Bitter kola vs kola nut is one of the most common mix ups in West African food. The names sound alike and both are nuts people chew, but they come from two different trees that are not even related.
Here is the plain difference.
Bitter kola vs kola nut: the short answer
Bitter kola is the seed of Garcinia kola. Kola nut is the seed of Cola trees, mainly Cola nitida and Cola acuminata.
They belong to different plant families. Garcinia kola is in the Clusiaceae family. Cola trees are in the mallow family, Malvaceae. Wikipedia puts it simply: the true kola nut “is not related to Garcinia kola”.
| Bitter kola | Kola nut | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant | Garcinia kola | Cola nitida, Cola acuminata |
| Plant family | Clusiaceae | Malvaceae (mallow family) |
| Nigerian names | Orogbo (Yoruba), aku ilu (Igbo), miji goro (Hausa) | Oji (Igbo) |
| Caffeine | No reliable figure found | Yes, about 2 to 3.5% |
| Best known for | Its strong bitter taste | Hospitality and ceremony |
How they taste
Bitter kola lives up to its name. It is strong and truly bitter, which is why half a teaspoon of the powder is enough for a whole pot.
Kola nut is bitter too, but it has a sweet, rose like aroma that bitter kola does not.
Which one has caffeine?
Kola nut is the one known for caffeine. It contains about 2 to 3.5% caffeine, plus theobromine, which is also found in cocoa.
For bitter kola, we have not found a reliable caffeine figure, so we will not give you one.
Kola nut and the cola drink
Kola nut is where cola drinks got their name. Kola nuts were an ingredient in Coca-Cola in 1886 and in Pepsi-Cola in 1893. Modern formulas no longer use real kola nut.
Their place in Nigerian life
Kola nut is the nut of welcome. Offering kola nut to guests or at a traditional gathering shows goodwill, and among the Igbo it is presented to chiefs and guests in ceremony.
How kola nut is served. The kola nuts are presented whole in a bowl. The eldest person present is asked to pray over them. After praying, the eldest breaks the kola nut and takes a piece first. The youngest person in the room then takes the plate from the eldest and serves everyone else in order of age, from the oldest to the youngest. Never serve the youngest first. In Nigeria that is considered an insult.
Bitter kola is eaten by chewing the whole nut, or ground into powder for food and drinks. It is also an important trade crop for communities in Nigeria.
How to tell them apart when you buy
Read the label. Bitter kola is often labelled with its botanical name, Garcinia kola. Kola nut may be labelled Cola nitida or Cola acuminata. If a label only says “kola”, ask the seller which one it is before you buy.
Can you swap one for the other?
Not really. They taste different and they are used differently. If a recipe calls for bitter kola, use bitter kola. There are six kitchen ideas in bitter kola uses: how to cook with bitter kola powder.
Two different plant families
The two are not even close relatives. Bitter kola, Garcinia kola, belongs to the mangosteen family, Clusiaceae. Kola nut, Cola acuminata, belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. They share a region, a similar name and a place at the table, and very little else.
Why is bitter kola called male kola?
In Hausa, bitter kola is miji goro. Goro is kola nut and miji means male, so the name sets the two apart as male kola and kola. You will see the same pairing in English, with bitter kola as male kola and kola nut as female kola.
Which one is offered to guests?
Both, in different ways. Kola nut is broken and shared, with the eldest served first. Bitter kola is served whole and unpeeled, and each guest peels their own.
Questions people ask
Is bitter kola a type of kola nut? No. Despite the name, bitter kola is not a kola nut. The two trees are not related.
Why is it called bitter kola? Because of its strong bitter taste. The “kola” part of the name is where the confusion starts, since the two plants are not related.
Can I chew bitter kola nuts whole? Yes. Chewing the whole nut is the traditional way to eat it. Expect a strong, bitter taste from the first bite.
Is bitter kola the same as garcinia kola? Yes. Garcinia kola is its botanical name.
Is bitter kola a fruit or a nut? We answer that in is bitter kola a fruit or vegetable.
Where does bitter kola grow? Garcinia kola is native to West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal and Gabon. More in where is bitter kola found.
Which one does JEB FOODS sell? Bitter kola. We sell whole bitter kola nuts for chewing the traditional way, and bitter kola nut powder for drinks and cooking.
Read next: What is bitter kola? The Nigerian nut, explained.
Ready to buy? See where to buy bitter kola in the USA.
New to bitter kola? Read how to eat bitter kola: peel it, then eat it bite by bite.