Coca (Erythroxylum coca)

Family: Erythroxylaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Erythroxylum coca, otherwise known as Coca or Little Coca, is an evergreen small tree growing up to 3.5 m tall. It has straight branches, thin leaves that are opaque and oval, and small flowers. It is commonly found in South America particularly in northern Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. The leaves contain cocaine and other alkaloids. Such alkaloids are extracted and used to make various pharmaceutical drugs.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour drinks, candy and alcoholic drinks. — Edible portion: Leaves - tea.; The dried leaves yield a substance called cocaine which is a stimulant.; The leaves are used to make coca "wine".; The leaves are chewed as a masticatory.

Habitat & North American Range

Amazon rainforest. (Zone 10)