Prior to my first visit to the Northern part of Nigeria, the only type of Kunu drink i knew was Kunun Zaki. But after staying there for a while, i got exposed to the other types such as kunun aya (made from Tigernuts) and kunu gyada which is made from groundnuts and sometimes sprinkled with rice. On the streets, Tigernuts is known as “Aya” in hausa, “Aki hausa”(meaning Hausa groundnut) in igbo and “Ofio”in yoruba.
There are two types usually sold and these are the dry tigernuts and the fresh tigernuts. Kunu Aya is a traditional creamy milk like beverage with a spicy nutty taste…..you’d definitely get hooked once you try it. In spain, tigernut drink is also known as “horchata de chufa”. To make kunu aya, you can use either the fresh tigernuts, dry tigernuts or a combination of the two. When using the dry tigernuts, you have to pre-soak it so it’d regain moisture. Tigernuts are rich in minerals including calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. They’re also rich in vitamins E and C.
How to make kunun Aya “Horchata de chufas”- Tigernuts Milk drink
• Region : Northern Nigeria
• Misc : Serve cold
Ingredients:::
Step 3: With a Pap/Cheese cloth, strain the milk into a bowl. The first milk strained would be thick. Place the chaff back into the blender , add some more water, blend & strain again till the whole milk is extracted. The subsequent milk strained would be lighter than the first. It’s always better not to make the kunun aya too light.
Health benefits of Tigernuts
• It is recommended for those who suffer from indigestion, flatulence and diarrhoea because it provides digestive enzymes like the catalase, lipase and amylase. The high content of oleic acid has positive effect on cholesterol, thereby preventing heart attacks, thrombosis and activates blood content of soluble glucose. Tiger nut reduces the risk of colon cancer. It prevents constipation.
• Tiger nut contains a good quantity of vitamin B1, which assists in balancing the central nervous system and helps to encourage the body to adapt to stress.
• The milk supplies the body with enough quantity of Vitamin E, essential for fertility in both men and women. Vitamin E also delays cell aging, improves elasticity of skin and helps to clear the appearance of wrinkles, acne and other skin alterations.
• In China, tiger nut milk is used as a liver tonic, heart stimulant, drank to heal serious stomach pain, to promote normal menstruation, to heal mouth and gum ulcers, used in Ayurvedic medicines and is a powerful aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant). The black species of the tiger nut is an excellent medicine for breast lumps and cancer. The tubers have a relatively high total antioxidant capacity, because they contain considerable amounts of water-soluble flavonoid glycosides.
• Consumption of antioxidants could protect the immune system of malnourished populations. The intake of antioxidant-containing foods may delay the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.
• For many years, the tiger nut tubers have been considered to have adequate properties to fight respiratory infections, and some stomach illnesses. To this date, the Tigernuts is considered an effective remedy for diarrhea, according to popular tradition in Valencia, Spain. It promotes the production of urine and this is why it is a preventive measure for cyst, prostrate, hernia, rectum deformation and prolapsed (anal feature-small painful flesh at the tip of the anus) and to prevent endometriosis or fibrosis as well as blockage of the tip of the fallopian tube – Source
59 comments
Hmmm, nice blog.
looks tasty. can it be used in place of milk in baking or for breakfast cereal?
The same day I make Kunu Aya and decide to 'visit' Dobby's Signature is the same day she posts her recipe, and similar too. Cool!
The same day I make Kunu Aya and decide to 'visit' Dobby's Signature is the same day she posts her recipe, and similar too. Cool!
Pls hw can I make a stew dat will ve a sweet aroma n a god n palatable taste
thanks Dobby for your wonderful recipes. in making kunun aya, after sieving, can the milk be boiled and cooled before consumption.
this is healthy, thanks for sharing DobStar! you rock… please try and post kids recipe like once a month for the mothers here please, i know it's kinda hard…. but, pretty pleaseeeee, 🙁
Hmm… Looks yummy!
Nice one Dob-star.
Thanks Mr Adela 🙂
I've never given it a try. Using it for breakfast cereal sounds like a good idea though.
I'd recommend you check out >>>Tasty Nigerian stews & sauces. There are various stews you could choose from.
Our minds are definitely insync 😉
you're welcome angie 🙂
It definitely is very Healthy. Posting for kids could be quite tasking but would put that into consideration. Thanks for the suggestion ngozi 🙂
You're Welcome Anon. No it doesn't require boiling at all after sieving. Just chill in the refrigerator and you're good to go.
Ada oma, Dalu. On my way to Agboju, ofio seller must feel my little pocket. Thanks, remain d champion you are.
