Spanish/Nat In Peru it's a popular drink. But in the US, Mate de Coca or coca leaf tea, made from the same plant as cocaine, has been banned. The US government's decision has angered Peruvians who export the tea. They claim it's harmless. If it was good enough for their Inca ancestors, it's good enough for the Peruvians. Mate de coca -- or coca leaf tea -- is sold commercially all over the country. It's a popular drink and is sometimes used as a medicine. This street vendor says it's not harmful at all. In fact, he recommends it for sore throats and stomach aches. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "No, para endrogarse no. Sino que ese sirve como medicina practicamente y tambien sirve asi como refresco." TRANSLATION: "No, it's not used as drugs. Rather it serves as medicine for practical purposes, but also as a soft drink." SUPER CAPTION: Vendor Mate de coca in its commercial form contains approximately one gram of coca leaves, or 3 to 5 leaves. The leaves are ground, sterilized, and packaged in tea bags just like any other tea. Peruvians also drink it like tea, downing up to 8 cups of the liquid every day. Some Peruvian experts claim not only is the tea harmless but it actually does the drinker good. Taken orally, they claim, it can fight fatigue, improve memory and concentration. SOUNDBITE: "El mate de coca - y podemos hablar mas que de mate de coca que es un nombre comercial - la cocaina por via oral en dosis normales y standard, produce bienestar. En cambio, el consumo de cocaina por otras vias produce excitacion, produce trastornos." TRANSLATION: The coca tea - and we can talk about more than just "mate de coca" which is its commercial name - cocaine taken orally in normal and standard doses, produces a feeling of well-being. However, the consumption of cocaine by other means produces negative mental and physical effects." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Teobaldo Llosa Director of International Institute of Coca and Cocaine Research Doctor Llosa also claims Mate de Coca is not addictive -- unlike cocaine which is sniffed. This congressman claims coca leaves can be used in other products -- including toothpaste, cosmetics, and even candies. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Pero desde aqui nosotros podemos llevar algun aporte hasta estados unidos para decirles que no tengan ningun temor por la coca. La coca como tal crece en forma silvestre en los campos del Peru. Pero ha sido inteligentemente aprovechada por los Incas, y este es un legado cultural que nos han dejado los Incas a los Peruanos y quienes habitamos esta parte de America. En su mensaje se puede encontrar mucha sabiduria porque la coca transformada en diferentes formas favorece al ser humano." TRANSLATION: From here we can carry this message to the US to tell them that they should not be afraid of the coca. The coca as such grows wild in the countryside of Peru. But is has been intelligently taken advantage of by the Incas, and this is a cultural legacy they have left to Peruvians and those of us who reside in this region of the Americas. In their message can be found much wisdom because the coca in various forms can be favorable to humans." SUPER CAPTION: Denis Vargas Marin, Congressman High up in the Andes, coca leaves can even be life-saving. The leaves stimulate the respiratory and cardiovascular systems allowing more oxygen into the brain -- and staving off altitude sickness. But while coca leaf tea may not be finding its way into the U-S, the other more deadly coca product continues to find a route, despite the U.S. best efforts. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4d38bc7d8a12271ed4103447acc2e382 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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