Munkoyo: roots as potential sources of amylolytic enzymes and a traditional fermented beverage. A review. Munkoyo is a fermented cereal-based beverage. The special feature of this beverage is the use of munkoyo roots as the source of amylolytic enzymes for manufacturing the beverage. This review summarizes the scientific knowledge on munkoyo. The following points are discussed: botanical description; distribution areas; propagation; chemical composition of roots; amylolytic enzymes in the roots and their properties; production process of the beverage; biochemical processes involved in the production of the beverage; and nutritional values and toxicity of the beverage. In order to highlight the value of munkoyo roots and to orientate research towards the optimization and/or industrialization of the production process, discussions are focused on a comparison of munkoyo with other fermented beverages and sources of amylolytic enzymes
