How to Chew Coca Leaves

A lot of people think that they know how to chew coca leaves, but actually they aren’t doing it properly.  Some people chew them too much.  Or more commonly people don’t leave them in their mouth long enough.  Definitely, don’t try to swallow them.

 

 

Here is a step-by-step guide to chewing coca leaves correctly.

A small handful of coca leaves

 

  1. Buy a bag of coca leaves in a country where it is legal.
  2. Grab a small handful and put them into your mouth.
  3. Chew until they get a bit mushy and then use your tongue to move them to the upper side of your mouth, in between your cheek and your gums.  Keep them there.
  4. Grab another small handful, chew it up, and move it to the same side of your mouth.
  5. Repeat the process until you have fit as many coca leaves as you can in the roof of your mouth (or as many as you feel comfortable with).  You should be able to see a visible ball protruding out of your cheek if you look in the mirror.
  6. Leave the coca leaves there for at least half an hour.  Sometimes I leave them there for hours.  You might not feel anything at first, but you know it is working if your mouth is getting numb.
  7. When you feel that you have had enough spit out the coca leaves and wash your mouth.
  8. Try to brush your teeth afterward.
  9. Enjoy the boost in energy and relief from altitude sickness.

 

Making Coca Tea

 

Some people don’t like chewing the raw leaves.  Either they can’t stand the taste or they find keeping the leaves in the corner of their mouths uncomfortable.  Coca tea is an alternative option.

 

In my experience, the effects of drinking coca tea are so weak that I don’t feel anything at all.  But, some people do experience effects from coca tea and find that it gives them relief from altitude sickness.  Also, Indigenous people in South America have been drinking coca tea for a very long time.

 

  1. Heat water until you see a few bubbles, do not bring to a boil.  Boiling water will destroy some of the alkaloids in the leaves, reducing the effectiveness.
  2. Add about 15 coca leaves per cup.  You can add more or less depending on the desired effect.
  3. Let steep for 3-5 minutes.
  4. You can add a sweetener for taste if you want, some people find the tea to be intolerable without a sweetener.
  5. Drink the tea and enjoy the physiological benefits.

 

Legal Status of Coca Leaves

 

Many countries in the world don’t legally differentiate between coca leaves and cocaine.  So, unless you are from South America, coca leaves are probably illegal in your country.  Coca leaves are legal in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile.  In any case, the legal situation may change over time, wherever you are, check the legality before buying or consuming coca leaves.

 

It is a very bad idea to try to bring coca leaves back to your country.  A surprisingly high amount of tourists try to bring coca leaves back home.  You may read online that you probably won’t get caught, which is true.  But, if you do get caught you may get charged with trafficking cocaine.

 

What is the Difference Between Coca Leaves and Cocaine?

 

Coca leaves come from the coca plant which naturally grows in the Andes in South America.  Indigenous people in South America have been consuming these coca leaves for more than a thousand years through various methods.  Pure cocaine was first synthesized out of coca leaves in 1898, but it was not widely used as a recreational drug until the 1980s.

 

Coca leaves affect the central nervous system differently from cocaine in terms of intensity and duration.  370 grams of coca leaves are required to produce a single gram of cocaine, so naturally, the effects of cocaine are substantially more intense.  Also, the effects of cocaine on the central nervous system are very brief, usually lasting less than an hour.  The effects of coca leaves, on the other hand, can last 12 hours or more.

 

Coca leaves are usually used medicinally or for the purpose of enhancing physical capacity, they are rarely used recreationally.  While cocaine was used medicinally during the early 20th century, nowadays it is mostly only used as a recreational drug.

 

Can Coca Leaves Make you Test Positive for Cocaine?

 

Yes, they can! It has been shown in studies that drug tests can detect coca tea 36 hours after consumption and possibly longer.  Cheaper tests probably won’t detect coca leaf consumption past 72 hours, but more expensive tests could possibly detect coca consumption after much longer periods of time.

 

Benefits of Coca Leaves

 

Coca leaves have numerous benefits.  Here are just some of the potential applications of this leaf.

 

  1. The main benefit from coca leaves is relief from altitude sickness.  They can be chewed preemptively to prevent altitude sickness or after the altitude sickness has already kicked in.
  2. Coca leaves work as a painkiller.  They are excellent for headaches.
  3. Coca leaves are used as a treatment for colds.
  4. According to indigenous tradition, coca leaves work to improve digestion and regular consumption can lengthen your life.
  5. Coca leaves contain a lot of beneficial minerals like calcium and fiber.
  6. Coca leaves give you increased physical energy.  If you are at a work site in Peru or Bolivia look at the laborers.  A lot of them will have a protruding ball in one of their cheeks, this is coca.

