alternatehistory.com

201 BC

West Africa trade update

The magical nut…

Greek merchants from the trade colony of Astypylaia while in Taruga, Nok kingdom capital, they where invited to a local wedding. There they were offered a mysterious nut to chew. The Greeks hesitate at start since the nut had a bitter flavour. After a while and thrilled by its effects, the Greeks wanted to learn everything about this magic nut.

• The Kola nut has been a major commodity in West Africa for many centuries. Red,white or of shades in between the Kola nuts were valued because they cleansed the mouth, provided a spurt of energy and were credited with numerous medicinal and other properties. They were also mildly addictive. The local people chewed it, at naming ceremonies,weddings and it constituted a luxury. Grown only in the forest, Kola found with the Greek merchants a ready market immediately.

• The kola nut, also know as cola acuminate, is a caffeine-rich nut that is native to tropical Africa. Kola nut is a stimulant in its own right, containing 1.5% - 2% caffeine, plus theobromine, which increases cerebral circulation. Theobromine is the alkaloid compound that can be found in chocolate and is thought to contribute a sense of alertness and well-being. This combination of caffeine and theobromine may be a contributing factor for the mild sense of euphoria that’s often reported after chewing the nuts.

Ps:I was going to post it later but i thinks its better now. The west have now their own "spice" to trade with the east.