Bitter kola is produced and made available in two major forms namely: fresh nut and dried nut. Bitter kola is dried mainly to reduce its natural moisture content and maintain its true colour. There are three major methods to dry bitter kola: sun drying, natural air drying, and mechanical drying.

Nigerian bitter kola is considered the best globally due to its richness in active compounds, strong bitter taste, and organic nature.

To ensure high-quality, bitter kola nuts are cleaned to ensure they do not contain external materials such as stones and sand that can contaminate the nuts. Lastly, nuts must be completely free from fungi, which can easily destroy the nut.