 

The Side of Effects of Coca Leaves

 

Since there aren’t a lot of scientific studies done on coca leaves or coca tea we don’t know a lot about the negative side effects are or if there are any negative side effects at all.  My main concern would be dental, I have noticed a lot of heavy coca leaf chewers in Peru and Bolivia have terrible teeth, but this may be simply a result of poor dental hygiene overall.

 

Coca leaves are an effective appetite suppressant, so if you are underweight regular consumption of coca leaves could potentially exacerbate this condition.  Coca is also a central nervous system stimulant so it could potentially exacerbate insomnia, however, altitude sickness also causes insomnia and some people can only sleep at very high elevations after consuming coca tea.

 

Note: WebMD warns against using coca leaves if you have hypertension, a heart condition, or if you are pregnant.

 

Where to Find Coca Leaves

 

Coca leaves are called “hoja de coca” in Spanish.  Simply say “Yo busco por hoja de coca”, which means I am looking for coca leaves.  It is pronounced “Yoh boosco poor oha de coca”.  Just make sure you say it with a Spanish accent 😛

 

In the Andes in Peru and Bolivia coca leaves are very easy to find.  Go to any market or even just walk around the city/town.  Chances are you will find a grandma with a monstrous pile of coca leaves.  She will sell you a huge bag for a few dollars or less.

 

In other South American countries where coca leaves are legal, you might have to go to a tourist market to find them.  In Ecuador, I found coca leaves at the “Mercado Artesenal” in Quito.  In Colombia, I saw coca leaves for sale at the top of Cerro Monserrate in Bogota.  Coca leaves are much more expensive and more difficult to find outside of Peru and Bolivia.

 

Note: I don’t recommend trying to purchase coca leaves in any country where they are illegal.  You may be treated as if you are trying to buy cocaine.

 

Coca Leaves and Culture

 

Coca leaves have been consumed in the Andes by indigenous people for more than a thousand years.  They have been used medicinally, ritualistically, or to improve physical performance at work.

 

In Bolivia, the coca leaf has become a symbol of indigenous independence.  In fact, Evo Morales, the first and only indigenous president in Latin America, originally rose to prominence as a coca leaf farmer and legalization activist.  Foreign influences have been pressuring Bolivia and other South American countries to make coca leaves illegal.  In response to this pressure, Evo Morales famously chewed coca leaves on Bolivian television.

 

Should you consume coca leaves?  That is not a question I can answer.  It depends on your health and whether or not they are legal in your country.  Should they be legal worldwide?  Absolutely yes!

 

Coca leaves have a lot of potential uses which should be studied further.  If they were legalized worldwide coca leaves would probably still be expensive outside of South America since they require a certain climate to grow.  But it possible that coca leaves could grow in other tropical climates at high elevations or even in climate-controlled environments.

 

If you are planning a trip check out my Recommended Products Page.

 

11 COMMENTS

  1. Hi, and thanks, for this very informative resource.

    The world is changing, attitudes are relaxing, and whilst Coca leaf remains scheduled in the US, so brave and progressive people (like us LOL), as determined to raise awareness as well as bring it into the country.

    One in the States, there’s basically no problem sending it to anywhere in the country, as the product has already passed Customs. Just Google for terms like “Coca Tea USA” and you’ll see what I mean…

    • H Mike,

      This is very cool! I hope you are able to continue this project. I think that a coca-based energy drink (like Shaman) would do very well in the United States, if it had good marketing.

  2. Thanks for the info. Just wanted to point out a very minor mistake in your Spanish. The spanish verb buscar (meaning: to look for) does not need a preposition. Here you advise people to say, “Yo busco por hoja de coca” when looking for coca leaves. The preposition “por” here is not necessary and grammatically incorrect. The only exemption would be if you were looking for a person, in which case you would use the personal “a” preposition. For example, busco a mi mamá. The correct translation for, “I am looking for coca leaves” would simply be, “busco hojas de coca” or “Estoy buscando hojas de coca.” I know its minor and people will still understand what you are saying if you use the preposition ‘por’ or ‘de’ with buscar, but I figured I would point it out for spanish learners. ¡Salud!

  3. It is so sad, and unfair that the beautiful, wonderful coca is so demonized, and prohibited. Enough coca could easily be grown to make it available to all, for a reasonable price, just like coffee. This plant could help many people, for different conditions. It is such a shame that the powers that be are so determined to keep regular folks from accessing anything that is actually good.😔

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here