High in the Andes Mountains lies the ancient civilization of Machu Picchu. A little higher up and a few hours away is the more modern city of Cusco. While it’s the base city for one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the altitude of Cusco (11,000 feet) can quickly ruin a weary traveler’s holiday.
The locals recommend a remedy that’s been used for thousands of years: the coca leaf. Walk around Cusco, and you’re bound to find people chewing on the leaves or drinking it as a tea. While I thankfully did not experience altitude sickness, I did consume many cups of coca leaf tea at the hotel I stayed at. It has a very mild flavor and gave me a nice burst of energy, similar to a cup of coffee.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, this is the same plant used to make cocaine. However, coca leaves are not cocaine; cocaine is extracted by soaking coca leaves in a number of nasty chemicals and putting them through a bunch of chemical reactions I need not mention. Coca leaves are completely safe to chew on or drink in tea. Nevertheless, they’re still illegal in most other countries, so please don’t take them home as a souvenir.
