Gaël Champossin
All about the coca plant
"The coca leaf is not a drug." This controversial statement by Evo Morales, president of Bolivia, was directed to the United Nations assembly. In fact, while it's known in Europe and the USA as the main component of cocaine, the coca leaf is a tradition in Peru and Bolivia, where it is used to create an infusion to combat altitude sickness. Potosi miners chew coca to fight hunger and fatigue, and it's also an offering to Pachamama, the earth mother of the Incas, as a sign of fertility.
In La Paz, near the shopping street of Sagarnaga, is a museum all about the history of coca. It is open every day, and if you don't understand Spanish, it offers English and French translations.
On the top floor is a bar where you can try the famous coca plant, and a book shop where you can buy some books on the subject, as well as candy-flavoured coca leaves! Personally, I really enjoyed this original and unusual museum, which is very different from anything I've seen before. When I travel, I like to get to know the culture of the country, and the coca leaf is something very important to Peru and Bolivia. Before I arrived, I thought it was only used for drugs, but I've learned that it has some nutritional and other medicinal properties. As for the manufacture of cocaine, it takes about 300 kg of leaves to produce one kilo of cocaine.
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