folha de coca
1. The leaf of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca), a South American shrub traditionally chewed or brewed as tea for its stimulant properties
Indigenous communities in the Andes have chewed coca leaves for centuries to combat altitude sickness.
Comunidades indígenas nos Andes mascam folhas de coca há séculos para combater o mal da altitude.
2. The dried leaf used to produce cocaine and other alkaloid compounds
The coca leaf contains alkaloids that have both medicinal and narcotic properties.
A folha de coca contém alcaloides que possuem propriedades tanto medicinais quanto narcóticas.
Coca leaves hold significant cultural and historical importance in Andean indigenous communities of South America, particularly in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, where they are traditionally chewed (called 'chacchar') or brewed into tea ('mate de coca') for their mild stimulant effects and to alleviate altitude sickness. In Western contexts, the term is often associated with cocaine production, though traditional use remains distinct from illicit drug manufacturing. In Brazil, coca leaf references are less culturally prominent than in neighboring Andean countries.
Related Idioms & Phrases
to chew coca leaves - mascas folhas de coca (traditional practice)
coca tea - chá de coca (medicinal preparation)
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