| The kola nuts belong to the family of trees referred | | | | Some species of kola nuts are used as spices to |
| to as Malvaceae made up of about 125 species. They | | | | enhance the taste of food. Kola nuts are also |
| grow abundantly in the Tropical Rainforests in Africa. | | | | chewed as an appetizer before meals. It is also |
| The trees can grow as high as 65 feet . They are | | | | claimed that kola nuts have been used to purify |
| evergreen. Malvaceae also grow in the humid, tropical | | | | drinking and cooking water. |
| parts of the world. Furthermore, some species are | | | | Medical Use: |
| cultivated in Brazil, Indonesia, and Jamaica. | | | | In Africa, the pods of the kola nuts have been used |
| Kola nuts have a bitter taste which necessitates | | | | for centuries to ease labor pain. Kola nuts are used |
| getting used to. The biochemical contents are many. | | | | to relieve hangover,diarrhea, and nausea. The bark of |
| The highest content is caffeine. Small amounts of | | | | the tree and the seeds are dried, powdered |
| starch, and many other chemicals are also present. | | | | separately, and springled on open wounds to enhance |
| Kola nuts are reputed to possess fat burning | | | | healing. The roots are chewed to clean the teeth and |
| property. Hence their use in some weight reduction | | | | discourage bad breath. Kola nuts induce gastric juice |
| pills. | | | | secretion, hence they are chewed as appetizers |
| The Uses of Kola nuts: | | | | before meals. Kola nuts have been used to treat |
| Chewing: | | | | asthma and hooping cough. |
| Kola nuts are chewed by individuals or in group | | | | Adverse Effects: |
| setting for socialization. They are chewed mainly for | | | | Chewing kola nuts have been known to raise body |
| their stimulating and euphoric properties. They are | | | | temperature, increase respiratory rate, and increase |
| also chewed as an aphrodisiac. However, it is not | | | | blood pressure. Frequent chewing of certain species |
| uncommon for young, educated urban city dwellers | | | | of kola nuts causes the teeth to stain red. Moreover, |
| to frown and look down on chewing kola nuts. They | | | | frequent kola chewing is linked to oral cancer. Kola |
| regard chewing kola nuts as a filthy habit since some | | | | nut chewing also causes sleeplessness. |
| species cause the teeth to stain red. Furthermore, | | | | Social Issues: |
| chewers tend to spit excessively. | | | | In West Africa, it is traditional to offer kola nuts to |
| Industrial Uses: | | | | visitors and guests at parties as a form of good will. |
| The stems of the trees are used in the building | | | | Kola nuts are also included in the package of dowry |
| industry for houses, for building canoes which are | | | | payment from the family of the groom to the family |
| used for fishing, for carving, and making furniture. | | | | of the bride. |
| Soft Drinks and Wine Industry: | | | | Divination: |
| In Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, and West Africa, kola | | | | In West and East Africa, West Indies, particularly |
| nuts are important component of some soft drinks | | | | Jamaica, some South American countries, particularly |
| and wine. In the early days of Coca Kola in the U.S. | | | | Brazil, and Miami, Florida in the U.S. of America kola |
| of America, cola nuts were important ingredients in | | | | nuts are used in spiritual ceremonies. They are also |
| the soft drink. Currently, cola nuts have been | | | | used for divination and invocation of sprits. |
| replaced by artifical tasting substances. | | | | Kola nuts provide good economy for the countries in |
| Culinary Use: | | | | which they are grown and cultivated. |