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Kola Nut Cola nitida Extract Powder

2017-07-20

    Cola nitida seeds, known as kola nuts, are used as a foodstuff locally. They contain caffeine, theobromine, tannins, fructose and kolanin (a heart stimulant). They are chewed as a stimulant and are especially favoured as a snack by African Muslims when fasting in the month of Ramadan. Kola nuts are reported to suppress hunger and thirst and have been used in western and central Africa for thousands of years.

    Kola nut extract was reportedly used as a source of caffeine in pharmacist John Pemberton’s “French Wine Coca”, a forerunner of the soft drink Coca-Cola. Frank M. Robinson’s first advert for Coca-Cola in the Atlanta Journal on 29 May 1886 read ‘Coca-Cola ... containing the properties of the wonderful Coca plant and the famous Cola nut. Natural kola nut extract has now been replaced by synthetic citrate caffeine in many leading brands of cola drink, although some advertised as “natural cola” include kola nut in their ingredients.

    Cola nitida seeds powder are also used for dyeing, water purification and production of liquid soap and fertilisers. By-products of kola nut processing are used as poultry feed. Its timber is used for furniture and as fuelwood.