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Health Benefits of the
Jamaican Bissy

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Jamaican BissyHealth Benefits of the Jamaican Bissy

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Here in Jamaica, we are blessed to be surrounded by many fruits and herbs, not just for their taste and nutritional value but also for providing treatments and cures for many of our ailments.

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This particular fruit, the Jamaican Bissy, otherwise known as the Kola Nut, is one I am quite familiar with and had as a tea quite often growing up. So let’s talk about the health benefits of Jamaican Bissy Fruit. 

The Jamaican Bissy, also known as the Kola Nut (Cola acuminata), is a seed that holds great significance in Jamaican culture and traditional medicine. It is native to West Africa but also found in some parts of the Caribbean, including here in Jamaica. The Bissy seed has been used for generations in various cultural rituals and remedies. Renowned especially for its anti-poisoning in Jamaica and for its stimulating properties and potential health benefits, the Jamaican Bissy continues to play a prominent role in our island's traditions. 

Though it is edible as is, straight from the pod, we do not typically eat it like that. Instead, we grate the seed, dry it and use it to make tea. While as Jamaicans we, mostly utilise Bizzy for its anti-poisonous properties, it also has many other way.

Jamaican BissyJamaican Bissy in pod

Traditionally Bissy has been used as:

  1. Natural Stimulant: The Jamaican Bissy contains caffeine and other alkaloids, making it a mild stimulant. While in other places the seeds are sometimes chewed, in Jamaica it is used to make a tea. This traditional practice is believed to provide a gentle energy boost and increase alertness.
  2. Digestive Aid: In Jamaica, the Bissy seed is often used as a remedy for digestive issues. It is believed to help alleviate indigestion, bloating, and gas, promoting better digestion.
  3. Hangover Remedy: The Bissy seed is popularly used as a traditional remedy for hangovers. It is believed to help ease headaches, nausea, and fatigue after consuming alcoholic beverages.

Energy and Alertness

The caffeine content in the Bissy seed can provide a natural energy boost, making it potentially useful for combating fatigue and increasing alertness.

Digestive Health

The Bissy seed's traditional use as a digestive aid may be attributed to its reported ability to help alleviate digestive discomfort, though further research is needed to validate these claims.

Jamaican BissyJamaican Bissy

Antioxidant Activity

Some studies suggest that the Kola Nut possesses antioxidant properties, which can help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Preliminary research indicates that certain compounds in the Bissy seed may exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which could have implications for managing inflammatory conditions.

These are just a few of the amazing benefits of the Jamaican Bizzy fruit but don’t just take my word for it. A while back, Wellesley visited Ms. Lawrence and they struck up a conversation about the amazing fruit. They even spoke about many other benefits that I didn’t mention here such as migraine, oral health, and prostate and even said that it was used to make the popular Coca-Cola drink. Ms Lawrence later demonstrated how to make the bizzy tea, before they shared a drink.  I'll share her recipe below.

Jamaican Bissy TeaJamaican Bissy Tea

Jamaican Bissy or Kola Nut Tea

INGREDIENTS

  • 1tbsp to 2tbsp Grated and Dried Bissy
  • Condense Milk
  • Hot water

PROCEDURE

  1. Add your grated and dried bissy to a cup.
  2. Pour hot water into cup, cover and allow to steep.
  3. Strain your tea.
  4. Drink as is or sweeten with condense milk.

Take a look at the video below with Wellesley and Ms. Lawrence, it promises to be an informative and entertaining watch.

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Return to Jamaican Food from Health Benefits of the Jamaican Bissy 
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References & Sources For Health Benefits of the Jamaican Bissy

  1. More Than Just An Herb — Marley Natural. (2016, September 13). Marley Natural. https://www.marleynatural.com/blog/marley-natural-body-care-jamaican-botanicals
  2. Writer, S. (2020, February 8). 7 Health Benefits of Bissy (Kola Nuts) - Jamaicans.com. Jamaicans.com. http://jamaicans.com/7-health-benefits-of-bissy-kola-nuts/

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