The Coca Leaf, South America’s Natural Energizer and Misunderstood Plant

The coca leaf is a sacred plant of the Amazonian Andes. This shrub is native to countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and is also found in northern Argentina and Chile. Since ancient times, it has been used by Indigenous peoples for more than 5,000 years. In this article, we offer an overview of the use of this leaf across South America.

From Bolivia to Colombia, the coca leaf is part of the cultural heritage

During the Inca Empire, the coca leaf was present in all religious and cultural ceremonies. Its high value even allowed it to be used as a form of currency. The plant was called Mamainala, a Quechua word meaning “sacred leaf.” In many Indigenous communities across South America, it is considered a sacred plant, and because of its importance, it is offered in rituals to Pachamama (Mother Earth) or during festivities.

The coca leaf is consumed mostly by men. It is legal in Andean countries because it is an ancestral plant and a source of income, but it is restricted in non-Andean countries.

The Bolivian people are the ones who use this product the most, throughout the entire country. The coca shrub is grown on the La Paz altiplano, at elevations over 3,000 meters above sea level. In Bolivia, coca is recognized as part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Colombia is the world’s largest producer of coca leaf, but it is cultivated and used in the southwestern part of the country. The Indigenous peoples of Santa Marta (Arhuacos, Koguis, Wiwas) and the Nasa and Misak communities from Cauca practice “mambeo,” chewing activated coca powder ritually for spiritual and health. Unlike other countries, Colombia consumes coca flour mixed with limestone ash, “mambe”, while in other countries the leaf is used directly, mixed with baking soda.

Use and properties

Many people use the coca leaf several times a day. It is part of their basic food basket, just like flour, corn, eggs, or sugar.

Although consumers of coca leaf still prefer the traditional leaf, new ways of consuming it are being developed today, such as candies, flours, teas, and beauty cosmetics.

Rich in medicinal properties, vitamins, and minerals, the coca leaf is used by thousands of people to treat altitude sickness and digestive disorders. It is also a mild stimulant that helps combat hunger, thirst, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, and fatigue. It is important to note that it is not only used medicinally, but also plays a key role in many important Indigenous rituals.

“The coca leaf is very good for work that requires physical effort; it gives you a lot of energy. And although I don’t use it every day, more sporadically, I understand and respect its importance,” says Fabian, a 37-year-old Argentine.

Although many people believe the idea is to chew it, this is not exactly the case. The practice consists of selecting five to eight leaves, rolling them together, placing them in the back of the mouth, either on the right or left side, and allowing them to slowly release their properties. This process is known as “acullicado.” Many people speed up the process with baking soda, which comes in hundreds of flavors. Today, studies are being conducted to confirm its potential effects against diabetes, osteoporosis, and arthritis.

Narciso, a 64-year-old Bolivian, says: “I’ve chewed coca since I was a child. It’s part of my daily life — after eating, before, during, and after work. … It’s part of who I am.”

The leaf can be harvested up to four times a year. After harvesting, it must be sun-dried, after which it is ready for sale. It is packed in large plastic bags to keep the product clean and dry.

Don’t confuse coca and cocaine

Although many people associate the drug cocaine with the coca leaf, the plant itself is not a drug. The leaf indeed contains a substance called cocaine (just as coffee contains caffeine, or yerba mate contains mateine), but it is important to emphasize that to create the drug, the coca leaf must be isolated and subjected to extensive processes involving a wide variety of chemicals and alterations that transform it into the illegal white powder known as cocaine.

Studies have shown that for the coca leaf to produce the same hallucinogenic effect as cocaine, a person would need to consume 1,000 cups of coca leaf tea in a row — an impossible feat.

“I don’t agree with the excessive use of the coca leaf, because it distorts its natural meaning, giving rise to crime, drug trafficking, and exploitation,” says Jilka, a 48-year-old Bolivian.