Coca tea facts for kids
Coca tea, also called mate de coca, is an herbal tea (infusion) made using the raw or dried leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America. It is made either by submerging the coca leaf or dipping a tea bag in hot water. The tea is most commonly consumed in the Andes mountain range, particularly Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and especially in Peru, where it is consumed all around the country. It is greenish yellow in color and has a mild bitter flavor similar to green tea with a more organic sweetness.
Though also known as mate, mate de coca has very little in common with the yerba mate drink in Southeastern South America.
Contents
Alkaloid content and stimulant properties
The leaves of the coca plant contain alkaloids. The amount of coca alkaloid in the raw leaves is small, however. A cup of coca tea prepared from one gram of coca leaves (the typical contents of a tea bag) contains approximately 4.2 mg of organic coca alkaloid. Owing to the presence of these alkaloids, coca tea is a mild stimulant; its consumption may be compared to consumption of a moderately strong cup of coffee or tea.
Similar to decaffeination in coffee, coca tea can be decocainized. Just as decaffeinated coffee retains a small quantity of caffeine, decocainized coca tea will still contain a small quantity of organic coca alkaloids.
Legal status
Coca tea is legal in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador. Coca tea is illegal in the United States unless it is decocainized.
Medicinal and traditional uses
Many Andean indigenous peoples use the tea for medicinal purposes.
Coca tea is often recommended for travelers in the Andes to prevent altitude sickness. Its actual effectiveness has never been systematically studied.
See also
In Spanish: Mate de coca para niños