Thanks a million times the recipes are helpful and i love your blog plz keep it up. the blender you use in blending the Aya plz can u give me the details on how i can get it.
Thanks Amaka 🙂
wonderful post, you are going some where
Hi sophie, the blender is a mini food processor and i got it from a store here in lag (although the last time i checked they where out of stock). Send me your e-mail so i could inform you when the blender is available.
Thanks Gift.
Very nice. I tried it out again this weekend n this time i added ginger n boiled it and it turned out to be thick almost paplike n where can i buy dates n can it be used to sweeten zobo
Hmmm, that sounds nice. Dates can be found in the local Nigerian markets.
Dob star thanks for this post. Tiger nuts are very healthy am a living witness. It cures all types of CYST!!!!!! Google and find out.
Thanks for the info Adanna 🙂
Hey Dobby, good job! Please is it possible to use a juice extractor to juice out tiger nuts milk.
Yes it is Anon.
Hi. This is my first time here. Just to confirm. Are these tigernuts the same as the 'ofio' seeds we usually buy from abokis growing up?
Glad to have you here Anon. Yes it is.
I get kunun aya from someone else and sell it in church and I am having hard time meeting my consumers demand. Now with this recipe I want to go try it out myself and see how many bottles I can come up with. Thanks a mil!
you're welcome oby. glad you found it useful.
Can kunu zaki and kuni aya be mixed together
Nice
No it can't
Hi dobby…I tried using juice extractor a my Andrew james extractor almost got spoilt…am I recommend we stick to blender or a foo processor.
Sorry about that mercy. Yes you are.
Pls wat is or are 'dates'.its one of d ingredients cos I want to start preparing it for my family
Pls dobby, do we still need to add millet or guinea corn to d aya and date drink. Thank you
Hello Nneka, clickHERE to know more about dates
No Anon. That's for kunun zaki.
Pls dobby how is ds kunu aya preserved? i tried it, it came out so nice we enjoyed it but the next morning i went to my fridge to have some more of it and discovered it was spoilt already, i felt bad. I need to know how long it can last before it spoilt and the right method of preservation. Thanks
Hi Anon, you have to freeze it to halt the fermentation process. If the freezer isn't too cold it'd keep fermenting and turn to alcohol.
Pls is kunu aya fattening?
i follow you on instagram and you are always available to share and teach. i will definitely try this. thank you
Very helpful, i love your blog in a week i have made zobo, kunu aya and kunu zaki. My family loves it. Thank you dobby.👍
You're welcome sholzyodes. Glad to have you here.
Thanks for the feedback faith 🙂
Very helpful and useful, wanna know how many litres you got from the 2 cups of tigernut u used
No. It's not similar to milk.
Thanks Debby for your recipe. Please why does the kunun aya cuddle after sometime in the fridge.
Thanks Debby for the recipes. Please can you help me understand why my kunun Yaa cuddles after some days in the fridge. Thank you
What quantity of tigernut milk is recommended as daily intake?
Hello Anty D,thanksfor your recipe. Please how do i contact u one on one. I need more lessons on drink recipes.Can i drop my email? prettieblackyyahoo.com or phone number?
Good morning Ma'am. How are you? I have read so much about your site. Please help much is your blender you use to blend tigernuts and ginger? I will like to have one.
Secondly, I made tigernuts drink and my family loved it but the remaining one turn ed bad. It was in a cooler of cold water with iceblock n I work up 3am to check it and it has gone bad. I was so bad out it. D taste was very different from the one we drank. Please, what really happened? I used a mudu(8cups of empty peak milk container, 2big coconut, date 12 n little ginger) pls how do I preserve it?
Thanks dear
Hello Fidelia, Thanks for writing in. Currently the chopper i used in the video is sold for 12,000 Naira. When i got it, it was far less than that. Tiger nuts needs to be preserved in the freezer or refrigerator for it to be preserved well. Several factors might have caused it. The iceblock in the cooler probably melted and the temperature went below preservation point hence the spoilage. Hope this helps. You can Find Products & Sellers Here
Hi! Thanks for this… I made kunu aya, kept it in a water flask and in the refrigerator. In the morning it looked thicker, taste not that changed but thicker than the one kept in the freezer. Is there possibility of Kunu aya thickening up without being spoilt? i would also need to know if fermented kunu aya is still drinkable. Thanks in anticipation of your feedback.
Can I make kunnu witt a combination of millet and tiger nuts?
The best plaace to store s in the freezer till you're ready to drink else it'd keep fermenting.
It can be used instead of milk. It's the healthiest non milk alternative