The term kola nut usually refers to the seeds of certain species of plant of the genus
''Cola'', placed formerly in the
cocoa
Cocoa may refer to:
Chocolate
* Chocolate
* ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree
* Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao''
* Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter an ...
family
Sterculiaceae and now usually subsumed in the mallow family
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familia ...
(as subfamily
Sterculioideae
Sterculioideae is a subfamily of the family Malvaceae containing evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.
A 2006 molecular study indicated the Sterculioideae was most likely to be a monophyletic group, and that it had four major clades within i ...
). These
cola species are
trees native to the tropical
rainforests of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
. Their
caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class. It is mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally as a Nootropic, cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional perfor ...
-containing seeds are used as flavoring ingredients in beverages applied to various
carbonated soft drinks, from which the name ''cola'' originates.
General description
The kola nut is a caffeine-containing nut of evergreen trees of the genus ''
Cola'', primarily of the species ''
Cola acuminata'' and ''
Cola nitida''.
''Cola acuminata'', an evergreen tree about 20 meters in height, has long, ovoid leaves pointed at both the ends with a leathery texture. The trees have cream flowers with purplish-brown striations, and star-shaped fruit consisting of usually 5
follicles. Inside each follicle, about a dozen prismatic seeds develop in a white seed-shell. The nut’s aroma is sweet and rose-like. The first taste is bitter, but it sweetens upon chewing. The nut can be boiled to extract the caffeine.
Kola nuts contain about 2–4% caffeine and
theobromine
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of '' Theobroma cacao'' (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water- soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to ...
,
[ as well as tannins, ]alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of simila ...
s, saponins, and flavonoids.
Uses
The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class. It is mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally as a Nootropic, cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional perfor ...
. It is chewed in many West African
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, ...
countries, in both private and social settings. It is often used ceremonially, presented to chiefs or guests. In folk medicine, kola nuts are considered useful for aiding digestion when ground and mixed with honey, and are used as a remedy for coughs. Kola nuts are perhaps best known to Western culture
Leonardo da Vinci's ''Vitruvian Man''. Based on the correlations of ideal Body proportions">human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of his treatise ''De architectura''.
image:Plato Pio-Cle ...
as a flavoring ingredient and one of the sources of caffeine in cola and other similarly flavored beverages, although kola nut extract is no longer used in major commercial cola drinks such as Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance bar, temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pembe ...
.
History
Human use of the kola nut, like the coffee berry Coffee berry may refer to:
* Coffee cherry, the fruit of coffee plants
* '' Frangula californica'', or California coffeeberry, a plant in the buckthorn family, native to western North America
* '' Frangula rubra'', or Sierra coffeeberry, another p ...
and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins. It is chewed in many West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...
n cultures, in both private and social settings, as a source of mental stimulation.[
The spread of the kola nut across North Africa seems to be connected to the spread of Islam across North Africa during the 17th century, as trading across the Mediterranean became more concrete. The kola nut was particularly useful on slave ships to improve the taste of water, as enslaved Africans were often given poor quality water to drink.
Kola nuts are an important part of the traditional spiritual practice , culture, and religion in West Africa, particularly ]Niger
)
, official_languages =
, languages_type = National languages[Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...](_blank)
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierr ...
and Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast� ...
.[ The 1970s hit "Goro City", by Manu Dibango, highlights the significance of kola nuts (called "goro" in the Hausa language) to the capital 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. 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. Among a few ]Yoruba people
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitut ...
, it has found inroads among the Muslim population as well, in weddings and other ceremonies.
They were used as a form of currency in such West African groups as the Malinke and Bambara of Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Ma ...
and Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
. They are still used as such today in certain situations such as in negotiation over bride prices or as a form of a respect or host gift to the elders of a village should one move to a village or enter a business arrangement with the village.
Cola recipe
In the 1880s, a pharmacist in Georgia, John Pemberton
John Stith Pemberton (July 8, 1831 – August 16, 1888) was an American pharmacist and Confederate States Army veteran who is best known as the inventor of Coca-Cola. In May 1886, he developed an early version of a beverage that would later bec ...
, took caffeine extracted from kola nuts and cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Am ...
-containing extracts from coca leaves and mixed them with sugar, other flavorings, and carbonated water to invent Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance bar, temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pembe ...
, the first cola soft drink.[ As of 2016, the cola recipe no longer contained actual kola nut extract.]
Cultivation
Originally a tree of the tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforests are rainforests that occur in areas of tropical rainforest climate in which there is no dry season – all months have an average precipitation of at least 60 mm – and may also be referred to as ''lowland equator ...
, 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 groundwater 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 necessary, which can be performed manually or through the use of 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. Nigeria produces 52.4% of worldwide production followed by the Ivory Coast and Cameroon. 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
''Rauvolfia vomitoria'', the poison devil's-pepper, is a plant species in the genus ''Rauvolfia''. It is native from Senegal east to Sudan and Tanzania, south to Angola; and naturalized in China, Bangladesh, different ranges of Himalayan and Pu ...
'' or the pulverised fruits of ''Xylopia
''Xylopia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Annonaceae. They are mostly trees and some shrubs. There are about 160 species distributed in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.Moreira, I. C., Lago, J. H. G., Young, M. C. M., & Roque, N. F. ...
'' and ''Capsicum
''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit.
Etymology and names
The generic name may come from Latin , me ...
