Bitter kola, also known as Garcinia Kola, is a plant found in Central and Western Africa that has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Although traditional African medicine uses all parts of the Bitter Kola plant, the seeds are mostly commonly eaten.
Bitter kola seeds have a sharp, bitter flavor that eases into a slight sweetness as you chew, and they're typically eaten raw.
Bitter kola seeds have commonly been chewed on in Africa to fight against inflammatory conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis. The high levels of potassium in bitter kola may be a contributing factor in reducing inflammation.
