The kola nut is the fruit of the kola tree, a genus of trees that are native to the tropical
rainforests of Africa.
The caffeine-containing fruit of the tree is used as a flavoring ingredient in beverages,
and is the origin of the term "cola".
General description
Kola nut is a caffeine-containing nut of evergreen trees of the genus Cola, primarily the species
Cola acuminata and Cola nitida.
Cola acuminata is an evergreen tree of about 20 meters in height, and has long, ovoid leaves
pointed at both the ends with a leathery texture.
The trees have yellow flowers with purple spots, and star-shaped fruit.
Inside the fruit, about a dozen round or square seeds can be found in a white seed shell.
The nut’s aroma is sweet and rose-like.
The first taste is bitter, but sweetens upon chewing.
The nut can be boiled to extract the cola.
This tree reaches 25 meters in height and is propagated through seeds.
C. nitida and C. acuminata can easily be interchanged with other Cola species.
Uses The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains
caffeine.
It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a group setting.
It is often used ceremonially, presented to chiefs or presented to guests.
It is preferred among African Muslims, who are forbidden to drink alcohol.
Chewing kola nut can ease hunger pangs.
Kola nuts are often used to treat whooping cough and asthma.
The caffeine present acts as a bronchodilator, expanding the bronchial air passages.
Frequent chewing of the kola nut can also lead to stained teeth.
Among the urban youth of West Africa, kola nut is becoming less popular.
Kola nuts are perhaps best known to Western culture as a flavouring ingredient and one
of the sources of caffeine in cola and other similarly flavoured beverages, although the
use of kola in commercial cola drinks has become uncommon.
History The use of the kola nut, like the coffee berry
and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins.
It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a social setting, to restore
vitality and ease hunger pains.
Kola nuts are an important part of the traditional spiritual practice of culture and religion
in West Africa, particularly Niger and Nigeria.
The 1970s hit "Goro City", by Manu Dibango, highlights the significance of kola nuts to
the capitol of Niger, Niamey.
Kola nuts are used as a religious object and sacred offering during prayers, ancestor veneration,
and significant life events, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
They are also used in a traditional divination system called Obi divination.
For this use, only kola nuts divided into four lobes are suitable.
They are cast upon a special wooden board and the resulting patterns are read by a trained
diviner.
This ancient practice is currently enjoying increased growth within the United States
and Caribbean.
In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia, John Pemberton, took extracts of kola and coca
and mixed them with sugar, other ingredients, and carbonated water to invent the first cola
soft drink.
His accountant tasted it and called it "Coca-Cola".
Cocaine was prohibited from soft drinks in the U.S. after 1904, and Coca-Cola no longer
uses kola nor cocaine in its original recipe.
Cultivation
Originally a tree of tropical rainforest, it needs a hot humid climate, but can withstand
a dry season on sites with a high ground water level.
It may be cultivated in drier areas where ground water is available.
C. nitida is a shade bearer, but develops a better spreading crown which yields more
fruits in open places.
Though it is a lowland forest tree, it has been found at altitudes over 300 m on deep,
rich soils under heavy and evenly distributed rainfall.
Regular weeding is a must and can either be done manually or by using herbicides.
Some irrigation can be provided to the plants, but it is important to remove the water through
an effective drainage system, as excess water may prove to be detrimental for the growth
of the plant.
When not grown in adequate shade, the kola nut plant responds well to fertilizers.
Usually, the plants need to be provided with windbreaks to protect them from strong gales.
Kola nuts can be harvested mechanically or by hand, by plucking them at the tree branch.
When kept in a cool, dry place, kola nuts can be stored for a long time.
Pests and diseases The nuts are subject to attack by the kola
weevil Balanogastris cola.
The larvae of the moth Characoma strictigrapta that also attacks cacao bore into the nuts.
Traders sometimes apply an extract of the bark of Rauvolfia vomitoria or the pulverised
fruits of Xylopia and Capsicum to counteract the attack on nursery plants.
The cacao pests Sahlbergella spp.
have been found also on C. nitida as an alternative host plant.
While seeds are liable to worm attack, the wood is subject to borer attack.
Chemical composition caffeine
theobromine theophylline
phenolics phlobaphens
epicatechin D-catechin
tannic acid
sugar cellulose
water References in culture
A kola nut ceremony is briefly described in Chinua Achebe's 1959 novel Things Fall Apart.
The eating of kola nuts is referred to at least a further ten times in the novel showing
the significance of the kola nut in pre-colonial 1890s Nigerian culture.
The kola nut is also mentioned in The Color Purple by Alice Walker, although it is spelled
"cola".
Notes
References
External links Cola in West African plants – A Photo Guide.