Kunun Zaki is a popular, refreshing, and highly nutritious drink from Northern Nigeria. It is traditionally made from millet, sorghum, or maize. It has a unique, slightly spicy kick from ginger and cloves, balanced by a natural sweetness developed during a unique fermentation process.

Here is a step-by-step recipe to make Kunun Zaki at home.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Millet grains (or a mix of millet and sorghum)
• 1 cup Sweet Potatoes (freshly peeled and chopped, or dried powder)
• 2 tablespoons Ginger (freshly grated)
• 1 tablespoon Cloves
• 1 medium stick Cinnamon (optional)
• Sugar to taste (optional, as the potatoes naturally sweeten it)
• Water

Instructions 

Wash millet or sorghum and soak in water for 24 to 48 hours, changing the water daily.

Drain grains, add sweet potatoes, ginger, cloves, and black pepper, then blend into a smooth paste with a little water.

Strain the paste using a muslin cloth, keep the extract, and divide it into two portions (one-quarter and three-quarters).

Pour boiling water over the larger portion (three-quarters) while stirring to form a thick, custard-like paste.

Let it cool, mix in the remaining raw portion with some water, cover, and let it ferment for 6 to 8 hours (or overnight).

Strain out the chaff with a muslin cloth, sweeten with sugar to taste, and chill before serving.