Nigeria is the leading producer of kola nuts. The kola nuts produced in the country are both exported and domestically consumed. Kola nut is demanded for its high caffeine content as the nut has a caffeine content of around 2% to 4%, which is higher than that of Arabica coffee beans with 0.8% to 1.4% caffeine content. Unlike overseas consumers who process the nuts and use them as caffeine sources for beverages such as coffee, sodas, and energy drinks, Nigerian consumers, especially in the Northern parts, directly consume the nut by chewing it fresh. Furthermore, in the Southeastern part of Nigeria, kola nut is widely considered to be a symbol of respect, friendship, and hospitality. As a result, Kola nuts are also widely used in traditional ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
Nigerian kola nuts are exported all across the world. Glitz Naija Food Export, a Nigerian kola nut exporter, exports its nuts to the US, South Korea, Australia, and some European countries. Export volumes have been increasing drastically since its founding in 2016: in 2018 the company exported around 40 tons of kola nuts, an increase of 82% from 2017. The company exports two varieties of kola nuts, the Igbo and the Hausa varieties. Of the two varieties, the Igbo variety is the more demanded kola nut why.
Although kola nuts are available in Nigeria year-round, there are two main harvest seasons in the country. The first season runs from April to June and the second season starts in October and ends in December. The kola nut price increases sharply towards mid-November when the domestic demand surges as kola nut is widely used for celebrations such as Christmas and New Year. The price of Glitz Naija Food Export’s kola nut ranges from 6,000 NGN per kg (16.55 USD) to 11,000 NGN per kg (30.35 USD), depending on purchase volume and size: the larger the nut, the higher the price. Kola nuts are exported both fresh and dried; there is no difference between fresh and dried kola nuts in terms of caffeine and theobromine content. However, when kola nuts are dried, they can be stored for a longer period of time. The drying process is labor-intensive as each nut has to be sliced. Thus, the dried nuts are priced higher than the fresh nuts.