Bitter kola in Yoruba is orogbo. In Igbo it is aku ilu, in Hausa it is miji goro, and in French speaking West Africa it is petit cola. If you grew up with it, you probably know it by one of these names. Here they are side by side, plus the one mix-up to avoid when you shop.
Bitter kola names at a glance
| Language | Name for bitter kola |
|---|---|
| English | Bitter kola |
| Yoruba | Orogbo |
| Igbo | Aku ilu |
| Hausa | Miji goro |
| French | Petit cola |
| Botanical name | Garcinia kola |
They are all the same nut: the seed of the Garcinia kola tree, which grows across the rainforest belt of West and Central Africa.
Bitter kola in Yoruba: orogbo
Orogbo is the name most people search for. If you hear someone ask for orogbo at an African grocery store, they mean whole bitter kola nuts. Ground bitter kola is sometimes called ground orogbo.
Bitter kola in Igbo: aku ilu
In Igbo, bitter kola is aku ilu.
Bitter kola in Hausa: miji goro
In Hausa, bitter kola is miji goro. Watch the spelling when you shop: goro on its own is the Hausa word for kola nut, a different nut from a different tree.
Bitter kola in French: petit cola
In French speaking West Africa, bitter kola is petit cola. You will also see petit cola on some product labels.
Do not mix it up with kola nut
Bitter kola and kola nut are not the same thing, and they are not interchangeable.
- Bitter kola is Garcinia kola: orogbo, aku ilu, miji goro, petit cola.
- Kola nut is Cola nitida or Cola acuminata: goro in Hausa, obi in Yoruba.
They are served differently too. Kola nut is presented whole in a bowl. The eldest present prays over it, breaks it and takes a piece first, then the youngest person serves everyone else from the oldest to the youngest. Bitter kola is served to guests whole and unpeeled on a plate, and each guest peels their own.
More in bitter kola vs kola nut.
Why one nut has so many names
Nigeria has many languages, and bitter kola is shared by communities right across West and Central Africa. Each community grew up with its own word for the same nut. When families moved abroad, the names travelled with them, which is why a shop in Houston, London or New Jersey may label the same nut in three different ways.
In American stores and online, the most common labels are bitter kola and Garcinia kola. If you are buying for an elder or a family event, it can help to know the name they will recognise.
Other names you may see
- African bitter kola
- Bitter cola
- Garcinia kola nut
- Ground orogbo, for the powder
How to ask for it when you shop
- Whole nuts: ask for bitter kola, orogbo or Garcinia kola.
- Ground: ask for bitter kola powder, ground orogbo or Garcinia kola powder.
- Check the label: if it says Cola nitida or Cola acuminata, that is kola nut, not bitter kola.
Read where to buy bitter kola in the USA and how to eat bitter kola.
Questions people ask
What is orogbo in English? Bitter kola.
What is bitter kola called in Igbo? Aku ilu.
What is bitter kola called in Hausa? Miji goro. Goro alone means kola nut.
Is petit cola the same as bitter kola? Yes. Petit cola is the French name.
Is Garcinia kola the same as bitter kola? Yes. Garcinia kola is the botanical name of the tree. Bitter kola is its nut.
Orogbo in Yoruba life
In Yoruba homes, orogbo is offered to guests, served whole and unpeeled so each guest peels their own. It is also one of the items families buy for a Yoruba traditional wedding, and it has a place in Yoruba traditional religion, beside obi, the kola nut.
If you are shopping for orogbo in the USA, ask for bitter kola or garcinia kola. Our whole bitter kola nuts (orogbo) ship from New Jersey.
Where to buy bitter kola
Jeb Foods Bitter Kola Nut, 0.5 lb is whole Nigerian bitter kola, shipped across the US from New Jersey. Prefer it ground? See Bitter Kola Powder, 4 oz, or make bitter kola tea with it.
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