Petit cola (bitacola), whole Garcinia kola seeds

Petit cola, which many people call bitacola, is the seed of Garcinia kola, a tree from the forests of West and Central Africa. It is chewed raw, for its frank bitterness, and shared: it is a seed that is offered. Whole seeds, in a 250 g, 500 g or 1 kg bag, shipped from France.

What is petit cola (bitacola)?

Petit cola is the seed of Garcinia kola Heckel, a tree of the Clusiaceae family that grows in the forests of West and Central Africa, notably in Nigeria and Cameroon. It is an oval, light brown seed, covered with a thin skin that is removed before chewing. Its flesh is firm and its taste very bitter, with a hint of astringency that softens as you chew it.

It has a different name in each language: bitacola in everyday French, bitter kola in English, which means “bitter cola”, orogbo in Yoruba, aki ilu in Igbo, namijin goro in Hausa. It is also spelled bita cola or bita kola. Despite its name, it is not a cola nut: the true cola nut comes from another tree, the cola tree, and resembles it neither in shape nor in taste.

Petit cola or cola nut: what is the difference?

The two seeds share a name, a gesture (both are offered and chewed) and a shelf, but they do not have the same identity.

• Scientific name: Garcinia kola for petit cola; Cola nitida or Cola acuminata for cola nut.
• Botanical family: Clusiaceae for petit cola; Malvaceae for cola nut.
• Appearance: a small, oval, light brown seed, versus a large red, pink or creamy white seed that splits into segments.
• Taste: very bitter and astringent for petit cola; bitter, then slightly sweet for cola nut.
• Caffeine: cola nut contains it naturally, around 2 to 3% of its weight; for petit cola, none of the scientific publications consulted establishes its caffeine content.

It was cola nut, not petit cola, that flavoured the first cola sodas at the end of the 19th century. Find whole red and white cola nuts on the same shelf.

How to consume petit cola?

• To chew: remove the thin brown skin, cut off a piece of the seed and chew it slowly. The bitterness is sharp at first, then it softens.
• As an infusion: some people grate it to steep in hot water.
• In cooking: ground into powder, it is added in very small amounts to certain simmered sauces and to dishes of meat, fish or leafy greens from West and Central Africa, notably in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria. Start with half a teaspoon and taste before adding more: petit cola is measured out like a strong spice. For this use, NUMBER ONE petit cola powder is ready to use.

A seed that is offered

In West and Central Africa, presenting petit cola to a guest is a gesture of welcome and respect. It is shared to open a discussion, to accompany an agreement between two families or to mark a visit. This social custom, handed down from generation to generation, defines petit cola above all else: it is a seed that people chew together, when visiting as well as at work, and that has its place in many ceremonies.

Whole seeds or powder: which to choose?

Whole seeds are the traditional form: they are chewed and offered. The powder is used in cooking, a pinch in a simmered sauce, and saves you from grating the seed. If you want both uses, take the 250 g bag of seeds and the NUMBER ONE powder.

How to choose and store petit cola?

A good-quality seed is firm, with no mould or suspicious smell, and has a frank bitterness when tasted.

• Keep the seeds in a dry place, at room temperature and away from light.
• Choose a paper or fabric bag rather than sealed plastic, which traps moisture.
• Check the seeds from time to time and remove any that are spoiling.

The 250 g bag is enough to try it or for personal use; the 500 g and 1 kg bags suit families, ceremonies and large gatherings.

Also for chewing

In the cola nut and petit cola section: cola nut, larger and less bitter, NUMBER ONE petit cola powder for cooking and Toffi caramels with petit cola. For its composition, uses and known precautions, read our article on petit cola.

Product information

• Product: whole Garcinia kola seeds, unbranded
• Pack size: 250 g, 500 g or 1 kg bag, your choice
• Ingredient: petit cola (Garcinia kola), nothing added
• Allergens: by nature, none of the 14 regulated allergens (petit cola is not one of the tree nuts covered by European regulations)
• Storage: in a dry place, at room temperature, away from light