For centuries, the indigenous people of the Andes of South America consumed coca, the leaves of a bush that contain vitamins and alkaloids, including cocaine alkaloids. This plant was considered sacred by the Indians. In our time Bolivia ranks third in the world (after Colombia and Peru) in the production of coca leaf, or coca leaf. Cultivation and sale coca leaves accounts for 2% of Bolivia's GDP. Profession cocaleros- traditional for Bolivian peasants and serves as the only source of income and way of subsistence for many.
This plant is an integral part of the national culture of the indigenous population - the descendants of the ancient Incas. Long before cocaine was extracted from coca leaves, the plant was used to suppress hunger and thirst, improve digestion and improve physical endurance. For people living in high mountain areas, the best way Chewing coca leaves was considered acclimatization to rarefied air. It had nothing to do with drugs and was not addictive. Coca leaves are to cocaine what grapes are to wine.
Coca plantations occupy about 30,000 hectares. Almost every farmer grows coca bushes, both for personal consumption and for sale. Peasants who work on cocaine plantations are called cocaleros. A family collects an average of 25 kg of raw leaf per day, and after drying, its weight decreases by 3-4 times. 1000 kg of fresh leaf yields only 10 kg of coca paste.
At the same time, the Bolivian government strongly supports cocaleros: the authorities are seeking to remove coca from the list of plants prohibited for cultivation by the UN. President Evo Morales, the first indigenous Aymara in history, publicly chews coca leaves and denies any connection between the farmers who grow them and drug traffickers.
Evo Morales states: “It is not clear why the production of coca leaf for the needs of the Coca-Cola company is considered legal, but the production of the same leaf in medical purposes is considered illegal and must be destroyed. There are serious scientific studies proving the benefits of coca for the human body. In the end, it is not the Bolivians who are to blame for the existence of a mega-market for drug consumption in the United States, and it was not the Bolivians who invented the technology to turn the leaves of this plant into a powerful drug.”
However, it is no secret that Bolivian peasants sell raw materials to those who make cocaine from coca leaves. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and for many residents there is no alternative options earnings. The main consumer of the drug produced from coca leaves, the United States, has been fighting for decades to eradicate coca harvesting in the Andes. According to scientific research, 90% of banknotes circulating in the United States contain traces of cocaine. According to scientists, cocaine ends up on paper money during drug transactions.
The coca bush is an interesting oval plant with small flowers that are located on short woody stems in small groups. The corolla of the flower includes five graceful white or yellow petals. In addition, there are heart-shaped anthers, and the gynoecium consists of three small subleaves. The heterostyly flowers turn into bright red berries when ripe. The alternate short-petioled leaves are quite thin, they are always bare and have a solid edge.
Fresh leaf shoots should be collected for medicinal use. of this shrub. If the leaves break easily when bent, it means they are ripe. As a rule, the first bountiful harvest falls in the month of March. The second harvest can be expected in early July, and the final third harvest at the end of October. The collected plant castings must be spread out in a thin layer on a rough woolen cloth and thoroughly dried in the open sun. Then it is advisable to store them in a dark place, protected from moisture.
This evergreen shrub grows up to five meters. The fruit of the coca bush is an ordinary oval drupe. The length of the one-seeded fruit does not exceed 2 cm. Tropical America is considered to be the birthplace of the plant. Today it is widely cultivated in India, Africa, America and Java.
Useful properties of coca bush
The main active ingredients of the coca bush are considered to be cocaine alkaloids. They are contained in fresh leaves in an amount of approximately 0.2%. Other alkaloids are methylecgoine cinnamate, truxilline, benzylecgoine, tropacocaine, ecgoine, hydroxytropacocaine, dihydrocuscohygrine, hygrine and cuscohygrine. It should be noted that some non-psychoactive alkaloids are still used as the main additive to the famous Coca-Cola drink. In addition to alkaloids, the plant is very rich in all kinds of microelements and vitamins.
It has been proven that when chewed for a long time, an ordinary leaf of the coca bush perfectly quenches thirst, suppresses hunger, and relieves fatigue, since it is a natural stimulant. When applied topically, preparations based on this shrub paralyze the endings of the nerves, which causes a significant dulling of the senses of touch and pain. It perfectly stimulates the central nervous system when absorbed into the blood.
