Kola Nut

The caffeine-containing seed of several West African tree species in the genus Cola, most importantly Cola nitida and Cola acuminata, chewed traditionally across West and Central Africa as a mild stimulant and used ceremonially in hospitality, negotiation and ritual across many of the region's cultures. Nigeria and Ivory Coast are the crop's principal producers, where it is grown both in smallholder plots and as an intercrop alongside cacao and other tree crops. Kola nut extract also gave the original cola soft drinks their name and, in small amounts, some of their early flavoring, though most modern cola beverages now rely on synthetic flavoring rather than the actual nut.