Kunun kanwa
Kunun Kanwa is a traditional Hausa beverage made from grains and alkaline water (kanwa – potash or local salt). It is mostly consumed in Northern Nigeria, especially during cold weather or as a soothing drink for nursing mothers. It is smooth, warm, and slightly salty in taste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of guinea corn (or millet, sorghum, or maize) – ground into flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of edible potash (kanwa) or a small piece dissolved in water
- 1 small piece of ginger, peeled and grated
- 4-5 cups of water (adjust for desired consistency)
- 1–2 tablespoons of sugar or honey (optional, to taste)
Ingredients for 2 servings (1.3 kg) · the original recipe
Method
- 1
Mix the Grain flour with a little water to form a light, smooth paste. Ensure there are no lumps.
- 2
In a separate pot, dissolve the kanwa (potash) in water and bring to a light boil.
Stovetop - 3
Gradually pour the boiling kanwa water into the grain paste while stirring continuously.
- 4
Keep stirring until the mixture thickens slightly into a pap-like consistency.
- 5
Allow it to simmer for 2–3 minutes. Add more water if it's too thick.
Stovetop - 6
Remove from heat. Add sugar or honey if desired.
- 7
Serve hot.
Recipe from Wikibooks Cookbook, written by Wikibooks contributors. Used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; the ingredient list and method on this page are taken from that page and edited (its notes, tips and variations are not reproduced), and are available under the same licence. The macros, equipment tags and scaling are Ma Kitchen’s own and are not the source’s figures. Ma Kitchen is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wikibooks Cookbook. Copied on 2026-11-12.
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