Cola

Fonte: CozinhaNet

WHAT IS: Also kola, common name for trees of the tropical genus Cola, of the family Sterculiaceae (see Cacao), especially C. Acuminata, originally native to Africa and now cultivated in a number of tropical countries. It is an evergreen, about 11m (about 35 ft) high, and bears its seeds in podlike receptacles. The seeds, called cola nuts, are about 2.5 cm (about 1 in) long, are mottled brown or reddish gray, and have an aroma like that of nutmeg. The taste of the fresh seeds is bitter, but as the nuts age, they become slightly aromatic. The seeds contain caffeine, tannin, and theobromine and are used extensively in the manufacture of soft drinks known as cola beverages.

OTHER NAMES: Kola

EM PORTUGUÊS: Cola