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It's not cocaine: what you need to know about the pope's coca drink It's not cocaine: what you need to know about the pope's coca drink
(36 minutes later)
It’s the brew of popes: coca, the main ingredient in cocaine, has been enjoyed by three popes.It’s the brew of popes: coca, the main ingredient in cocaine, has been enjoyed by three popes.
Pope Francis drank a tea of coca leaves, camomile and anise seeds on the plane to Bolivia from Ecuador this week, pope John Paul II drank tea made from coca leaves during his 1988 visit to Bolivia, and pope Paul VI drank the special tea during a visit to the Andes in 1968, according to the Catholic News Agency.Pope Francis drank a tea of coca leaves, camomile and anise seeds on the plane to Bolivia from Ecuador this week, pope John Paul II drank tea made from coca leaves during his 1988 visit to Bolivia, and pope Paul VI drank the special tea during a visit to the Andes in 1968, according to the Catholic News Agency.
The coca leaf is not a fringe product in Bolivia. Locals compare its use to coffee, and staunchly defend the coca custom even after it was declared an illegal substance in 1961 by the UN convention on narcotic drugs.The coca leaf is not a fringe product in Bolivia. Locals compare its use to coffee, and staunchly defend the coca custom even after it was declared an illegal substance in 1961 by the UN convention on narcotic drugs.
But cultural use of the drug has remained strong in Bolivia.But cultural use of the drug has remained strong in Bolivia.
Related: It's not cocaine: what you need to know about the pope's coca drink
Bolivian president Evo Morales defended the use of coca – and even farms it himself.Bolivian president Evo Morales defended the use of coca – and even farms it himself.
Morales told a 2007 UN general assembly, “This leaf represents … the hope of our people.”Morales told a 2007 UN general assembly, “This leaf represents … the hope of our people.”
As well as warding off altitude sickness, chewing coca leaves (which are held in the cheek) or drinking a brew, just like the pope, provides physical and mental stimulation but nothing like the cocaine high.As well as warding off altitude sickness, chewing coca leaves (which are held in the cheek) or drinking a brew, just like the pope, provides physical and mental stimulation but nothing like the cocaine high.
It’s also an ingredient in toothpaste, lotions and shampoo (in Bolivia that is - don’t try to drink your shampoo at home to get high). A 1995 report by the World Health Organisation said there were “no negative health effects” from coca use in leaf form.It’s also an ingredient in toothpaste, lotions and shampoo (in Bolivia that is - don’t try to drink your shampoo at home to get high). A 1995 report by the World Health Organisation said there were “no negative health effects” from coca use in leaf form.
As well as helping the pope get over his altitude sickness, the coca leaf can suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue. Sounds like a miraculous brew.As well as helping the pope get over his altitude sickness, the coca leaf can suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue. Sounds like a miraculous brew.
So what are the other regional narcotics the pope should try when he travels?So what are the other regional narcotics the pope should try when he travels?
Betel leaf: BurmaBetel leaf: Burma
Sure, it stains your teeth, and you when you spit it out on the footpath it leaves a big red mark, like a blood stain, but betel leaf chewing is a popular pastime on the streets of Burma.Sure, it stains your teeth, and you when you spit it out on the footpath it leaves a big red mark, like a blood stain, but betel leaf chewing is a popular pastime on the streets of Burma.
It acts as an appetite suppressant and is said to get rid of parasites.It acts as an appetite suppressant and is said to get rid of parasites.
Putting it together is like making a salad: a street vendor who sells the stuff takes a leaf, coats it with lime paste and puts in a pinch of cloves, aniseed, cardamom and betel nuts. The finishing touch is a measure of tobacco that’s been marinating in alcohol for days. Yum. After you’ve chewed it, you spit out the remnants on the street. Don’t freak out – that’s not bloody teeth coming out of your mouth, it’s just the leftover betel leaf ingredients.Putting it together is like making a salad: a street vendor who sells the stuff takes a leaf, coats it with lime paste and puts in a pinch of cloves, aniseed, cardamom and betel nuts. The finishing touch is a measure of tobacco that’s been marinating in alcohol for days. Yum. After you’ve chewed it, you spit out the remnants on the street. Don’t freak out – that’s not bloody teeth coming out of your mouth, it’s just the leftover betel leaf ingredients.
Kava: the PacificKava: the Pacific
Kava is not to be confused with the Spanish bubbly of a similar name. The effect of this kava depends, of course, on how much you consume. A little and you’ll be slightly buzzed – a lot and you’ll be smashing up the furniture.Kava is not to be confused with the Spanish bubbly of a similar name. The effect of this kava depends, of course, on how much you consume. A little and you’ll be slightly buzzed – a lot and you’ll be smashing up the furniture.
A crop native to the western Pacific, kava comes from the root of a pepper plant. It has a distinctive taste and a relaxing and slightly numbing effect.A crop native to the western Pacific, kava comes from the root of a pepper plant. It has a distinctive taste and a relaxing and slightly numbing effect.
Like the Bolivians with their coca, Pacific islanders treat kava like drinking tea or coffee - but abuse has lead to Australia banning the importation of kava, angering the country’s Islander diaspora. “Basically what kava does is it compounds existing health and substance abuses issues in the communities, so what it does is it adds one more layer of problems to the community,” said the Northern Territory Police detective superintendent Tony Fuller, head of the Drug and Organised Crime Division.Like the Bolivians with their coca, Pacific islanders treat kava like drinking tea or coffee - but abuse has lead to Australia banning the importation of kava, angering the country’s Islander diaspora. “Basically what kava does is it compounds existing health and substance abuses issues in the communities, so what it does is it adds one more layer of problems to the community,” said the Northern Territory Police detective superintendent Tony Fuller, head of the Drug and Organised Crime Division.
Khat: AfricaKhat: Africa
Native to the Horn of Africa, khat is a flowering plant that in 1980 was classified by the World Health Organisation as a “drug of abuse.”Native to the Horn of Africa, khat is a flowering plant that in 1980 was classified by the World Health Organisation as a “drug of abuse.”
Khat contains a cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant.Khat contains a cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant.
It’s arduous work to get that stimulation though, requiring users to chew on sticks, said to give a feeling of excitement and euphoria.It’s arduous work to get that stimulation though, requiring users to chew on sticks, said to give a feeling of excitement and euphoria.
But our khat tester believes you’d have to chew a proverbial forest to get any sort of high.But our khat tester believes you’d have to chew a proverbial forest to get any sort of high.
He recalls: “We paid $50 for a bundle of sticks (in London, where it was legal) and we chewed all night. It was only after 20 minutes gnawing that we felt any effect. It was like a mild painkiller or relaxant.”He recalls: “We paid $50 for a bundle of sticks (in London, where it was legal) and we chewed all night. It was only after 20 minutes gnawing that we felt any effect. It was like a mild painkiller or relaxant.”
Although you are advised not to drive after chewing it, our khat user said, “I don’t think it would be possible to overdose. In Africa people chew it all day, every day for 50 years.”Although you are advised not to drive after chewing it, our khat user said, “I don’t think it would be possible to overdose. In Africa people chew it all day, every day for 50 years.”