Indulge in creamy, tropical Nigerian tiger nut milk you can make at home in only three simple steps! Let me show you how to make kunu aya with tiger nut and just a few other easy ingredients you probably have at home already. This traditional West African recipe is full of flavor and health benefits, with several variations growing in popularity in western hemisphere.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my plantain ice cream, too!
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What is Kunu Aya?
Kunu aya is a West African drink originating with the Hausa people of Nigeria and Ghana. Also called kunun aya or ofio drink in Yoruba, it is tiger nut milk in English or horchata de chufa in Spanish.
As the name implies, this traditional drink is made from tiger nuts and taken for a variety of health benefits. The taste of this tigernut drink is nutty and slightly sweet with warm spiciness from ginger and the tropical taste of coconut. Texture-wise, it is creamy and rich!
The tiger nut originated in North Africa and is actually not a nut but a tuber in the same family as potatoes! And the name comes from stripes on the skin.
❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - There are really just three steps to make African tiger nut drink: soak, blend, and strain so it's beginner friendly and something that even your young ones can help with!
Whole Food Ingredients - Just a few nutrient rich ingredients. There are preservatives for kunu aya you might buy at the store but we aren't dealing with any of them here.
Packed with Nutrients - Tiger nuts have protein, fiber, and healthy fat as well as antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and vitamin C. (Cleveland Clinic)
We love functional drink recipes around here, including my antioxidant-rich Nigerian zobo drink made with hibiscus and this turmeric ginger mocktail inspired by my great grandfather's native medicine practices!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Tiger Nuts are typically only available dried outside of Nigeria so you'll need to rehydrate them to make them easier to work with by soaking in water.
Coconut Milk replaces the fresh coconut flesh traditionally used in kunu aya. This provides the same creaminess and flavor without killing the motor of a typical American blender. Use full fat coconut milk for best results.
Dates add sweetness to balance out the flavor of homemade tiger nut milk and I recommend organic medjool dates for the best flavor but deglet noor dates are also a great option.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Ginger - I recommend using fresh ginger for the best results but you can also use dried ground ginger, if that's more accessible. Use ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder for every inch of fresh ginger.
Sweetener - If you don't have dates available, you can replace with other nutritive sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead. Try my honey ginger syrup for an extra boost of flavor!
How to Make Kunu Aya at Home
Step One: Soak the tiger nuts in cool water for at at least 24 hours. The nuts will absorb the water and plump up, making them softer. (Photo 1)
Step Two: Chop up the dates and slice the ginger. (Photo 2)
Pro Tip: Make sure the dates are pitted but no need to peel the ginger because everything gets ground down and strained anyway.
Step Three: Add half the tiger nuts, coconut milk, ginger, and dates to blender or food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. (Photos 3 and 4)
Step Four: Strain through fine cheesecloth to separate the milk from the solids. The tiger nut meal left behind in the cheesecloth should look and feel like wet sand when you're done. (Photos 5 and 6)
Pro Tip #1: Strain the liquid in batches to make the process more manageable.
Pro Tip #2: Don't throw away the tiger nut meal! You can use it to add protein, bulk, and texture to everything from baked goods to smoothies.
Step Five: Repeat steps 1-4 with remaining ingredients then refrigerate the kunu aya for at least one hour to chill. Serve ice cold!
Frequently Asked Questions
Kunu aya is best consumed the same day it is made, however, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Transfer fresh kunu aya to a freezer-safe, airtight container to freeze. Keeps for up to three months and should be consumed the same day it is thawed.
Health Benefits of Kunu Aya
Tiger nuts have high resistant starch fiber content, giving them a prebiotic quality that supports gut health healthy cholesterol levels, and balanced blood sugar. They are also a great source of plant protein as well as calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals and vitamins. (Healthline)
A number of tiger nut drink benefits--like it being lactose free, providing sustained energy, and zinc and omega-3s--support women during pregnancy and provide benefits to women in general. (WebMD) In both men and women, tiger nut juice is known to have compounds that the boost libido. (Arewa World) This drink is also naturally dairy free, gluten free, and vegan.
Uses of Homemade Tiger Nut Milk
Because it's so versatile, you have plenty of opportunities to capture the advantages of tiger nut milk drink! You can use it however you would use your favorite dairy milk or plant-based milk, including in coffee, smoothies or for making ice cream.
Tiger nut vs almond milk is allergen free so a great option for those with tree nut allergies. It's also thicker and creamier. And tiger nut milk vs oat milk is higher in fiber and also gluten free.
More Favorite African Recipes
Now that you know how to make homemade kunu drink, I hope you enjoy soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow me on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Nigerian Tiger Nut Milk/Kunu Aya/Ofio Drink
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups tiger nuts
- 12 cups water divided
- ½ inch fresh ginger or ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- 8 medjool dates
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
Instructions
- Cover tiger nuts with five cups water (there should be about two inches of water above the nuts) and soak for at least 24-48 hours in refrigerator. The tiger nuts should soak up most of the water and become plumper.
- Drain and rinse the tiger nuts well and set aside. Slice the ginger into coins and pit and chop the dates.
- Add half the tiger nuts, dates, ginger, remaining water, and coconut milk to the blender and pulse until liquified. (There will still be small bits so it won't be perfectly smooth.)
- Lay cheese cloth over a large bowl and pour the blended mixture over top then squeeze to express all the liquid into the bowl. This process is best done in about four batches to avoid spilling and waste.
- Add the other half of the tiger nuts, dates, ginger, water, and coconut milk to the blender with the solid remnants from the cheese cloth and repeat the blender and straining steps.
- Transfer the milk to a pitcher or other beverage container and chill for at least one hour. Serve cold.
Saleha says
Greetings from Singapore! I love your easy explanations on cooking anything ! I’m wondering though how i can get hold of tiger nuts since they’re not available in my country.
Jazzmine Woodard says
Hi, Saleha! If there are any African markets or importers in your area, I would check there first. Alternatively, there are a few sellers of tiger nuts on Amazon: Kovafoods Tiger Nuts, Skyland Kitchen Tiger Nuts, and Julia's Organic Tiger Nuts.