coca leaf
High-altitude chew
Coca leaf is the leaf of the coca plant, native to South America.
Indigenous peoples have chewed the leaves or brewed them as tea for centuries to combat fatigue and altitude sickness.
The leaves contain cocaine alkaloids in low concentrations—far less potent than processed cocaine.
Coca tea is legal and commonplace in Peru and Bolivia: We drank coca leaf tea to help with the altitude.
- stimulantAlertness-boosting drug
- chewingCrushing food orally
- campesinoSpanish-speaking rural farmer
- AndesSouth American western range
- teaSteeped leaf beverage
alkaloid · drug policy · drug war · analgesic · Quechua · ritual · shrub · mastication · lime powder · chewing gum · mountain sickness · indigenous knowledge · sacred plant · native species · cultivation · traditional medicine · extraction · international treaties
- Latin AmericaArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Cuba
- leavesleaves, pine needle, frond, fronds, palm frond
- PeruPeru, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Cuzco, soles
- Andean cuisinequinoa, potatoes, pisco, guinea pig, camote
- BoliviaLa Paz, Altiplano, Santa Cruz, Lake Titicaca, Simon Bolivar
- ethnobotanyayahuasca, peyote, cannabis, hemp, betel
coca leafcontrolled substance
Legally regulated intoxicant or medication
coca leafcaffeine pills
Concentrated stimulant capsules
amphetamine · methamphetamine · energy drinks · Adderall · coffee