In brief
- Kunu: a fermented drink made from millet, flavored with ginger and cloves
- Origin: northern Nigeria and Niger, among the Hausa
- Essential ingredients: millet, ginger, cloves, sweet potato, sugar
- A drink sold year-round by street vendors, also served at Hausa ceremonies
Origins and cultural history of kunu
The kunu is a fermented drink made from cereals, traditionally prepared by the Hausa of northern Nigeria and also consumed in neighboring Niger. The most common version, kunu zaki, is made with millet (or sorghum), soaked and then ground with ginger, cloves and sometimes sweet potato, which gives it its color and sweetness. It is drunk chilled year-round and also accompanies traditional Hausa ceremonies, such as baptisms and weddings.
Other variants exist, notably kunu aya, made from tiger nut rather than cereal. The recipe presented here is that of the more widespread millet-based kunu zaki.
What are the essential ingredients of kunu
Kunu is based on soaking and wet-grinding millet, then careful sieving before a short cooking.
- millet, or sorghum
- fresh ginger
- cloves
- sweet potato, for texture and sweetness
- sugar
What to know about kunu
Kunu is a fermented drink based on millet (or sorghum), traditionally made by the Hausa of northern Nigeria and also drunk in neighbouring Niger. In the most common version, kunu zaki, the millet is soaked, then ground with fresh ginger, cloves and sometimes sweet potato, which gives it its colour and sweetness, then sieved and briefly cooked with sugar. Its fermentation, spontaneous and short, is lactic rather than alcoholic: it acidifies the drink without producing any alcohol. It is drunk chilled all year round, with the family, sold by street vendors and served at Hausa ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings.
Frequently asked questions about kunu
Does kunu contain alcohol?
No. Its fermentation, spontaneous and short, is lactic rather than alcoholic: it slightly acidifies the drink without producing alcohol. It is drunk chilled, with family.
How long does kunu keep?
Kunu keeps for about two to three days in the refrigerator. Fermentation continues slowly in the cold, which sharpens its slightly tangy taste over the days.
Where to find kunu ingredients in France?
NKOSI sells the ground ginger and whole cloves from this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
