Coca tea drink
Coca tea (Spanish: Mate de coca) is a tea made from the leaves of the Coca plant (Eritroxilécea). The consumption of coca tea is a common occurrence in many South American countries. Coca tea is also used for medicinal and religious purposes by many indigenous tribes in the Andes. The tea is often packaged in individual servings as tea bags which contain approximately 1 g of plant material. On the Inca Trail, guides also serve the tea with every meal because of its medicinal purposes that help hikers acclimate to the high elevation.
Varieties of coca tea include:
- Natural Coca tea, the tea bags smell very much like green tea, or more specifically, like the roasted form of green tea known in Japanese as hoji-cha.
- Mint
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
- Cat's Claw
- Anise
- Lemon Verbena
Health benefits of coca tea
- contains antioxidants that may help prevent cholesterol damaging arteries
- as a caffeine-free substitute for coffee
- may boost the body's immune system
- to help with altitude illness