Kola Nut - Cola Nitida

The Kola nut (Cola Nitada) is a caffeine-containing nut from an evergreen tree native to west Africa. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Seeds can be white/green or red and are surrounded by a sweet tasting flesh. Inside the fruit about a dozen round or square seeds develop in a white seed pod. The nut's aroma is sweet and rose-like. The first taste is bitter, but it sweetens on chewing. The nut can be boiled to extract the cola. This tree reaches up to 25 meters in height and is grown from seed.