Is bitter kola alkaline or acidic? One published lab test measured ground bitter kola at a pH of 5.72. On the pH scale, anything below 7 is acidic, so that reading is mildly acidic.
Many pages online, including an earlier version of this one, called bitter kola alkaline. The lab test does not support that, so we have corrected it.
What the lab test measured
The figure comes from a 2013 study by Mazi, Okoronkwo and Ibe in the Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences. The researchers tested peeled, ground bitter kola seed and reported:
- pH: 5.72
- Carbohydrate: about 70 percent
- Protein: about 11 percent
- Fat: about 1 percent
Read the study. It is one study on one batch of seeds, so treat the number as a guide, not a rule.
Does it matter for your body?
Probably not in the way the internet suggests. Your body keeps the pH of your blood in a narrow range on its own. As Cleveland Clinic puts it, “nothing you eat will change your blood pH.” Read more from Cleveland Clinic.
So whether a food tests acidic or alkaline in a lab is not a reason to eat it or avoid it. We make no health claims about bitter kola, either way.
What about the alkaline diet?
We sell food, not diet plans. If you are thinking about an alkaline diet, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Bitter kola and acid reflux
We cannot tell you that bitter kola helps or harms acid reflux. If you live with reflux or heartburn, ask your doctor before adding any strong food to your routine.
So why eat bitter kola?
For the same reasons people in West Africa have for generations: to welcome guests, to chew, and to cook with. It is served whole and unpeeled, and each guest peels their own. Read what is bitter kola and how to eat bitter kola.
Questions people ask
Is bitter kola alkaline? The one lab test we found measured it at pH 5.72, which is mildly acidic.
What is the pH of bitter kola? 5.72, in a 2013 lab study of ground bitter kola seed.
Can bitter kola change my body’s pH? No food changes your blood pH. Your body controls it on its own.
Is bitter kola good for ulcers or reflux? We make no health claims. Ask your doctor.
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.
Part of the profit funds our nonprofit organization, Save All Africa Kids (saak.org).