'' to counteract the attack on nursery plants. The cacao pests ''Sahlbergella
''Sahlbergella'' is a genus of African bugs in the family Miridae and tribe Dicyphini (subtribe Odoniellina).
Species are mostly distributed in Africa, where ''S. singularis'' is a major insect pest of cacao: causing damage similar to '' Dista ...
'' 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.
Major producers
Total world kola nut production is . Nigeria accounted for 55% of the kola nut production in 2020.
Chemical composition
Preliminary studies of phytochemicals in kola nut indicate the presence of various constituents:[
* ]caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class. It is mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally as a Nootropic, cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional perfor ...
(2–3.5%)
* theobromine
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of '' Theobroma cacao'' (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water- soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to ...
(1.0–2.5%)
* theophylline
* methylliberine
Methylliberine is an isolate of coffee beans, tea, cola nuts, guarana, cocoa, and yerba mate
Yerba mate or yerba-maté (''Ilex paraguariensis''; from Spanish ; pt, erva-mate, or ; gn, ka'a, ) is a plant species of the holly genus ''Ilex ...
* polyphenol
Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring organic compounds characterized by multiples of phenol units. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some ...
s
** phlobaphen
Phlobaphenes (or phlobaphens, CAS No.:71663-19-9) are reddish, alcohol-soluble and water-insoluble phenolic substances. They can be extracted from plants, or be the result from treatment of tannin extracts with mineral acids (tanner's red). The nam ...
s (''kola red'')
** epicatechin
** D- catechin
** tannic acid
* carbohydrate
** cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell wa ...
* water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as ...
Society and culture
Used in cultural traditions of the Igbo people
The Igbo people ( , ; also spelled Ibo" and formerly also ''Iboe'', ''Ebo'', ''Eboe'',
*
*
* ''Eboans'', ''Heebo'';
natively ) are an ethnic group in Nigeria. They are primarily found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. A s ...
, the presentation of kola nuts to guests or in a traditional gathering shows good will.
A kola nut ceremony is briefly described in Chinua Achebe's 1958 novel ''Things Fall Apart
''Things Fall Apart'' is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the ...
''. 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 Igbo culture in Nigeria. One of these sayings on kola nut in Things Fall Apart is: "He who brings kola brings life." It is also featured prominently in Chris Abani
Christopher Abani (born 27 December 1966) is a Nigerian-American and Los Angeles- based author. He says he is part of a new generation of Nigerian writers working to convey to an English-speaking audience the experience of those born and rai ...
's 2004 novel '' GraceLand''. The kola nut is also mentioned in ''The Color Purple
''The Color Purple'' is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. '' by Alice Walker, although it is spelled "cola".[Walker, Alice (1992). ''The Color Purple''. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 160. .]
The kola nut is mentioned in Bloc Party
Bloc Party are an English rock band, composed of Kele Okereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sampler), Russell Lissack (lead guitar, keyboards), Justin Harris (bass guitar, keyboards, saxophones, backing vocals) and Louise Bartle ...
's song "Where is Home?" on the album '' A Weekend in the City''. The lyric, setting a post-funeral scene for the murder of a black boy in London, reads, "After the funeral, breaking kola nuts, we sit and reminisce about the past." The kola nut is mentioned in the At the Drive-In song "Enfilade" on the album '' Relationship of Command''. The kola nut is repeatedly mentioned in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel '' Half of a Yellow Sun'', which also features the phrase: "He who brings the Kola nut brings life."
Gallery
File:Cola-Acuminata-Heckel.jpg, Seeds of true / "female" kola (= '' Cola acuminata'') compared and contrasted with those of bitter / "male" kola (= '' Garcinia kola'')
File:Petits colas exposés au marché Dantokpa Bénin.jpg, "Bitter kola" nuts (= seeds of ''Garcinia kola'' (family Clusiaceae)) spread out for sale in the Dantokpa Market
The Dantokpa Market, or simply Tokpa ( fon, Dantɔkpa), is the largest open-air market in West Africa, located in Cotonou, Benin.It is one of the most important retailing areas in Benin, covering over 20 hectares. It is also economically importa ...
, Benin
File:Garcinia kola MHNT.BOT.2009.13.6.jpg, Two "bitter kola" seeds, one with brown rind removed
File:Garcinia Kola Germination.jpg, Flowers of the Mangosteen
Mangosteen (''Garcinia mangostana''), also known as the purple mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree with edible fruit native to tropical lands surrounding the Indian Ocean. Its origin is uncertain due to widespread prehistoric cultivation. ...
relative ''Garcinia kola'' (a.k.a. "bitter kola")
File:Garcinia Kola Fruits mûrs.jpg, Ripe fruits of ''Garcinia kola'' (a.k.a. "bitter kola")
File:Garcinia kola - Plant.jpg, "Bitter kola" tree (''Garcinia kola'') growing in Limbe Botanical Gardens, Cameroon
File:Theobroma cacao - fruit, from inside, beans.jpg, Cocoa pod: fruit of (true) kola relative '' Theobroma cacao'' bisected to show similarity of structure to that of fruit of ''Cola acuminata''
References
External links
''Cola acuminata'' - (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl., Plants For A Future, 2012
The Rise and Fall of Cocaine Cola
{{Nuts
Cola (plant)
Caffeine
Herbal and fungal stimulants
Edible nuts and seeds
Crops originating from Africa
Plants used in traditional African medicine