Cola nitida
Quick Summary
Cola nitida is a tropical tree native to Africa, belonging to the genus Cola. This genus is part of the chocolate family, Sterculiaceae. The trees are cultivated in various tropical regions for their nuts, known as kola or cola nuts.12
These nuts are significant for their caffeine, tannin, and theobromine content, which act as stimulants. In Africa, kola nuts are chewed for their stimulant properties, and refined extracts are used in medicine for cardiac and central-nervous-system stimulation.1
Commercially, Cola nitida and Cola acuminata are important for the production of the popular soft drink called cola. The drink is flavored with extracts from the kola nut, along with other ingredients like spice oils, sweeteners, acids, and carbon dioxide. Mature kola trees typically grow 12 to 20 meters tall and have leathery leaves, yellow flowers, and star-shaped fruit containing the seeds.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