The cocaine bush is capable of causing a state of euphoria due to its unique properties suppressing sensitivity to any unpleasant sensations. It should be mentioned that with sufficiently long-term use, addiction can occur, which quickly develops into cocaine addiction.
Use of coca bush
For the use of coca bush, the main value is the effect of local anesthesia. Plant molecules easily interact with important neurons of the main peripheral nervous system, due to which the neurons are excited and numbness occurs in a certain part of the body. However, cocaine affects the central nervous system somewhat differently. It was this plant that became the first local anesthetic, which made it possible to take a huge step in modern surgery.
Today, various derivatives of medicines from the coca bush are often used. But during facial operations, it is cocaine that is used, since it perfectly constricts blood vessels. Thanks to this, bleeding is significantly reduced and pain is reduced. Other synthetic anesthetics have absolutely nothing to do with cocaine alkaloids. In traditional medicinal use, the main properties are the stimulant qualities of coca bush-containing products.
Such drugs are designed to reduce hunger and thirst, as well as relieve fatigue. The use of leaves is effective in the fight against severe headaches, phobia of heights, migraines and apathy. Concentrated drinks made from fresh coca leaves help fight side effects asthma, malaria, and respiratory diseases. To prevent serious digestive problems, it is recommended to regularly take remedies from the leaves of the wonderful coca bush.
This plant will help improve overall health, and it also promotes longevity. In the form of painkillers, cocaine is prescribed not only to relieve headaches, but is also effective in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. During various surgical interventions or during childbirth, cocaine alkaloids constrict blood vessels. It has been proven that the plant has excellent antihemorrhagic properties that stabilize blood flow and stop bleeding in a minimum amount of time.
Previously, coca bush seeds were used to quickly stop nosebleeds.
The miraculous cocaineized extract of the plant's leaves is used to prepare the famous soft drink Coca-Cola in the USA. Cocaine in in this case used to enhance flavor and as an excellent tonic. Moreover, the leaves of the bush are often included in many tonic and energy drinks. In addition, the leaves of the plant are used in the production of elixirs, alcohol, as well as creams and soaps for gentle care for sensitive skin.
To prepare a tincture from the coca bush, you will need 10 grams of leaves and bush per 100 ml of 70% alcohol. The product must be infused for at least 30 days, after which it is recommended to carefully strain it. The tincture can be taken diluted with water, 1-5 ml. It is indicated for pain relief and persistent vomiting. To obtain an extract from the plant, fresh leaves should be infused in 96% alcohol for approximately 20 days. The proportion of raw materials and alcohol is taken at a ratio of 1:1. After infusion, the extract is filtered and taken in no more than 2 ml diluted with a small amount of water.
Growing coca bush
For planting in the soil, only fresh coca bush seeds should be taken. When dried out and stored for a long time, the seeds lose their viability. Vermiculite is considered the best substrate today. This ideal sprouting agent is the main factor for the rapid emergence of sprouts. Seeds are planted to a depth of no more than three cm. The presented plant does not like high humidity. When transplanting sprouts root system must be preserved together with a lump of earth.
If all conditions are met, the first sprouts of the coca bush can appear in about three weeks. After the very sprouts of the bush appear, it is necessary to place a special fluorescent device above them, since the plant requires a lot of light to rapid growth. Additional light sources never hurt. When vermiculite dries completely, watering the seeds is very important. Humidity and drainage should be good. High humidity can cause dangerous fungus to appear.
For additional fertilizer coca bush, you can use special organic mixtures. To water the plant, experts advise choosing melted or rainwater. The cocaine bush is very resistant to various mites and insects, but it is afraid of such malicious pests as mealyworms. It should be noted that old leaves on mature specimens should be regularly removed. Growth can be negatively affected by sudden changes in temperature or air humidity, intensive watering or drought.
Young coca bush is extremely sensitive, so it is not recommended to touch it often. When regenerating in its second year, don't be afraid if the plant begins to shed its leaves. The optimal age of a plant for seed production is considered to be three to five years. Maintaining a constant temperature allows such an extraordinary plant to fully develop and grow.
Coca bush contraindications
The main contraindications to the use of coca bush are a history of afebrile seizures, progressive diseases of the nervous system, various allergic reactions to yeast, as well as severe reactions and complications to the administration of vaccines.
