[Detailed Guide] How to Make Kunu Drink In Naija

 

A northern lady that does not know how to make kunu or fura de nunu, is that one a northerner? Not quite long I gave a guide on how to make zobo drink and the amazing benefits of zobo drink; this too I’m not sure which tribe get am.

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 make kunu neither was I born in the north but I do take kunu.

I really do not know who taught my mother how to make kunu but kunu drink has been one of the popular Nigerian drinks in my home, 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 if I am trying to make some changes to the second paragraph by writing on “how to make kunu” lol.

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

Just as Nigerian fashion and style is not exclusive to a particular culture so also is all our popular Nigerian food, and drinks, of course.

My article will guide you on how to make kunu drinks with best recipe from tigernuts, tamarind, guinea corn, millet, rice, groundnut, etc. Shall we begin?

How to Make Kunu Aya Drink

Knowing how to make kunu 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.

Image source: Online Nigeria

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

I was rooting for the kunu I knew, the one mother makes; oh yes she also knew how to make kunu. Sese said there was no kunu like kunu aya…eeeeeh, I looked at sese, 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 in to 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.

Kunu Drink Recipe and Ingredients

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

Directions for Making Kunun Aya Drink

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

• STEP 1: Sort the tigernuts by separating them from stones and other dirt.
• STEP 2: Rinse thoroughly and place in a clean bowl. (Note: if you are using dried tigernuts, 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 tigernuts, 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 chemistry lab.

Still want to know more on how to make kunu drink? Just read more below.

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 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 flavour they give when chewed on, and the aftermath feel you get after chewing groundnut.

Although its preparation is different from the way normal kunu is produced, experts that know how to make kunu 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 make kunu 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).

Like I said earlier, kunu drinks in Nigeria are named after the Hausa names of their main ingredients or taste.

• 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 flavoured with tamarind.

Let’s take it one after the other.

How to Make 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 on How to Make Kunu Geda

• 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 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 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 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 on How to Make Kunu With Guinea Corn

• 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 water at intervals).
• STEP 4: Drain out 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-flavoured water to the grounded guinea to 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. Do you want to know more on how to make kunu with millet? I’ve got you covered.

How to Make Kunu Zaki With Millet

Kunu made from millet is called kunu zaki. 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 supernatant 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 desired level.
• STEP 17:
• STEP 18: Kunu Zaki is ready.
• STEP 19: Refrigerate and drink.

There you go!

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 make 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 Make Kunu Youtube Video

I found this How to make 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? Or we do not know how to make kunu and other drinks?”

What you think? Let’s have your comments in the box provided below. Also, don’t forget to give this post a Like and Share.