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The kola nut is obtained from several West African trees, such as Cola nitida or Cola vera, and the Abata Cola (Cola acuminata), of the Cacao family (Sterculiaceae). It has a high caffeine content and is chewed in many West African cultures, individually and more often in a group setting. Kola was originally used to make cola soft drinks, though today the flavor of these mass-produced drinks is generally artificial.