Interesting Kola nuts

My hairdresser gave me 4 Kola Nuts lately.  Being unable to find anything particular about them from a taste point of view, I googled the term, and I found the following definition in Wikipedia:  Quite interesting

Kola Nut (Cola) is a genus of trees native to the tropical rain forest of Africa. It is related to the South American cocoa. It is an evergreen tree, growing up to 20 m tall (about 60 feet), with glossy ovoid leaves up to 30 cm long and star shaped fruit.

Uses

Cola acuminata

The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine. It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a group setting. It is often used ceremonially, presented to tribal chiefs or presented to guests. It is preferred among African Muslims, who are forbidden to drink alcohol. Chewing kola nut can ease hunger pangs. Frequent chewing of the kola nut can also lead to stained teeth. Among the urban youth of West Africa, kola nut is becoming less popular.

Kola nuts are often used to treat whooping cough and asthma. The caffeine present acts as a bronchodilator, expanding the bronchial air passages.

Kola nuts are perhaps best known to Western culture as a flavouring ingredient and the source of caffeine in cola and other similarly flavoured beverages. The "Cola" in Coca Cola itself references the use of the Kola nut.

Pharmacological effects

Kola nuts are used mainly for their stimulant qualities. They were once commonly used in soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, but have now been replaced with artificial ingredients. They have effects similar to other xanthine-containing plant products such as chocolate, tea, coffee, guarana and yerba mate. They have stimulant effects on the central nervous system and heart. Animal experiments indicate that kola nuts have analeptic and lipolytic (fat-burning) properties, and stimulate the secretion of gastric juices. Human studies show kola nuts have positive chronotropic and weak diuretic effects. In humans it enhances alertness and physical energy, elevates mood, increases tactile sensitivity and suppresses the appetite. Autonomic changes include increased body temperature, increased blood pressure and increased respiratory rate. Effects may last up to 6 hours after ingestion.In medicine the refined extract is used as a cardiac and central-nervous-system stimulant

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