Kola Nuts

Kola nuts, which are eaten because they contain caffeine, theobromine and kolatin, are a popular stimulant in many parts of West Africa. Like other mild stimulants, including coffee, tea and cocoa, kola nuts are moderately addictive. Of the two most common varieties, Cola nitida contains from 1.0 to 4.0 per cent caffeine by weight and traces of theobromine, while C. acuminata has from 1.5 to 3.6 per cent caffeine and 0.02 to 0.09 per cent theobromine. Both caffeine and theobromine are alkaloids which stimulate the nervous system and the skeletal muscles. Both varieties also contain small amounts of kolatin, a glucoside heart stimulant, and tannin. In combination, these properties make kola as effective as other, mild stimulants, including coffee, tea and cocoa (Table 1). Although kola is not taken as a drink but is chewed, it has sometimes been compared with coffee, even being called the ‘coffee of the Sudan’. ¹ Table 1 Caffeine and theobromine in mild stimulants (per cent)³