Coca Tea: Be Cool Man, It’s Not Cocaine

The thought of being able to drink coca tea, the tea made from the same plant as cocaine, at any cafe, corner store or restaurant peaks my druggy interest. And it sounds like it’ll be a good fucking adventure.

But what is coca tea? Does it have similar effects to cocaine?  Or other medicinal benefits? Will I fail a drug test if I drink it on vacation? Can I bring it back home? All of these questions raced through my mind as I was planning a trip to Peru and Colombia, and now, I have some answers for you.

What is Coca Tea?

Coca Tea, known locally as Mate de Coca, is made from steeping the raw or dried leaves of the coca plant in hot water. The drink can be found at restaurants, cafes, hotel lobbies, street carts, and grocery stores in South American countries, primarily Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. It is a greenish/yellow color and is mildly bitter, kind of like a green tea, but with a little more of a plant taste.

Traditionally, and how you will usually find it being served, is with the full leaves loosely in hot water (no bags, no ground leaves in a diffuser, just leaves in hot water). The top of the water is a layer of green leaves, and when it if fully steeped, you can either remove the leaves or try to drink through them.

Fun Fact: the most common way for indigenous people to consume coca leaves is by chewing on them as opposed to brewing them. Munch on it with a lime to activate more of the psychoactive compounds!

Is it like Cocaine?

It’s not quite like cocaine, but it ain’t nothing.

Coca leaves have alkaloids, naturally occurring psychoactive chemicals that do give the body and mind a little boost when added to hot water, but it’s nothing like cocaine. A typical cup of coca tea has about 4mg of organic coca alkaloid, while one line of cocaine could have 20-30mg.

When drinking coca tea or chewing on the leaves, it takes anywhere from 2-12 hours to absorb the alkaloids, while it takes less than 20 minutes to fully absorb when sniffed. And only 59-90% of the alkaloids are absorbed when drinking or chewing coca tea, compared to 100% with cocaine.

So, the point is, cocaine and coca tea have very different effects due to the amount of psychoactive chemicals found in each and the different absorption rate.

Fun Fact: To make cocaine, in the most simplified way, the plant alkaloids are extracted from the leaves, made into a paste, then into a powder with the help of some hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate.

When I was traveling around Colombia and Peru, I constantly had a water bottle with some coca leaves chilling in there. I started my morning with a few cups of coca tea, grabbed some from a local shop or restaurant in the afternoon, sipped on a cup before I went to bed, and chewed on some leaves throughout the day. I felt pretty damn good the whole time.

With the slower and lower absorption rate compared to cocaine, the constant consumption of the tea gave me a consistent, heightened energy level. Not a big high and a harsh come down. It wasn’t like cocaine, but it was something, and I liked it.

Are there medicinal benefits?

Coca tea isn’t regularly consumed solely for the boost in energy. There’s coffee for that too. It’s remained so popular in these cultures because it has many other benefits.

Personally, I found it helped with jet lag, altitude sickness and energy. I was the only one who didn’t nod off during bus or train rides and I was the lucky one who didn’t experience any unpleasant stomach issues. For me, it was the best all-around medicine.

It’s also no coincidence that coca leaves are consumed in areas of high elevation, primarily situated in the Andes Mountains. Coca leaves are considered to be the best natural antidote to the symptoms of altitude sickness, which can include fatigue, headache, loss of appetite and swelling of the hands and feet.

Historically, coca leaves were used as a pain reliever for broken bones, during child birth and operations before modern medicine was around. It’s a great medicine that can help not only a traveler, but everyday people.

Will I fail a drug test?

You may, but don’t fret.

The alkaloids from the coca tea stay in your system and can test above the typical 150 nanogram per millimeter cutoff for up to 48 hours after consumption. So even though by drinking the tea or chewing on some leaves, you are consuming a much smaller dose when compared to snorting cocaine, your body is still absorbing it. But not for long.

So be smart, time it out. If you have an impending drug test the day you get back, then hold off on your lest few days. But don’t worry too much if you dabble on a long journey.

Drug Test info: http://www.newperuvian.com/drinking-coca-tea-drug-test-results/

Can I bring it Back Home?

In countries outside of South America, the coca plant is treated the same way as cocaine – illegal.

This means it is illegal to bring any form of thee cocoa plant back home. There are plenty of stories from travelers who have been caught with coca tea bags in their suitcase and had it confiscated when they land. I also know that people (cough cough, me)who  have successfully brought coca tea back with them. Your call. Be smart and sneaky.

So, Should I Do It?

The answer for me was a hell yes.

It’s harmless and it makes you feel good. I saw only benefits and advocate for the use of natural herbal medicine whenever I can over pharmaceuticals.

I’d much rather chew on some leaves or sip a tea instead of taking Acetazolamide for altitude sickness.

Anything that aids digestion and helps calm the stomach in a place full of new food is always welcome. And the minimal jetlag and boost in energy were the cherries on top.

Of course, if you have a drug test or have some other reason why you’d rather not partake, who am I to say that’s the wrong decision. To each their own.

Sip on!

I hope this provided some useful information about coca tea. Now when you’re traveling through South America and see some loose leaves under a Mate de Coca sign, you’ll know what it is and what to expect. Sip on!