Kola nuts
Danilo Anton

Kola is one of the natural substances whose consumption is more rooted in the African continent. Kola is made ​​from kola nuts, which are the fruits of a tree in the family Sterculiaceae, the Kola vera , which grows in the forests of West Africa and Guinea.
Nut Kola vera are  pinkish-red color, the size of a golf ball and with the consistency of a green apple.
It is consumed raw in the traditional culture of these countries since ancient times. The fruit is normally chewed for a while until it is swallowed.
It is used as a hunger and sleep suppressant and as a stimulating.
Because of its intense bitterness it is to get used since childhood. For adults who never consumed it becomes difficult to start the habit.
Like other natural products originated in traditional societies, kola culture is deeply imbued with spiritual elements, so it is used not only to reduce fatigue or sleep, but also as a central element in the rituals of the peoples of the coast of Guinea.
In recent times, since the late nineteenth century, as a result of the expansion of wild capitalism in the United States, kola nut began to be used for juices.
At the beginning it was added to drinks including a “mix” of kola syrups and coca (leaf of the coca plant) along with sugar. 
The success of these drinks “Kola-coca,” which are highly addictive nature led the soft drink industry knew an “explosive rise”. Over the years many varieties of “kolas-kink” arose.Some of them would lead to large industrial conglomerates with transnational development, such as Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola.
In later times the cocaine, which had been openly discredited by global ideological system was eliminated and instead caffeine was utilized.
Kola continued to be produces based on the raw material obtained in producing countries of West Africa and Guinea industry. During the first half of the twentieth century, the main exporters were Ghana, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone among others. The main import market was the United States.
In recent years trade declined since the companies were able to develop alternative artificial chemical formulas to the real fruit. 
In the 1990s, the global market for kolas (artificial) amounted to more than 3,000 dollars a month. 9  
Although usually the subject is not considered, the case of kolas is one of the clearest examples of  “globalization” by “denaturalizing” of a natural product.
These natural products (coke, kola and sugarcane) were transformed and combined to create an artificial product that generates multiplied addiction. 
The coca-kola-sugar combination created a foolproof recipe addicts. 
Although coca later was removed, the caffeine content remained and even increased in order to retain its addictive nature. 
In commercial soft drinks, in addition to kola there are other substances that promote addiction.
The secret nature of the formulas and the millions of dollars that have been handled at all levels allowed to evade controls  in many countries.
No doubt the kolas consumption is one of the most widespread vices of modern society. But nowhere it is treated as such.
In America, the kola was introduced as an imported denaturation. Perhaps it would be appropriate to reinstate it in the original African cultural framework. 

The tree Kola vera


The Kola vera belongs to the family of Sterculiaceae. It is called also: Cola acuminata, . Sterculia acuminata  and kola seeds or nuts are called Gurru or Guru Bissy.  Their habitat spans Sierra Leone and the north Ashanti. Currently it is grown in tropical West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and Java. It grows to about 12-13 meters, it has stained yellow and purple leaves 15-20 cm long, pointed at both ends. The seeds are widely used as seasoning in West and Central Africa, and also in Brazil and the Antilles.
In Africa it is found growing near the coast although it is traded inward and consumed in most of the West African region. 
Normally before each meal a piece is chewed to promote digestion, it is thought to improve the flavor of whatever you eat later, and may even make palatable fetid water. The powder is also applied to the wounds.
There are different types of kola seeds derived from different epsecies but the Kola vera is preferably used for medicinal purposes.
The Gurru nuts are used in the same way as the Kola vera but are derived from a tree growing in Cameroon and Congo, which is used as a stimulant (also contains caffeine).
Marketed kola consists of two separate cotyledons separated from the kernel of the seed... When fresh this is almost white, and when dry suffers a fermentative change, turning brown and losing much of its astringency.
Dried cotyledons vary in size from 2 to 5 centimeters, are irregular in shape,  grossly plano-convex, with a reddish brown exterior, and a paler, easily cut interior section showing a uniform, nearly odorless and tasteless section.
Different varieties of walnuts give a fairly large percentage of caffeine, which is found only in fresh state.  It is said that contain kolanina is said to contain a glucoside, but it is probably a mixture of red kola and caffeine. The seeds also contain starch, fats, sugar and an enzyme that breaks down fats.
The kola has tonic effects and properties similar to caffeine, but with astringent effect.
From: "Peoples, Drugs and Serpents! Danilo Anton, Piriguazú Ediciones.