Mate de Coca

In the highlands of Peru, I´ve been drinking a lot of coca tea to help with altitude sickness. I think it has actually helped (though I was told chewing the leaves was more effective).

I´m in Cuzco airport right now waiting for a flight to Arequipa. We just flew in from the jungle, so the altitude is bothering me again. I ordered some mate de coca (this time in a tea bag and not just the leaves). The package lists the ¨properties¨of coca tea:

• Restorative and energetic
• Excellent for diet.
• Digestive.
• Anti-diarrheac action
• Acts against fatigue and alitude sickness.
• Relieves tiredness of voice.
• Regulates the metabolism of carbohidrate.

Sounds like the perfect tea, no?