Mate de coca

The coca tea in the city of La Paz is a blessing for those with mountain sickness. Coca tea hydrates you and improves oxygenation.

At AYNI coca tea is available 24 hours a day and whatever amount you want. Remember to put only 5 leaves at a time in a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 5 minutes. You may also use the industrialized tea bags, as the effect is similar. You will feel much better. If the discomfort doesn’t pass completely, take a few leaves, take out the center vein of the leaf, and chew the leaves with the back molars moving the coca around against your cheek. Suck the juice but don’t swallow the leaves. This is called “acullicar”, an thousand year old Aymara and Quechua custom for calming many pains and for improving one’s energy.

Infusions of herbs, flowers and fruits

AYNI has a variety of medicinal infusions for you to try. The most popular is “trimate” which contains coca, anise and camomile. It is the most important tea for calming mountain sickness as it contains the three key elements. You can find each of these herbs in separate teas as well and there is information as to the benefits for the body.

We also have a variety of fruit infusions: apple. pineapple, orange, strawberry, tutti frutti, as well as carrot, flowers and regular tea.