Maté de coca

Straw, floral, leafy aroma, surprisingly strong given that this teabag was left forgotten for a couple of years in my cupboard.
Taste is very similar to Mat de Coca by Zurit, which I tasted two weeks ago. Straw-like, but less watery. Residual sweetness is much lower, which is a good thing. Zero bitternes, zero sourness.

A tasty herbal tea with a kick that I remember fondly from my time in South America. I was always served this tea with plenty of raw sugar, so that is the way I prefer it. Unfortunately it is unavailable and illegal in the US because it is made from the coca leaf, which is also the source of cocaine. In such a small, untreated amount, the coca only serves as a mild stimulant along the lines of a coffee, but it is nevertheless illegal. I believe decocanated varieties may be available in the US.

Was given this tea on a trip to South America to help combat the altitude. It worked! Away from the area, back home, I still liked drinking it when I felt achy or yucky, you feel better quickly. The taste isn’t the greatest, I think of it as slightly more bitter than the average green tea. A dash of sugar improves it but I don’t like to add anything, I feel it take away from the purpose of drinking it. Bottom line: I treat it as a medicinal more than a ‘teatime’ tea but it’s still mostly a pleasure to drink. I haven’t had it much since returning to the States except for the bags I brought with me, apparently it is in a legal grey area? I had no trouble bringing it back but with finding it here so I recommend stocking up if you manage.