Shantel George: The seed that gave Coca-Cola its name

The seed that gave Coca-Cola its name

The kola nut is the seed of the kola tree, a small evergreen native to the forests of West Africa, where it’s long been integral to the cultural fabric of many communities. So, how did this sacred ingredient end up all around the world? And how did it make its way into the original recipe of a drink that billions of people consume every day? Shantel George explores the bitter history of kola nuts. [Directed by Nikhita Prabhudesai Jeena, Totem Creative, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by André Aires].

The kola nut, once revered in West African ceremonies and packed with twice the caffeine of coffee beans, shaped both local cultures and global commerce. It found its way into everything from enslaved people’s resistance to polar explorers’ survival kits, even powering the original Coca-Cola recipe alongside cocaine. Despite its bitter history tied to trade and exploitation, the kola nut endures as a symbol of resilience and cultural remembrance. Today, it still flavors drinks and rituals from Jamaica to Nigeria.

From Sacred West African Ritual To Global Soft Drink Icon

The kola nut, once revered in West African ceremonies and medicine, played a hidden role in everything from Antarctic survival to the birth of Coca-Cola. Packed with up to twice the caffeine of coffee beans, this bitter seed fueled explorers and was traded across continents, often entangled with histories of slavery. Its journey reflects both cultural endurance and exploitation. Even today, the kola nut remains a symbol of resilience and tradition in communities worldwide.