The cocaine bush, or, as it is also popularly called, coca, belongs to the Shrub species. The homeland of this plant is mountain tropical forests, which are located in South America. But today it is extremely rare in the wild. In cultivation, this plant can be found in India, the island of Java, on the African continent, in Asia and South America. The cocaine bush is a tall (up to 3m) evergreen shrub. The young stems of this plant are green, while the more mature ones are reddish-brown. Coca leaves are bare, elliptical, wide, up to 9 cm long, light green in color. Coca blooms with small flowers white, sometimes with a yellow tint. The fruits are bright red and oval in shape. The fruits are a single-seeded drupe approximately 2 cm in size.
Preparation and storage of coca bush
The following are used as medicinal raw materials and for the manufacture of narcotic drugs:
- Coca leaves;
- Coca bush seeds.
In areas of Central America, the leaves of this bush are collected in ordinary bags and then dried in the open air. The weight of the raw material is approximately halved during drying. After the leaves are completely dried, they are either crushed and used to prepare medicines, or they are treated with a special solution and a paste is prepared, which serves as a raw material for obtaining a narcotic substance.
The seeds of the coca tree are collected after the fruit has fully ripened, separated from the skin and dried in the open air. Store in cloth bags for approximately 24 months.
Use in everyday life
Since ancient times, the leaves of this plant have been used by shamans to perform sacred rituals. These leaves helped shamans enter into a light trance, facilitating communication with spirits. Coca leaf extract is used as natural flavoring for Coca-Cola. In cosmetology, extracts from the leaves of the coca bush are used to prepare cosmetics for the care of sensitive skin.
Composition and medicinal properties of coca bush
- Coca bush leaves contain large quantities cocaine alkaloid, tropacocaine, couxigrin and other active substances. In addition, coca leaves contain a lot useful microelements and vitamins. IN
- In folk and traditional medicine, the raw materials of this plant are used to prepare drugs for various diseases.
- First of all, cocaine is extracted from coca leaves, which is used in traditional medicine as a local anesthetic for operations in the oral cavity, larynx and nasal cavity.
- Although cocaine is a narcotic drug, it is this substance that is used as an anesthesia during facial surgery, as cocaine has the unique ability to constrict blood vessels.
- Based on this plant, preparations are made that reduce the feeling of hunger and thirst, and also serve as natural energy boosters to relieve fatigue.
- Preparations based on this plant are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, for example, bronchial asthma;
- Tea made from dry leaves of the coca bush is an excellent remedy for treating digestive problems.
Use of coca bush in folk medicine
Coca seed decoction for nosebleeds
1 tbsp. crushed coca bush seeds, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 5 minutes. Drink this infusion for nosebleeds that are difficult to stop. And for frequent nosebleeds, this infusion is taken 3 times a day before meals, approximately 75 ml.
Alcohol infusion of coca leaves for vomiting
Take 10 g of crushed leaves of the coca bush (this is about 2 tablespoons) and pour in 100 ml of strong moonshine or 70% alcohol. This mixture must infuse for 30 days. After this period has expired, the infusion must be filtered and taken in case of severe vomiting, 1 tsp. (5 ml).
Vodka or alcohol infusion for toothache
The same infusion is used as an analgesic for toothache. To do this, soak a cotton swab in the infusion and apply this swab to the sore tooth.
For asthma and respiratory diseases
To treat the symptoms of bronchial asthma, an extract is prepared from fresh leaves of the coca bush. Grind fresh coca leaves and add pure alcohol. Leaves and alcohol should be taken in a 1:1 ratio and infused in glassware at least 20 days. After this, the resulting extract must be filtered and taken for respiratory diseases in no more than 2 ml. (a little less than a teaspoon), which should be diluted in a small amount of water once a day.
For digestive tract disorders
Crushed leaves of the coca bush, or ready-made purchased tea from this plant, are recommended to be brewed and drunk like ordinary tea for disorders of the digestive tract. You can drink the same tea once a day as a preventive measures diseases of the digestive tract.
For headaches and to relieve fatigue
For headaches and to relieve fatigue, it is recommended to chew fresh leaves of the coca tree. Chewing the fresh leaves of this plant also reduces hunger and thirst as they contain many vitamins. Chewing fresh coca leaves is an excellent general tonic.
Contraindications
Cocaine, which is found in large quantities in the leaves of the coca tree, causes increased blood pressure and tachycardia, so drugs based on this plant should not be taken by people with cardiovascular diseases, as well as by hypertensive patients.
