Where To Buy Coca Tea ##HOT##
The coca is a sacred food for the indigenous peoples of the Andean region of South America. Its scientific name is erythroxylum coca and it has been cultivated for thousands of years in Bolivia and Peru.
where to buy coca tea
In these countries, the coca leaf is consumed in the form of tea (mate de coca) or infusion; It is also often chewed raw, and is generally marketed as a powder, to further enjoy its benefits.
Its stimulating effect is similar to that of coffee and although it is a natural stimulant, the infusion of coca leaf is not an exciting one. Therefore, it can be taken at any time of the day without the risk of nervousness or insomnia.
When most people hear the words Coca Leaf, they think of the negative side of the leaf. However, in Peru, the coca leaf is sold openly in markets, supermarkets, and on the street. Even for many centuries, the coca leaf has been helping the highlanders of Peru cope with the altitude. Local people use these sheets to help them get to work and get through the day. They usually roll it into a ball and put it in their mouth most of the day. Coca tea has been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Therefore, together with the Machu Travel Peru team we have prepared an article about this product. We invite you to abandon all the prejudices you have about this wonderful plant. Since in Peru, the Coca leaf carries a much deeper meaning and is rooted in its great culture.
Coca leaf is a plant native to the Andean region in South America. It has great nutritional potential and a great variety of compounds with different pharmacological effects. Among them, the controversial cocaine. Despite being related to this drug, the consumption of the coca leaf in its natural state has no health consequences. Keep in mind that the plant has to go through a synthesizing process. In addition to the fact that more than 125 kilos of coca leaves are needed to only produce one kilo of the narcotic. Among the best-known facts about Peru, you will find how the coca leaf is a clear representation of our Andean traditions.
The coca leaf was used by the indigenous peoples of America for thousands of years. Even these leaves were sacred to the Incas and have been used medicinally ever since. Today it forms a vital part of the Peruvian national identity, becoming part of the cultural heritage. Usually marketed freely in supermarkets, open-air markets, and in the streets of Cusco. It is known for helping both tourists and locals cope with the symptoms of altitude sickness. It is true that the coca leaf is the main and basic ingredient in cocaine. But the leaves in their pure form are in no way addictive or harmful to health. Unless you were consuming them by the ton. A good analogy is that Coca leaves are to cocaine what Poppies are to heroin.
In Inca times, the coca leaves were sacred and believed to have many healing powers. The Incas used the Coca leaf for headaches, sore throats, and stomach problems. Today its qualities and health benefits continue to be used. And while you enjoy tourism in Peru, you will be able to see how the locals make use of this plant in open spaces. As you walk the streets of Cusco, you will often see locals chewing on the leaves. Many of them even drink tea for breakfast as a way to start the day.
Coca leaf tea is best used for the treatment of altitude sickness. Something that many of the visitors to Cusco tend to experience. The properties of the Coca leaf are considered a miracle medicine. They are very effective in treating the symptoms of altitude sickness. Remember that the main ingredient of the coca leaf is the active compound known as cocaine. But the leaves themselves are not addictive and will not have negative consequences on you. You can drink up to three or four cups of coca leaf tea a day without any problem. Even most hotels in Cusco provide tea free of charge to help you acclimatize.
One of the first things she will want to buy upon arrival in the Peruvian Andes is the coca leaf. Since the consumption of this can make the common symptoms of altitude sickness disappear. If you are in the city of Cusco, one of the best places to get it is the San Pedro Market. Once you are inside, you will not be able to avoid noticing that most of the stalls sell coca leaves. Any salesperson will be able to guide you a bit and tell you where to get it. Most vendors usually offer them in bags of different sizes. And the price usually depends on the size of the bag, although they do not exceed 3 soles each.
In the same way, the markets are not the only place where you will find the Coca leaf. In the surroundings of the most important tourist sites in Cusco, you can also find it. Any stall or street vendor can offer you this wonderful plant.
