kunu

{{Short description|Nigerian beverage}}

{{about||the airport near Juneau, Wisconsin assigned with the ICAO code KUNU|Dodge County Airport|the Univision television station in Victoria, Texas|KUNU-LD}}

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File:Kunu.jpg

Kunu (also known as kununzaki) is a popular drink consumed throughout Nigeria, mostly in the North.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-09 |title=Easy Steps To Make Kunu |url=https://guardian.ng/life/easy-steps-to-make-kunu/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-08 |title=How To Make Kunu Zaki The Millet Drink |url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/how-to-make-kunu-zaki-the-millet-drink/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}} It is usually made from a grain such as millet or sorghum, although it can be made from maize as well.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-03 |title=Kunun-zaki Production - Agriculture Nigeria |url=https://www.agriculturenigeria.com/kunun-zaki-production/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |language=en-US}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} This paste is then divided into two parts. One part is placed in a vessel{{clarify|date=July 2022}} 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.{{Cite web |last=BusinessDay |date=2022-12-12 |title=Health benefits of Zobo and Kunu drinks |url=https://businessday.ng/news/article/health-benefits-of-zobo-and-kunu-drinks/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Businessday NG |language=en-US}} 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.

This type of kunu is normally referred to as "kunu zaki" the one containing sugar.

In a research study, Kunu was administered to laboratory rats to determine its effects on the rats' epididymis, testes size and sperm count. The results showed that while there was a small increase in testicle weight, it slightly lowered sperm count and caused no other major changes in sperm when viewed under a microscope or in the rats’ male hormones. The researchers concluded that Kunu is unlikely to act as a natural male fertility supplement.{{Cite journal |last1=Cyprain Akukwu |first1=Darlington |last2=Chinedu Uloneme |first2=Godwin |last3=Nnabuihe Ezejindu |first3=Damian |last4=Sopuluchukwu Udodi |first4=Princewill |last5=Ogochukwu Ezejindu |first5=Ifesinachi |last6=Jesse Nwajagu |first6=Chukwudi |last7=Nzube Obinwa |first7=Benedict |last8=Justicia Obiesie |first8=Ifechukwu |last9=Christian Okafor |first9=Emeka |last10=Kasarachi Ogbuokiri |first10=Doris |last11=Echefulachi Agulanna |first11=Ambrose |last12=Esther Oguejiofor |first12=Chisom |last13=Irene Omile |first13=Chizubelu |last14=Izuchukwu Abugu |first14=Joshua |date=2024 |title=The effect of local millet drink (Kunu) on the testis and epididymis of adult male wistar rats |url=https://en.m.wikiversity.org/wiki/WikiJournal_of_Science/The_effect_of_local_millet_drink_(Kunu)_on_the_testis_and_epididymis_of_adult_male_wistar_rats |journal=WikiJournal of Science |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=2 |doi=10.15347/wjs/2024.001|doi-access=free }}