Kola
Cured whole and split kola nut, the caffeine- and kolanin-bearing cotyledon of Cola nitida, traded across West Africa for chewing and ceremonial use and internationally as a flavoring and extract feedstock for cola-type beverages, confectionery and nutraceuticals. Nigeria is the largest single producer, with Cola nitida cultivated across the southwestern and south-central forest-belt states. The West African kola trade runs on trader-buyer mutual inspection and traditional knowledge rather than a published, enforced national grading standard, which is the grading gap this class documents.
Listed kola markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
No mandatory Nigerian or ECOWAS grading standard for kola nut was found. Peer-reviewed and extension literature on West African kola marketing describes grading as based on cotyledon size, colour and count per unit weight, judged by trader-buyer mutual inspection and traditional knowledge, rather than a formal, published specification. This is the documented grading gap for the class.
Cotyledon size and count
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| LARGELarge whole cotyledon | fewer, larger cotyledons per kilogram, commands trade premium |
| MIXEDMixed/ungraded run | unsorted field-run mix of cotyledon sizes |
Moisture and storage condition
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| SOUNDSound, low-moisture, mould-free | properly cured, free of visible mould and insect damage |
| DAMAGEDDamaged/high-moisture lot | visible mould, weevil holes, or elevated moisture; discounted or rejected |
Colour and freshness
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| FRESHCOLFresh colour | pinkish-white to natural red cotyledon colour, not browned |
| OXIDISEDOxidised/browned | browned cotyledon from age or poor curing, discounted |
Caffeine/kolanin content
2 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| ASSAYEDLab-assayed lot | caffeine/theobromine content confirmed by independent lab assay, required by beverage/extract buyers |
| UNASSAYEDUnassayed field lot | no lab assay performed, sold on visual grade only |
Quality separation in practice runs on cotyledon size/count per kilogram, colour uniformity (fresh pinkish-white to red cotyledon versus oxidised/browned), moisture content, and absence of mould, insect (weevil) damage, or split/shrivelled nuts. Buyers assess these visually and by hand at the point of sale; no accredited third-party certification scheme for kola nut grade was found in Nigeria.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Ondo State (including Idanre and Ijare growing areas) | origin, smallholder production |
| Nigeria | Oyo State | origin and major inland trading/aggregation hub (Ibadan) |
| Nigeria | Lagos State | export aggregation and port of exit |
| Cote d'Ivoire | national | competing West African origin |
| Ghana | national | competing West African origin |
| Cameroon | national | regional overland import market |
| Niger | national | regional overland import market |
| Chad | national | regional overland import market |
| United States | national | flavoring, extract and diaspora specialty-retail destination market |
| United Kingdom | national | diaspora specialty-retail destination market |
Nigeria is the leading world producer of kola nut, cited at roughly 70 percent of world output by the Integrated Kolanut Producers, Marketers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (IKPMEAN). Cola nitida is cultivated across Nigeria's southwestern and south-central forest belt, including Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara and Kogi states, with Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana as the other major West African producers.
Timing
Cola nitida in Nigeria produces a main crop and a lighter secondary crop each year.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest May to DecMain crop concentrated October to December; a lighter secondary crop occurs May to June. |
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Common questions
What grades of kola does SIP Global trade?
We quote 8 published grades of kola, including LARGE - Large whole cotyledon, MIXED - Mixed/ungraded run, SOUND - Sound, low-moisture, mould-free, DAMAGED - Damaged/high-moisture lot, FRESHCOL - Fresh colour and OXIDISED - Oxidised/browned. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is kola graded?
No mandatory Nigerian or ECOWAS grading standard for kola nut was found. Peer-reviewed and extension literature on West African kola marketing describes grading as based on cotyledon size, colour and count per unit weight, judged by trader-buyer mutual inspection and traditional knowledge, rather than a formal, published specification. This is the documented grading gap for the class. Grading runs on 4 systems: Cotyledon size and count, Moisture and storage condition, Colour and freshness and Caffeine/kolanin content.
Where does SIP Global trade kola?
We trade kola in Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Niger and Chad and 2 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is kola harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are Nigeria: harvest may to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
How do I get a price for kola?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed kola market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.