Drugs based on the cocaine tree should not be taken by people with unstable mental health, since the cocaine contained in these drugs causes a state of euphoria, after which a state of depression sets in.
An overdose of cocaine-containing drugs results in hallucinations, intoxication of the body, and in particularly large doses, brain damage and even death. Taking drugs containing cocaine is prohibited by law, as they contain a narcotic substance.
Bolivian coca-growing peasants have pleased customers with a new product for the New Year's table: sweet New Year's rolls using coca have gone on sale in this South American country. " extra energy", namely, coca leaf fibers containing a number of alkaloids.
According to the Chilean publication La Segunda, five thousand unusual bakery products have already been produced, and their further production is planned.
The price of one such New Year's treat is approximately four dollars. Before the New Year, coca buns will be sold only in department of Cochabamba, however, in 2012, the geography of sales will expand, and the rolls will be available throughout Bolivia.
The producers - the Bolivian Coca Enterprise - claim that in kind, without being processed into cocaine, coca is not addictive, and the flour obtained from the leaf of the plant contains calcium, iron and numerous vitamins.
Now the company is producing trial batches of other products using coca - refreshing and energy drinks, caramel, liqueurs, painkillers. “Our goal is to prove to everyone that coca can also be used to produce useful products,” say representatives of the factory.
The Bolivian coca production enterprise is a project that appeared on the initiative of the country's President Evo Morales, who strongly supports the development of the coca growing industry for traditional consumption. Bolivian authorities say the coca leaf itself is not a drug and is part of Andean culture.
Morales himself is known for his strong position on the need to legalize coca as a plant.
Morales, an Aymara Indian, grew coca in his youth. The Inal Mama leaf (the ritual name by which the plant is known among the Aymara people) has been used by them for centuries to combat hunger, fatigue and altitude sickness. They also use it for ritual purposes and to treat malaria, ulcers and asthma.Later, Evo Morales became the secretary general of the Cocaleros Peasant Movement and did not leave this post even after being elected president of Bolivia.
Repeatedly at international meetings, he demonstratively chewed coca leaves, including at the UN conference on drugs. Morales even organized a special holiday - National Coca Leaf Chewing Day. (L.T.: I see, this Evo is such a joker!).
Evo Morales decided that Bolivia would refuse to comply with the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs due to the fact that, in accordance with the convention, since 1961 the coca leaf has been included in the list of narcotic substances and is considered prohibited.
Bolivia, one of the world leaders in coca production along with Colombia and Peru, adopted a law in the late 80s limiting coca land to 12 thousand hectares. In Bolivia they are called "traditional coca plantations."
Currently, the ruling party of Bolivia, the Movement Towards Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo), proposes to almost double the area of legal coca plantations in this country - from 12 thousand to 20 thousand hectares, reports the local publication Pagina Siete.
Being a staunch supporter of the revival of the “traditional coca culture,” Evo Morales simultaneously advocates an active fight against drug trafficking.In confirmation of this, he came up with a proposal to legislate permission to shoot down planes carrying cocaine.“We need a rule that allows us to shoot down the planes of drug traffickers, in case they refuse to land, and we know for sure that they have drugs or substances for their production on board,” the head of state said. According to Morales, this norm should be adopted by parliament.
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Coca is an evergreen shrub that can reach up to 5 m in height. In 1859, Albert Niemann of the University of Göttingen first isolated the main alkaloid from coca, which he named cocaine.
Coca serves as the main raw material for producing cocaine, but the people of the Andean countries do not consider its leaves in their natural form to be a drug. They have been using the leaves for thousands of years in traditional medicine and also as food additives and in religious ceremonies. Coca leaves are used to produce a number of products, including tea, flour, wine and beer.
Andean people traditionally carry a pouch called a chuspa or huallqui, which contains a daily serving of coca leaves, along with a small amount of ilucta or lipta powder (Quechua llipt"a), quicklime or ash from quinoa. A small amount of powder is chewed along with coca leaves; this softens their astringent aroma and promotes extraction of the alkaloid. Powder names in different countries different. In Peru it is usually called lipta (Quechua llipt"a) and lejia (Spanish lejia). Many of these substances have a salty taste, but there are exceptions. In the area of La Paz, Bolivia, they use a substance known as lejia dulce (sweet snap), which is made from the ashes of quinoa mixed with anise and sugar cane, forming a soft black mass with a sweet taste and pleasant aroma licorice. Used in some places baking soda called bico in Spanish. bico.
