The coca leaf in the Andes is seen as food and medicine. Traditional consumption is divided into two: coca chewing and coca leaf-based interests such as mateo (drinking coca tea or mate de coca), coca offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) or in other job services such as medicinal healing and future readings with the coca leaves.
Approximately nine million people chacchan (chew) 7,300 tons of coca leaf in a year throughout the Andean Regions of South America . The coca leaf destined for traditional consumption covers 97% for coca chewing, 3% of the coca leaves are destined for coca leaf based products such as infusions, powders, capsules, ointments and candies among others.
The traditional consumption of the coca leaf began way before colonial times (XVI century), up to 5,000 years ago. That is why defenders of the coca leaf say it is an important part of traditional heritage and national identity.
sacred coca leaves
Coca Leaves consumption in Peru
Four-fifths of the population consuming coca leaves in Peru are farmers who live in the Peruvian highlands at high altitude levels of approximately 2,300 meters. These people chacchan coca because for them it is like a natural energizer that helps them perform better and longer in their work environment and they also consume it for traditional purposes.
The national monopoly of the coca leaf is governed by the state entity ENACO that buys and sells between 2800 and 3000 tons of coca leaf per year (2004).
coca leaves in Peru
In 2003, the government made a pact with coca growers to determine the area where coca leaf should be cultivated in order to control the exact volume of non-industrial coca leaves per year in Peru . In recent years it has generated a conflict on part from the cocaleros peasants (making strikes, marches and road blockades) and the government officials in the cultivation of the coca leaf that is not determined weather it is for health consumption reasons or to the drug activity.
The people who consume the coca leaf in Peru according to the INEI survey, is equivalent to approximately 4 million people over the age of twelve residing in the urban and rural areas of the national territory.
After a weak you feel the real power of the leaf, IT IS NOT! unhealthy buth healty…
when i had the thee, mate de coca,… i did’nt feel the urge to drink beer !
Now i drink beer to much ! And i do not drink coffee !
Mate de coca is not cocaine !!! Buth still it has givin a bad name, probebly by multinationals.
IT’s JUST THEE !!
Cocaine, i can buy everywhere ! In Belgium.. if i wanted..
SO…. i have been waiting for my thee for several years..
and now i have a computer, email and so on.. maybe for my 2020.. I can live healthy again without cafeïne….
Yooo thanks from Belgica !
I just bought the starter pack, am wondering if anyone uses for fibromyalgia pain, fatigue, inflammation joint pain. If know anyone who has had a great response or even a modest change for better. Thank you God bless
Did your plants live?
It is a shame that even chewing coca leaves will cause a positive test for cocaine on an employee urine test. I think it’s good for people.
We feel the same way..it is very unfair to test positive for consuming a herbal tea or for chewing natural leaves that help your body.
Hello, I do have a product question. I have made several purchases and j plan to do much more business with you well into the future. I want to purchase either a few coca seeds seedlings or small plants. Is there any possible way that you could get me information on where I may make a small purchase of any of type of coca seeds seedlings or plants, or if you could sell them to me them ,either through placing an order if leaves and just adding them in with the package of leaves or separately. I would appreciate any help you can give me with making a small purchase of even a few seeds. Please get back to me if or if not you can either sell them to me or know of someone who can .
Thank you
Jeff C.
Yes, please send $25 U.S per live plant and $2.00 U.S per 3 seeds