In the Inca and pre-Inca era, the coca leaf was considered a magical religious plant, associated with the religious practices of the local population, and offered as an offering in festivals and rituals in mystical contexts. When Pizarro’s team arrived, they did not understand the virtues of the coca leaf, thought it was the work of the devil because it was widely used in religious ceremonies, and prohibited the leaf because they thought it was a pagan practice, not understanding that chewing coca is part of their culture, part of their ancestral customs.
Today’s farmers always carry a bundle of coca leaves with them, which they chew throughout the day, producing a lot of saliva. It is said that this leads to a reduction in hunger, fatigue, stress, and cold. For this reason, in rural areas they have the custom of chewing coca leaves.
In Inca ideology, yesterday as today, reading coca leaves for luck was very common and was associated with rituals and payments to the earth or Pachamama, where farmers’ coca leaves were the spiritual food of the people. Apart from being a medicinal and highly nutritious plant, most importantly it is a medicinal plant, which is very important for treating nervous system diseases. Unfortunately, there are some derivatives and components of the coca leaf that have been used as a base for making drugs. This led the government to attempt to cultivate coca, which caused intense social and cultural conflict.
Currently, you can find coca infusions, candies, flours, and baked goods made from coca that have nothing to do with cocaine and are available in Cusco supermarkets with a guarantee. So when you have a cup of coca tea upon your arrival in Cusco, don’t worry, it’s not a drug, it’s just an infusion that will help you manage the discomfort caused by the altitude.
The coca tea you will try has a distinctive aroma and contains methyl salicylate, which is used as a flavoring agent in the soft drink industry. The filter is made with selected leaves that preserve 100% vegetable properties, contain vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B3, and C, and contains 14 alkaloids that stabilize and balance fatigue and stress. Coca tea has no intoxicating effects, so its daily use is recommended as a therapeutic product that can be taken at any time of the day.
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