The practice of chewing coca leaves was essential for survival in harsh mountain conditions. Coca leaves contain a lot nutrients, in addition to mood-altering alkaloids. Rich in protein and vitamins, coca bushes grow in places where other food sources are scarce. Coca has also been used to suppress feelings of drowsiness and headaches associated with low blood pressure in the mountains. Coca was so commonplace and so central to the Andean worldview that distance was often measured in units called cocada or akulli, the number of mouthfuls of coca leaves that could be chewed from one point to another. Cocada was also used to measure time, meaning the time it takes to chew a mouthful of coca leaves before losing its flavor and potency.
Coca was considered a sacred plant and was used in religious ceremonies of the Andean peoples, both pre-Incan and Inca. Throughout religious ceremonies, the Indians used coca smoke as a sacrifice to the Sun. Coca is still used for religious purposes, as huaca (Quechua wak"a, "object of veneration") among the peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, northern Argentina and Chile. Coca leaves are also used for fortune telling.
Nowadays, chewing coca leaves is especially common in the mountains of Bolivia, where the cultivation and consumption of coca is part of the national culture. Coca serves as a powerful symbol of local cultural and religious identity. Coca leaves are sold in bags at local markets and street stalls.
Coca tea (Spanish: Mate de coca), made from coca leaves. The commercial production of tea from coca leaves has become widespread, such teas are freely sold in all shopping centers and in stores in Andean countries. Consumption of coca tea is common in South American countries. Coca tea is also used for medicinal purposes, as well as for religious rituals by the Andean peoples. On the “Inca Trail” (tourist road to Machu Picchu), guides and tourists drink coca tea to relieve altitude sickness. When officials visit La Paz, it is customary to treat guests to coca tea. According to news agencies, Princess Anne and Pope John Paul II also drank coca tea.
Coca is used to make cosmetics and in the food industry. The Coca-Cola Company purchases 115 tons of coca leaves from Peru and 105 tons from Bolivia annually for use as a flavor component in Coca-Cola. In the pharmaceutical industry, coca is used in the production of anesthesia drugs.
Varieties and classification
There are 12 species of Erythroxylum coca. Two, E. coca var. and E. coca var. ipadu, almost indistinguishable; E. novogranatense var.novogranatense and E. novogranatense var. truxillense belong to the same species but are morphologically distinct.
Pharmacology
The pharmacologically active component of coca is the alkaloid cocaine, contained in an amount of ~0.2% in fresh leaves. In addition to cocaine, the coca leaf contains many other alkaloids, including methylecgoine cinnamate, benzylecgoine, truxilline, hydroxytropacocaine, tropacocaine, ecgoine, cuscohygrine, dihydrocuscohygrine, nicotine, and hygrine. Some of these non-psychoactive alkaloids are still used as an additive in Coca-Cola. Coca is also rich in vitamins and microelements. When chewed, the coca leaf acts as a stimulant, suppressing hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Some anesthetics, such as novocaine, are derived from coca. The LD50 of dry coca leaves is 3450 mg/kg, however this figure is based on cocaine content of 31.4 mg/kg.
Cultivation and use
Coca leaf
The coca bush is traditionally grown in the foothills of the Andes or highlands depending on the variety grown. Since ancient times, its leaves have been used as a stimulant by the indigenous people of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In the mountains, when oxygen levels are low, drinking coca helps you stay active. Coca also has religious and symbolic meaning. In the United States, despite the legal manufacture and use of cocaine for medicinal purposes, unrestricted cultivation of coca has been prohibited since the 1980s due to massive sales in the illicit market.
Good fresh specimens of dried leaves will straighten out, have a strong tea-like aroma, will gradually numb the mouth when chewed, and the taste will be sharp and pleasant. Old leaves acquire a specific smell, Brown color and not spicy enough to taste.
Seeds are planted from December to January separately from young shoots in a place protected from the sun. At a height of 40-60 cm, the seedlings are transplanted into carefully weeded soil. Coca blooms best in hot, humid areas, open areas; in tropical forests. The best leaves are grown in hilly, dry areas. Only fresh shoots of leaves are collected. Leaves that are ripe for assembly break when bent. The first, most abundant harvest is harvested in March, after the rainy season; the second - at the end of June, the third in October or November. Collected leaves((matu) are laid out in a thin layer on a coarse woolen cloth for drying in the sun. The dried leaves are stored in bags, protected from moisture.
