The kola nut has long been known as a source of caffeine stimulation. It is native to the West African coast, very near the equator. Cultivation centers include Sierra Leone/Liberia, Nigeria/Cameroon, and Gabon. It has been domesticated in West Africa, and it has likely been cultivated in the forests of Sierra Leone since the fourteenth century.

The tree is constituent of the lowland forest, requiring a hot, humid climate and capable of withstanding 3 months of dry season. Kola may be cultivated even in drier areas wherever ground water is available. The kola plant belongs to the cacao family.