Kunu

For the airport near Juneau, Wisconsin assigned the ICAO code KUNU, see Dodge County Airport. For the Univision station in Victoria, Texas, see KUNU-LD.

Kunu (also known as kununzaki) is a popular drink consumed throughout Nigeria, mostly in the north. It is usually made from a grain such as millet or sorghum, although it can be made from maize as well. As a grain based beverage Kunu is a member of the Horchata 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 and other sediment are filtered out of the mixture, and the filtered liquid is bottled for consumption.

Health benefits

There are amazing health benefit attached to the consumption of Kunu which is made from millet.

• The Intake of millet is beneficial to the heart as taking it in large quantity helps decrease triglyceride levels in the body by thinning the blood to prevent blood platelet clumping which as a result reduces the risk of coronary artery disorder and sunstroke.
• The intake of millet also have the health benefit of reducing the risk of Colon Cancer and studies also shows that it has the health benefit of reducing the risk of developing breast cancer by 50%.
• The intake of millet aids easy digestion .It may also help in getting rid of problems like constipation, excess gas, bloating, and cramping.
• Millet is rich in antioxidant.
• Millet helps to reduce Diabetes.
• The substance called Tryptophan that is found in millet aids in getting good sleep and deduces stress.
• The intake of millet helps to improve skin Elasticity. Millet is rich in amino acid called L-lysine and L-proline.

External links

• Innovations in the Traditional Kunun Zaki Production Process