Traditional use
Daily use
In the Andes, indigenous peoples have used coca leaves for thousands of years. They traditionally carry a pouch called a chuspa or huallqui, which contains a day's supply of coca leaves, along with a small amount of ilucta or lipta powder (Quechua llipt"a), quicklime or quinoa ashes. A small amount of the powder is chewed along with the coca leaves; this softens their astringent aroma and promotes the extraction of the alkaloid. The names of the powder are different in different countries. In Peru, it is usually called lipta (Quechua llipt"a) and lejía (Spanish lejía). Many of these substances have a salty taste, but there are exceptions. In the area of La Paz, Bolivia, a substance known as lejía dulce (sweet snap) is used, which is made from the ashes of quinoa mixed with anise and sugar cane, forming a soft black mass with a sweet taste and a pleasant licorice aroma. Some places use baking soda called bico. bico.
The practice of chewing coca leaves was essential for survival in harsh mountain conditions. Coca leaves contain many nutrients, in addition to mood-altering alkaloids. Rich in protein and vitamins, coca bushes grow in places where other food sources are scarce. Coca has also been used to suppress feelings of drowsiness and headaches associated with low blood pressure in the mountains. Coca was so commonplace and central to the Andean worldview that distance was often measured in units called cocada or akulli, the number of mouthfuls of coca leaves that could be chewed while walking from one point to another. another. Cocada was also used to measure time, meaning the time it takes to chew a mouthful of coca leaves before losing its flavor and potency.
Sacred use
Coca was considered a sacred plant and was used in religious ceremonies of the Andean peoples, both pre-Incan and Inca. Throughout religious ceremonies, the Indians used coca smoke as a sacrifice to the Sun. Coca is still used for religious purposes, as huaca (Quechua wak"a, "object of veneration") among the peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, northern Argentina and Chile. Coca leaves are also used for fortune telling.
In Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, coca is consumed using a special device called a poporo. Poporo is a symbol of masculinity, but at the same time a sexual symbol of women. The device is shaped like a uterus, and the stick inside is like a phallus. The movements of the stick in the poporo symbolize sexual intercourse. For humans, poporo is a talisman meaning "food", "woman", "memory" and "meditation". It is important to emphasize that poporo is a symbol of masculinity. But it is the woman who gives men their masculinity. Women are prohibited from using coca until their son is ready for marriage.
Titles
Chewing coca is called mambear, chacchar (Quechua chaqchay) or acullicar (Quechua akulliy), or in Bolivia, picchar. Spanish verb masticar is also used frequently, along with the slang "bolear" - a word derived from the word "bola", which means "chewing a ball of coca behind the cheek". Nowadays, chewing coca leaves - common occurrence among the Andean population. It is especially common in the mountains of Bolivia, where the cultivation and consumption of coca is part of the national culture. Coca serves as a powerful symbol of the indigenous cultural and religious identity of the South American tribes. Coca leaves are sold in bags at local markets and street stalls.
Coca tea
Coca tea (Spanish: Mate de coca), made from coca leaves. The commercial production of tea from coca leaves has become widespread; such teas are freely sold in all shopping centers and stores in Andean countries. Consumption of coca tea is common in South American countries. Coca tea is also used for medicinal purposes, as well as for religious rituals by the Andean peoples. On the “Inca Trail” (tourist road to Machu Picchu), guides and tourists drink coca tea to relieve altitude sickness. When officials visit La Paz, it is customary to treat guests to coca tea. According to news agencies, coca tea was also drunk by Princess Anne and Pope John Paul II.
International use
Coca has long been a subject of smuggling. The legal export of processed coca is well established, with coca leaves exported as tea, an additive for Coca-Cola, and for medicinal use. Several samples taken from Shakespeare's residence, dating back to the 17th century, resulted in the discovery of cocaine. Queen Victoria of England used cocaine.
Industry
Coca is used to make cosmetics and in the food industry. The Coca-Cola Company purchases 115 tons of coca leaves from Peru and 105 tons from Bolivia annually for use as a flavor component in Coca-Cola. In the pharmaceutical industry, coca is used in the production of anesthesia drugs...
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