18 Facts About Coca

Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America.

Coca is traditionally cultivated in the lower altitudes of the eastern slopes of the Andes, or the highlands depending on the species grown.

Coca production begins in the valleys and upper jungle regions of the Andean region, where the countries of Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are host to more than 98 percent of the global land area planted with coca.

In 2014, Coca plantations were discovered in Mexico, and in 2020 in Honduras, which could have major implications for the illegal cultivation of the plant.

Coca was first introduced to Europe in the 16th century, but did not become popular until the mid-19th century, with the publication of an influential paper by Dr Paolo Mantegazza praising its stimulating effects on cognition.

Related searches

Coca was used in Inca feasts and religious rituals, among many other things.

Coca was vital to the Inca civilization and its culture.

Coca was used in divination as ritual priests would burn a mixture of coca and llama fat and predict the future based on the appearance of the flame.

Coca has been a vital part of the religious cosmology of the Andean peoples of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and northwest Argentina from the pre-Inca period through to the present.

Coca leaves are often read in a form of divination analogous to reading tea leaves in other cultures.

Coca leaf is sold packaged into teabags in most grocery stores in the region, and establishments that cater to tourists generally feature coca tea.

Coca is used industrially in the cosmetics and food industries.

Coca tea is produced industrially from coca leaves in South America by a number of companies, including Enaco S A, a government enterprise in Peru.

Coca leaves are found in a brand of herbal liqueur called "Agwa de Bolivia", and a natural flavouring ingredient in Red Bull Cola, that was launched in March 2008.

Coca Colla is an energy drink which is produced in Bolivia with the use of coca extract as its base.

Coca has been reintroduced to the United States as a flavoring agent in the herbal liqueur Agwa de Bolivia.

Coca leaf is considered a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard.

Coca leaf is a controlled narcotic drug in India by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 which is the principal legislation governing the subject.