A shrub that grows 3 to 4 m (10 to 13 ft) tall in the tropical regions. The plant is native to Peru, but grown throughout
South America, Java, India and Ceylon. Branches are slender and the leaves alternate and are olive green. The flowers are
small, axillary with a tea-like odor, and a slightly bitter taste. Ancient Peruvian Indians chewed coca leaves mixed with ashes to
relieve hunger, thirst and body fatigue. The word “coca” comes from the Aymara word q’oka, which means “food for travelers
and workers.”
