Kola nut

Cola nitida · Nut

40 pairings

The kola nut is the caffeine-bearing seed of evergreen Cola trees (chiefly Cola nitida and Cola acuminata) native to West Africa's tropical forests. Bitter and astringent when chewed, it is a traditional stimulant and a centrepiece of West African hospitality and ceremony — and the original flavouring that gave cola drinks their name.

Picking a good onedrag

Fresh, plump and heavyShrunken, musty or mouldy

SettledStill firm and moist: chew it, grate it into a bitter tonic, steep slices. It is a caffeine food like coffee, so count lobes if you are watching that.Everyday best

Colour and skinColour even, a shade duller, drying at the edges

HeftFirm still, only a little lighter in the hand

Break a lobeFace still moist, bitter and drying, the sweet finish shorter

What to look for, from fresh, plump and heavy to shrunken, musty or mouldy.

Preparing