada

Rice is called “shinkafa” in the Hausa language, kunu Gyada is made from rice and groundnut… (I must say this kunu drink leaves me puzzled when I see its ingredients).

• Kunu Tsamiya

You would be wowed when you find out the nutritional and health benefits of tamarind. Kunu Tsamiya is kunu made from grain and flavored with tamarind.

Let’s take it one after the other.

Kunu Geda

Making Kunu Geda is what I’ve got for you next. As the ingredient is different, so is the preparation.

Ingredients for Making Kunun Gyada

• Rice (brown or white rice but tuwo rice preferably).
• Raw groundnuts.
• Lemon
• Sugar (optional).

Directions:

• STEP 1: Soak rice in water for 8 – 12 hours.
• STEP 2: Peel raw groundnuts as you would peel raw beans.
• STEP 3: Soak the peeled groundnuts in water for 4 – 12 hours.
• STEP 4: Extract juice from the lemon into a bowl.
• STEP 5: Drain out the water from the groundnuts using a sieve.
• STEP 6: Blend soaked groundnuts with water.
• STEP 7: Use a muslin cloth to sieve the paste so as to get the milk from the groundnut.
• STEP 8: Drain out the water from the rice using a sieve.
• STEP 9: Blend soaked rice, with water, until smooth.
• STEP 10: Sieve your rice paste.
• STEP 11: Boil groundnut milk in a pot on medium heat. (Note: stir continuously while boiling to avoid the formation of lumps in the milk).
• STEP 12: Add lemon juice to rice paste and stir together.
• STEP 13: Add the boiled groundnut milk to the rice paste like when making pap.
• STEP 14: Leave for a few minutes.
• STEP 15: Kunu Gyada is ready, serve warm with any snack of choice.

How to Make Kunun Tsamiya

You should know that when you talk about Kunun Tsamiya, you’ll be using Guinea corn, one of the key ingredients.

To make Kunu Tsamiya, you need the following ingredients.

Ingredients

• Guinea corn.
• Tamarind, known as tsamiya (fresh or dried).
• Ginger
• Sugar (optional).

Directions for the Preparation of Kunu Tsamiya

To prepare Kunu Tsamiya, here the steps to follow:

• STEP 1: Sort guinea corn by removing unwanted particles.
• STEP 2: Rinse thoroughly.
• STEP 3: Soak guinea corn in water for 7 hours. (note: change the water at intervals).
• STEP 4: Drain out the water from guinea corn.
• STEP 5: Peel ginger and rinse.
• STEP 6: Grind guinea corn, ginger, and other optional spices to a smooth paste. (Note: do not break your blender blades with this, grind in a milling machine).
• STEP 7: Boil tamarind in enough water.
• STEP 8: Sieve out tamarind.
• STEP 9: Pour boiled tamarind-flavored water to the grounded guinea to the desired level. (note: minimum water level is twice the original liquid volume).
• STEP 10: Stir properly.
• STEP 11: Kunu Tsamiya is ready.

Note: Guinea corn is not the only grain that can be used, millet is another grain that can be used.

How to Make Kunu With Millet Date Tigernut and Sweet Potato

Kunu made from millet is called kunu zaki and you can make this kunu drink for sale.

It has been said that if you know how to make akamu then how to make this kunu drink should not be a problem.

Recipes for Making Kunu With Millet

• Millet
• Ginger
• Sweet potatoes (Optional).
• Cloves
• Sugar (optional).
• Water

Directions on How to Prepare Kunu Drink With Millet

Here are steps to follow in the preparation of kunu drink with millet.

• STEP 1: Sorting of the millet to remove unwanted particles. You can also pour in water to separate the sand and some other particles, which will settle at the bottom, from the millet grains.
• STEP 2: Soak the sorted millet in water for 24 – 48 hours. Note: change the water used to soak the millet at intervals.
• STEP 3: Discard the water and rinse millet thoroughly.
• STEP 4: Peel ginger, sweet potatoes, and cloves.
• STEP 5: Rinse properly and pound.
• STEP 6: Blend the germinated millet grains, ginger, sweet potatoes, and gloves together.
• STEP 7: Sieve using a muslin cloth. Add water to make sieving easy.
• STEP 8: Unlike kunu Aya, discard the chaff after squeezing the moisture from it.
• STEP 9: Allow the liquid sieved settle for 4 – 7 hours.
• STEP 10: Decant the supernatural by sieving away the top liquid without stirring.
• STEP 11: Divide the sediment, which has gathered at the bottom, into two halves.
• STEP 12: Add boiling water to the first half like when you are preparing your normal pap.
• STEP 13: Mix the second half with cold water.
• STEP 14: Combine the two remixed halves in a bowl.
• STEP 15: Add sugar and water to the desired level.
• STEP 17:
• STEP 18: Kunu Zaki is ready.
• STEP 19: Refrigerate and drink.

There you go!

Some have been searching for how to make kunu with millet, date, tiger nut, and sweet potato. Well, I’d say, you know what to do, just experiment with all (*winks)

Quick question: What is the English name for kunu? Hmm, I got ya! Some have said it is kunughurt (from yoghurt). What do you think it is? Please share in the comment box

Is Kunu Drink Fattening?

The logic to getting fat is eating more and working less; to get unhealthily fat is to eat empty calories or junk foods.

Kunu drink is packed with lot nutritional goodness especially when prepared with natural ingredients so there should be no fear when drinking kunu.

Addition of excess sugar or sweetener to kunu is not the best but we do and drink it, ko?

Here is my answer to this question: Is kunu drink fattening?

“Irrespective of how much you know how to prepare kunu or drink it, bear in mind that moderation is the key”.

Kunu Drink Health Benefits

• Kunu helps to reduce diabetes risks
• It also helps prevent cancer because the key ingridient – millet contains a nutrient called ligin. Ligin has cancer fighting properties.
• Kunu is good for women that have reached the stage of menopause as it helps them relax their muscles.
• Kunu is also recommended for nursing mothers as it helps increase the flow of their breast milk.
• The ginger content in Kunu helps to lower the cholesterol level and prevents the formation of blood clots in the body.
• With kunu, you get a healthy super functioning digestive system because it is rich in fibre.
• Kunu helps in the prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Prepare Kunu Youtube Video

I found this How to prepare Kunu YouTube video and thought about sharing it with you. It gives the steps needed and everything just as discussed in this guide. This video is from 1qfoodplatter.com.

How to Make Kunu Drink (Conclusion)

Yes, that’s all you need on how to make kunu drink in this our Naija. In case you do not know, we have quite a number of popular Nigerian drinks.

We have different types of kunun from kunu gero to kunu tsamiya and these drinks are packed with nutrients in all their goodness.

It is inquisitive how other drinks, especially the carbonated drinks amongst others, seem to be more popular and familiar with our system than our indigenous drinks despite health talks.

The question is “Are these drinks limited to Nigeria for consumption? Or we find it easier to make them in the comfort of our homes and feel making a business out of them is overrated?

What did you think? Let’s have your comments in the box provided below.