A little drug humor with your tea?

This is mate de coca, a simple tea made from the coca leaf, which we´ve been enjoying since our first hours in Cusco. Its a local favorite, mostly because it is the natural cure for soroche, otherwise known as altitude sickness. And yes, if you refine the leaves to a concentrated form you get cocaine.
The tea carries none of the effects of cocaine and is completely legal here. Unfortunately because of its illicit capabilities we can´t bring it back to the States with us, even in the prepackaged tea bags. Soroche has not been a factor since our first night here, but we´ve been drinking as much as we can while we can.
I wouldn´t say it´s my favorite tea, but I like it. It has a sort of an herbal, nutty, barnyardy taste that´s difficult to describe. I know that sounds bad, but if you come to Peru you should try it, if only for the experience. I also think its a pleasant little marvel of nature, that it cures an ailment specific to its habitat.
If you make it to the Andes and try it, as a warning, even though it has no concaine-like effects and is non-addictive, it can lead to harder stuff...

-Reid