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Kola nuts are roughly chestnut-sized brown seeds that grow inside the star-shaped pods of the kola tree, a species native to West Africa.
These nuts are naturally rich in caffeine, which gives the fresh ones a sharp, bitter taste. Once dried, though, they develop a gentler flavor along with a warm, nutmeg-like fragrance.
In West African traditions they are valued as a natural stimulant, since a single kola nut can hold more caffeine than a couple of cups of coffee. Chewing them for an energy boost has been common for centuries. Their reputation spread widely, and by the 1800s kola extracts were being added to tonics and so-called energy remedies. In the early 1900s, the creators of Coca-Cola even included kola nut extract in the original recipe, which is where the drink got the “cola” in its name.
While modern Coca-Cola no longer contains the extract, kola nuts are still used as a caffeine source in many energy drinks, meaning you may have consumed them without even knowing.
