Cola Nut, Kola, Bissy Nuts
Cola nitida

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

Native to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria, Cola nitida, or Cola Nut/ Ghanja Kola, is a tropical tree of about 8-12 in height that grows in lowland rainforest. It is buttressed to 1m high and its trunk can be branchless for a few meters. The bark is cracked and grey in colour but small branches are smooth. The leaves are simple, leathery, and dark green. The flowers form into short, irregular clusters forming a cup. They are white with red marks inside. The fruits are green, shiny, made up of 5 cells which curve back, and contain about 10 seeds per fruit. The seed has a stimulant effect, especially on the heart. Powdered seed can be taken internally in tonics and as a treatment for diarrhoea. C. nitida is used interchangeably with C. acuminata as they have similar medicinal uses. It is chewed to stimulate the nervous system and to counteract overstrain and depression. It has astringent properties and is used as a non-addictive stimulant against dysentery, diarrhoea, vomiting in high fever, headaches, and migraine. The seed is aromatic and rich in caffeine. It is chewed or ground into a powder and made into drinks. Extract from dried kernels is used as flavouring in carbonated drinks, ice cream, candies, and baked goods. Furthermore, the plant is used as shade trees in cocoa plantations. The wood is susceptible to borers but can be used in furniture, house an boat building, plates, etc. It also is a good fuel source.

Cola nitida is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

Lowland forest, usually at elevations up to 300 metres, but also found up to 800 metres.

Western Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire eastward to Ghana.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, C™te d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, GuinŽe, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Togo, Vietnam, West Africa.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

The aromatic seed is especially rich in caffeine, with some seeds having up to 3.5% caffeine, and acts as a stimulant. It can be chewed or ground into a powder and made into a drink in order to give energy, increase alertness, retard hunger and fatigue, aid digestion and increase stamina. When chewed, it also has the effect of modifying the taste sensation so that any food or drink consumed immediately afterwards seems sweet. An extract, prepared from the dried kernels, is used to flavour carbonated drinks, ice cream, candy, baked goods etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 4

The seeds are an astringent, bitter-sweet, anti-depressant herb that has a stimulant effect, especially on the heart. The powdered seeds are taken internally in tonics, in the treatment of exhaustion, low energy and poor appetite. They are also used in treating diarrhoea. The following information has been copied from the entry for Cola acuminata since the seeds are used interchangeably. Cola nuts contain up to 2.5% caffeine, plus theobromine, tannins, phlobaphene and an anthocyanin. They stimulate the nervous system when chewed and are also considered to be a digestive tonic, diuretic, astringent and antidepressant. They counteract overstrain and depression thus improving the physical and mental state. The principle action is that of caffeine. Other active principles include theobromine and kolatine. Because of its astringent properties, cola is used as a non-addictive stimulant in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, and also to prevent vomiting in cases of high fever. It has also been used in the treatment of headaches and migraine. It has been used in combination with coca leaf (Erythroxylum coca) to produce a stimulant drug that has been used as 'Forced March' tablets by explorers and military expeditions. The crushed nuts are boiled together with the leaves of Morinda lucida and the liquid taken internally to cure piles. The nuts ground to a fine paste together with the leaves of Scoparia dulce, are dissolved in a little water and a few drops are administered orally to babies for headache. The seeds are harvested when fully ripe and dried in the sun. An infusion of the bark mixed with ginger and a little pepper is taken internally to cure stomach ulcers.

Antidepressant: Used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antihaemorrhoidal: Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.

Appetizer: Improves the appetite

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Bitter: Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: Plants are often used as shade trees in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. Other Uses The sapwood is pinkish-white and the heartwood dull yellow. The wood is susceptible to borers. It is suitable for furniture, house and boat building, coach-work, plates, domestic utensils, gun stocks, joinery and carvings. The wood is a good source of fuel.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the hot, humid, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. It can be cultivated in drier areas as long as ground water is available. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 35°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,400 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 3,500mm. It is capable of withstanding 3 or more months of dry season. Prefers a rich, well-drained soil and a position in full sun. Young trees require some shade. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.3 - 7. Initial growth is slow, with trees reaching only 3 metres in 4 years. Trees start producing at around the age of 12 - 15 years and can produce 10 - 16 kilos of seed annually for more than 80 years. Yields of 300 nuts per tree are considered good. In some regions the tree may flower almost all the time, so harvesting is continuous throughout the year.

Propagating it: The seeds are thought to require a period of dormancy for effective germination and growth. Pre-soaking for 24 hours can improve the level of germination. Sow the seed individually in containers. Germination is slow, taking 2 - 3 months. Germination within 10 - 18 days has been achieved when the seed was sown at a temperature of 30°c. Higher germination levels have been achieved when the cotyledons were parted before sowing. The improved germination could be a result of the removal of this mechanical constraint. Seedlings can be planted out after about 12 months. The seeds are sensitive to drying and low temperatures. They do not tolerate drying to less than c. 30% moisture content. They can be maintained for one year or more without loss in viability, with the seeds wrapped in banana leaves at room temperature.. Cuttings of mature wood.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Cola nitida, or Cola Nut/ Ghanja Kola, Other Names: Ajauru, Bakuru, Buur, Cola, Coleira, Colo-fuque, Curo-djo-o, Curo, Evbe, Ghanja Kola, Goro, Mancuur, N'kola, Obi-gbanja, Uncurame.

Synonyms

Cola acuminata latifolia K.Schum. Cola vera K.Schum. Sterculia nitida Vent.