You may wonder why to visit the city of Cusco if there are so many problems with the altitude. The reason is that the city and the surrounding valleys were home to the powerful Inca Empire. This mythical city was once the heart and capital of the wonderful Inca Empire. So in the city, you will find a wonderful history to know and places of great importance. Cusco is full of wonderful temples and squares. The mark that the Incas left on the city can still be seen today and makes the city a must-see. Its wonderful architecture borders between the old and the contemporary. Each building in its historic center is a journey back in time where you can appreciate what it once was.
In general, the Coca leaf can be consumed in the form of tea and by chewing its leaves. These are the two most traditional ways to consume this ancient medicine. Although there are also an infinite variety of products made from the coca leaf. An example of this you will find candies, coca leaf powder, coca leaf flour, and much more.
Chewing coca is a ritualistic and medicinal social habit and practice. The practice is usually more common in South American countries such as Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile. As well as in some indigenous reservations in Ecuador and Colombia. It is chewed to reduce fatigue, hunger, and indigestion. It is even chewed to lessen the effects of altitude sickness due to lack of oxygen at high altitudes.
Now, if the experience of chewing coca is not to your liking, you can choose to prepare a tea. In the Andean regions of Peru, the coca infusion is called Mate de Coca. And its preparation is quite simple and similar to any other infusion. To do this, you must bring the water to a boil. Then put some coca leaves and then cook for about five minutes. After this, the infusion is strained and it can be served with sugar or honey. Mate de Coca is usually one of the first things that tourists are offered when they arrive in Cusco. Its use is ideal to avoid the different symptoms of altitude sickness. Avoiding altitude sickness is one of the best ways to appreciate the great biodiversity in Peru.
In conclusion, the coca leaf is one of the most traditional ways to prevent altitude sickness. It is not only an important part of the Andean culture in Peru but also an ancient medicine with great benefits. We hope together with Machu Travel Peru to have made you aware of the important use of the coca leaf. For us, this sheet has little to do with drugs. For us, this plant represents an important part of our cultural heritage. And therefore, being able to taste a Mate de Coca is an introduction to the adventure that is Peru. If you want to know more about our tours throughout the country, we recommend you consult with our team. They will be happy to help you organize the trip of your dreams!
Peru has so much to offer, it can be hard to know where to start. With many years of experience in the tourism sector, Machu Travel Peru is happy to help with anything regarding your trip to Machu Picchu and any tours around it. Make your Machu Picchu experience an unforgettable one!
Many myths surround coca. Every day press accounts around the world use the word coca in their headlines, when in fact they refer to cocaine. TNI's Drugs and Democracy Team exposes the myths and reality surrounding the coca leaf.
The traditional method of chewing coca leaf, called acullico, consists of keeping a saliva-soaked ball of coca leaves in the mouth together with an alkaline substance that assists in extracting cocaine from the leaves.
When chewed, coca acts as a mild stimulant and suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue. It helps overcome altitude sickness. Coca chewing and drinking of coca tea is carried out daily by millions of people in the Andes without problems, and is considered sacred within indigenous cultures. Coca tea is widely used, even outside the Andean Amazon region. Coca has an established use spread among all social classes, in two Northern provinces of Argentina. There is an increasing use of coca flour as a food supplement.Because of its stimulant effect coca leaf was originally used in the soft drink Coca Cola. In 1903 it was removed and a decocainized coca extract is one of the flavouring ingredients.
2. What is its relationship to cocaine?While the coca leaf in its natural form is a harmless and mild stimulant comparable to coffee, there is no doubt that cocaine can be extracted from the coca leaf. Without coca there would be no cocaine. The 'ready extractability' of cocaine from coca leaves is currently the major argument to justify the current illegal status of the leaf in the 1961 Single Convention. The cocaine alkaloid content in coca leaf ranges between 0,5 and 1,0 percent.
Cocaine, was isolated about 1860 and was synthesized to be used in manufacturing popular patent medicines, beverages and "tonics" until the early years of the 20th century. Concern about cocaine use began in many countries in the 1910s and 1920s, centred on dependence on the drug and subsequent "moral ruin", particularly among the young. Laws restricting the availability of cocaine saw a drop in consumption in most of the countries surveyed from the 1920s until the 1960s. 041b061a72