Fruit sellers making gold mine from monkey kola

Monkey kola is a fruit that yields profit for sellers and comes with many health benefits, yet many people do not know about it. Daily Trust Saturday spoke to sellers and consumers of this fruit on its economic and health benefits.

Monkey kola, which is commonly found in West Africa, has different species and colours – red, white and yellow. The red and yellow colours are commonly found in Nigeria, but the red is the most popular. The yellow type is common in parts of southern Nigeria.

The red monkey kola tree is mostly found in the wild, where it grows on its own and is found by farmers who go to harvest other crops. The yellow monkey kola tree is, however, planted at home or in gardens. Ironically, like the name implies, the red monkey kola grows on a tree that requires monkey-style climbing to harvest it. 

Speaking with Daily Trust Saturday, some people, who said they were familiar with the fruit, explained that they first learnt about it through an Instagram influencer, popularly known as Jaruma, when she started selling aphrodisiac products online. 

It was learnt that monkey kola is a seasonal fruit that tends to be very profitable for businessmen and women. 

A monkey kola seller in Abuja, Abdurrahman Aliyu, told our reporter that their supplies came largely from Jos, the Plateau State capital. He added that the fruit is seasonal and some people look forward to its season. 

Aliyu said he sold a bunch of red monkey kola between N1,200 and N1,500, adding that he could sell more than seven bunches in a day. He also said he focused on selling the red specie as it is more recognised in many parts of the country, including Abuja.

A fresh food supplier based in Jos, Onalo Adeola, said she had supplied monkey kola to about 10 states across the country. She said, “It is a wild plant; it is not planted. Farmers often stumble on them when they go to harvest other crops. But I cannot say precisely how it grows.” 

She also agreed that it is a profitable business, and its trees grow in Jos and southern Kaduna State.

Onalo further said she bought the fruit in bulks to distribute, adding that a measure of custard bucket costs between N500 and N800, depending on availability. She also said the fruit starts surfacing in April every year.

She further said it could be stored for weeks through refrigeration, but it could shrink and eventually go bad if not properly stored. She said women bought it more because it is used as an aphrodisiac. 

Another supplier, Grace Raphael said, “I buy in large quantities at N8,000 and N12,000 per bag and sell at N600 per kilogram,” adding that she buys for customers based on request. She said most of her customers were women who use it as raw material to make other health products.

According to Grace, majority of those who buy from her are into fertility products. She, however, she said had not received any testimony yet. She also said it could be stored for up to two weeks in a cool environment, apart from a refrigerator.

Daily Trust Saturday learnt that many people consume the fruit because of its health benefits.

Jamila Yakubu Mabe, who is a regular consumer of the fruit, said it was usually given to them as children when they visited the village. She eats it as snack because of its taste, not necessarily for any health benefit.

Bolanile Olatunji also said, “I did not take it for any health benefit, so I did not notice any difference when I tried it.” She, however, added that it may have helped in boosting her energy and curbing her hunger at the time.

Bolanile also said, “Nutritionists have said it improves skin health, but it will be a good challenge to find someone with acne use it for treatment.”

Another consumer of the kola, who simply identified herself as Rukayya said she tried the fruit out of curiosity after seeing it with fruit sellers on the road. She said she liked it, and since it has some health benefits, she would continue to eat it. 

Also, several women who spoke with Daily Trust Saturday concerning the fruit said they used it as an aphrodisiac, adding that their experiments proved that it works.

Research shows that monkey kola is very rich in nutrients, such as iron, zinc and copper, as well as vitamins B and C. It is also rich in calcium, potassium and carotene. However, aside being rich in nutrients, experts also said the kola offered several health benefits. 

A nutritionist and wellness consultant, Natachi Peace, said the red and yellow monkey kola both help to improve skin health and protect the skin from aging, as well as reduce wrinkles. She added that it could be consumed to moderate cholesterol in the body, as well as improve and maintain health.

According to Natachi, monkey kola lowers the risk of heart disease, aids metabolism, helps maintain healthy bones, and is highly recommended for weight control. She also added that although the kola is therapeutic and has a broad range of benefits, it should be consumed in moderation. 

Another nutritionist said it is an antioxidant and allows for bowel movement easily, aids digestion, prevents constipation and boosts the immune system. 

Many of the consumers and sellers told Daily Trust Saturday that considering the health benefits of monkey kola, there’s the need for sensitisation to create proper awareness.