There’s coca-infused tea, candy and beer, while leaves for chewing can be bought in markets or stalls anywhere in the country. But while global prohibition remains in place, Bolivia is unable to ...

The leaf, the argument went, was "not a narcotic" in its natural state. In 2013, Bolivia reacceded to the convention – with an exemption for chewing coca leaves. But Morales's push for a WHO ...

The natural compounds in the leaves cleanse the mouth and maintain overall oral hygiene. Chewing paan leaves after meals may help stabilise blood sugar levels due to their hypoglycaemic effects.

Read more: The 17 Best Fall Camping Spots In The US According To Campers Who've Been There In the past, the Incas were known ...

In 2016, chewing of the coca leaf was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. In March 2017, the General Coca Leaf Law came into force, to regulate the ...