The coca leaf was an important part of Inca culture; however, not all inhabitants were allowed to consume it. Its use was reserved for the Inca royalty, who also controlled its production and consumption.
This plant is sold in the city of Cusco and other cities in the region. It can be found as plain coca leaves, or in infusions, extracts, candies, chocolates, and even alcoholic beverages.
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Its scientific name is Erythroxylum coca. It is a medium-sized shrub that usually grows in climates and altitudes ranging from 800 to 2,500 meters above sea level.
It also requires special care and attention, since it can produce up to four harvests per year, which amounts to as much as 1,200 kilograms per hectare, and the average lifespan of the shrub is estimated to be 60 years.
Its area of origin is located in the eastern Andes of Peru and Bolivia, although it can also be found in Colombia, Brazil, and Ecuador.
It naturally contains the following alkaloids:
In addition to containing all the alkaloids mentioned above, it also has vitamins B1, B2, C, iron, calcium, and protein.
Its consumption by farmers has been a custom dating back to Inca times and can still be seen today. It was used by the amautas, or Inca wise men, to try to predict the future by reading the leaves in search of signs or omens of what was about to happen.
During Inca times, tribute was paid to Mother Earth, or Pachamama, at the beginning of the rainy season through a ritual known as “payment to the earth.” This ritual consisted of digging a hole in the ground and placing various products and offerings inside it, including coca leaves, to ensure a good harvest and a good year.
In the Andean world, there was a social gathering known as “hallpay,” in which community members gathered around a table full of coca leaves. The purpose of this gathering was to consecrate the union between man and the spiritual beings of the Andes, in addition to strengthening identity, customs, and social bonds.
Another common custom was exchanging coca leaves for other products such as meat, potatoes, broad beans, and vegetables; in other words, coca leaves also played an important role in the Inca economy.
The Incas had a mail system throughout their territory, and those in charge of carrying messages were known as “chaskis.” They were young men with athletic builds who traveled the empire on foot. This group made greater use of the plant, since its consumption allowed them to carry out their work and travel long distances with less fatigue.
In Inca times it was consumed for various benefits, and today it continues to be an essential part of Peru, being used to relieve altitude sickness, known as soroche. Although there is no scientific evidence confirming this solution, it was an ancestral Inca remedy that is still used today by many travelers, and it can be chewed or drunk as a tea (coca tea).
In different parts of the Cusco region, it is still chewed in its natural form by farmers, helping them maintain their energy and endure their working hours under difficult conditions.
It can also be found in spiritual ceremonies. Well-known Andean shamans and healers use it to make offerings to the earth and to ask for protection, fertility, and abundance. It is also present in Cusco’s most important festival, Inti Raymi.
It contains various properties with pharmacological effects, acting as a mild stimulant to combat ailments such as pain, thirst, hunger, and altitude sickness.
This plant is native to the Amazonian Andes, where it is used in infusions and has religious importance, since it has been used in ceremonies and rituals since Inca times.
They used it in religious rituals and as an offering to the gods because it was considered sacred.
The coca leaf has many benefits, as it contains a wide variety of vitamins as well as alkaloids, each with different properties. However, one of its main qualities is that it gives the consumer energy, making them capable of carrying out activities without feeling tired.
It produces an increase in energy, helping the body adapt to altitude. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this solution, making this remedy an ancient tradition.
Preparing coca tea is simple: you just place about 6 to 7 leaves in a cup of boiling water and let it steep. We recommend drinking it while it is still hot so that the effect is stronger.
Its main uses were in religious ceremonies and for predicting the future. It was also part of the Inca economy, since it was used as barter to exchange products with other peoples.
Although it is a plant whose main growth is found in Peru, it can also be found in countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia.
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