Bitter Kola, False Kola
Garcinia kola

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows to 12 m high. It can reach 28 m high. The crown is spreading. The trunk is straight. The bark is brown. The branches droop. The leaves are 3.5-14 cm long and 2.5-6 cm wide. They are leathery. The leaf stalk is stout and about 6 mm long. The flowers are greenish-white. The flowers contain both sexes but there are also male flowers. The flowers have fine hairs. The fruit are reddish-yellow. They are 6 cm across. They contain 2-4 brown seeds. These are in an orange coloured pulp. Both the pulp and seed are edible.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in the forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are chewed as a stimulant. They are chewed with Cola nuts. The fruit are very sour but are sometimes eaten. The seed or nut is chewed raw but is bitter. The bark is used as a flavouring in an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

It is a cultivated plant. It is an important fruit tree in Nigeria. Seeds are sold in local markets. The bark is also sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, bark - drink

How it is grown

Seeds are difficult to germinate. They can be harvested fresh and then incubated in a banana stem for 3 weeks. Alternatively a poly-ethylene bag is used.

It takes 8 years to grow to 12 m tall.

Its other names

Local names

Adi, Agambo, Agbilu, Akara, Akbatuwe, Akilu, Aki ilu, Angudia, Aouolie, Bolele, Ebon gagnagne, Edun, Efiat, Goro, Gworo, Heckel, Ibi-aku, Igoligo, Mbongo, Mmiale, Mpkom, Namijin, Ngadiadia, Ngadidi, Ngadjadja, Ngbwel, Oge, Okogon, Onale, Ondale, Onie, Onye, Orogba, Orogbo, Oyale, Tchapiah, Tchiouape, Toagbebiho, Tweapea, Umbongo, Ziede

Synonyms

Garcinia akawaensis Spirlet; Garcinia bergheana Spirlet; Garcinia giadidii De Willd. [Illegitimate];