carrot The cola in the kitchen
Bitter, tart and astringent due to its high content of xanthines (caffeine, kolatin), kola nut can be used in pastries or with a fruit juice. It is used more for its properties than for its culinary use ...
Properties sheet
Stimulating, the kola nut also has antidepressant, astringent, aphrodisiac, diuretic and it would facilitate digestion.
King History
Kola nuts have been chewed since time immemorial in Africa as much to combat physical and mental fatigue as depression. It was also attributed aphrodisiac virtues. It was very popular in the 14th century by travelers before undertaking the crossing of the Sahara. Muslims drew a stimulating drink promoting social contacts.
With a symbolic value in the traditional cultures of West Africa, Indonesia and Brazil, cola is often eaten at baptismal ceremonies for example, as well as to welcome guests as a symbol of shared friendship, a reconciliation or a sealed agreement - in West Africa, a man, asking for a woman in marriage, presented kola nuts that symbolize the future alliance between the two families. If the father accepts, the kola nuts are shared and crunched together!
Kola nuts were used in 1885 by John Pemberton when creating what would later become Coca-Cola!
Plant Plant
The kolatier is a tree up to 15m tall. It has large oblong leaves and small sepulchral flowers clustered together. The fruit, bumpy, contains 5 to 10 seeds: these are the nuts that we will consume.
Warning
In high doses, kola nuts can cause tachycardia, insomnia, tremors, headaches. It is contraindicated in hypertensives, cardiac and gastric ulcers.
