Coca Tea and Dried up Coca Leaves

Colombiche says on Jan 14, 2007, 15:50:

I have a few boxes of tea and the dried up leaves apparently can´t be smelled by the dogs at customs. They are prepackaged and sold freely in colombia for medicinal purposes. It comes in small amounts.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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jfsawatzky says on Jan 14, 2007, 17:11:

Combiche, if I remember, you live in Toronto now, no?
Anway, I would be very cautious for several reasons... I believe any part of plants used to make drugs is illegal in Canada...but maybe someone else knows for sure.
Also, I believe you are required to report any fruit / plant material /food that you have on your person when you fill out the customs /immigration papers prior to entry to Canada. If you answer yes, you have plants/fruits/food... the customs officer will probably ask what you have... if you are lucky it may be only confiscated... otherwise the consequences maybe more if they realize what it is. If you say no, and for some reason they search your luggage, then you might be asking for problems...
If you are flying through the US, I do not know how they might view the situation. Personally, I would not want to find out.

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jfsawatzky says on Jan 14, 2007, 17:40:

I cannot answer if coca leaves are detected by the sniffer dogs but I did some searching and found ... http://www.erowid.org/plants/coca/coca_law.shtml

"Canada #
The coca plant ("Erythroxylon") including the leaves are schedule I in Canada. (Note: Canadian schedules are very different than U.S. schedules)"
...what is schedule I ... look below

canadian controlled substances act

http://198.103.98.49/en/C-38.8/index.html

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 14, 2007, 19:28:

Gomezman5 says on Jan 14, 2007, 23:22:

I don't think there is a clear answer.....but A Good test to see if it is or is not legal to bring such stuff into the country would be to see if the product is already being sold here (or in Canada) at this time. If it is, than you know it is not illegal. Now that does not mean that you can bring it in directly. It just means it is not illegal to have in the country. If it does not exist, there is a good chance it is not allowed and if it is not allowed than obviously cannot bring it in.

Note:
There is a difference between an item being allowed in the country, and you being allowed to bring it in yourself. The best example in the US is fruit and veggies. So many of these items we buy in local grocery stores are grown in Mexico. Companies, can bring them after going through the appropriate infestation erradication procedures. But if I wanted to bring any one or pacgage of fruit into the country myself, it would not be allowed.

Customs at the airport here in the US are kind of arbitrary. The best example I can think of is Brevas con Ariquipe. There is nothing that I love more than brevas con arequipe from Alpina.....with cheese of course. Brevas are fruits. There is no getting around it. If it was canned, or bottled, there would be no quesion. But when it is shipped in its raw form, customs can be a bunch of A-holes and take them, and throw them right in that big plastic can. Why do I bring this example up? Because my cousin had hers confiscated from her in Miami. 6 Boxes!!!! I told her the customs agent was probably of Colombian origin and just took the boxes home and ate them that night. He knew what they were and he knew there was no danger.

Besides Colombiche, with all those Chinese up there in Toronto, are you trying to tell me that you cannot find a decent tea up there? They have to have as much tea there as they do in China. You're funny

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el flaco says on Jan 15, 2007, 01:21:

in London In London (England not Canada) it is on the menu at a restaurant. I don't want to give more details as I'm sure that it is illegal but that the owners aren't aware of the law.

I've tried it a few times and it does nothing for me. I know that if you chew the leaves you have to add a "magic" ingrediant to get a buzz. Any comments.

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costajunkie says on Jan 15, 2007, 02:40:

I accidentally brought a baggie of dried coca leaves - in addition to some processed packets of coca for mate - through customs in Houston when returning a few years back from Peru (Puno). The customs beagle even had a good sniff of my backpack where the baggy was stored, and then continued on his way. When running around at 13,000+ feet, I made a point of consuming said leaves, through mate or by simply chewing a wad of leaves on occasion. I never felt any kind of buzz to speak of. By the way, I can testity that I managed quite well, where as my wife from B/quilla who refused to partake ended up in the hospital with altitude sickness. It seems that the Indians do have something here. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I believe that the dogs are trained to pick up the scent of the processed product rather than the leaves themselves.

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diobahn says on Jan 15, 2007, 05:50:

coca mate I started drinking mate while traveling thru Perú. I live at
sea level and was very affected by the altitude. It seemed
to open my bronchial tubes and made breathing a bit easier.I brought a box (from a supermarket) home.........and then found
an internet source. I continue to drink it here at home
in the states since I was diagnosed with COPD. The shipments
must clear customs......none have been consficated or turned
away, and I've been ordering it for about six years.

Anyone looking for a 'buzz' will be disappointed. Mate just will
not kick you. I prefer mate made with the whole leaves. Those of
you who prefer to chew the leaves can sprinkle a few leaves with
baking soda , roll them up. place it between your cheek and teeth
and suck away.........that's not my cuppa!

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southern151 says on Jan 15, 2007, 05:54:

Yes but... I wonder what effect it would have for those of us who face random but regular drug tests? Pass or fail for coca being in our blood,hair or urine. I would like to try it just to see why it got it's own thread but can't afford a blown drug test over a simple glass of tea!

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larumberainglesa says on Jan 15, 2007, 06:09:

I bought a big bag of leaves from Puno (Peru) back to Ecuador and was planning to try them out - however my flat mates got hold of the bag one drunken night when I went to bed and next morning the floor/sofas were covered in chewed green lumps and I was told they were 'rubbish' - (of course they hadn't mixed them with anything). I managed to salvage a few leaves as a souvenir and bought them back to the UK in the pages of a book.

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Colombiche says on Jan 15, 2007, 09:46:

Thanks for all the feedback El flaco - I was talking to an native from la sierra nevada (Kogi) yesterday at Usaquen. He told me that they chew the leaves, and then they suck on a poporo (a long carved stick) with some sort of powder that helps release and activate the ingredients in the leaves. He also told me women cannot ¨mambear¨ .... all the while this guy ate a handful of my leaves. I can´t mambear but he can take my leaves.... what a buzz, ha ha ha.

I really just wanted to bring it back as sort of a memento, a novelty item, what kind of illegal activity can I do with 2 baggies of leaves, North Americans really don´t understand the coca leaf and its properties. OF course I certainly don´t want to have a hard time with a big, rubber glove clad, Queen Latifah look-alike at Miami international.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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goin_south says on Jan 15, 2007, 14:53:

I've got a recommendation.... Maybe all ya'll should just switch... and focus on 'cocoa', rather than the coca. A 'client' brought me an outrageous dark chocolate bar, from Santander a few weeks back... same, yet different delight, no worries 'a nada', except wanting more.

Es el año, 2007: "El Año de Los Santos!"

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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southern151 says on Jan 15, 2007, 15:09:

That's a good idea Galecito! I can't get in trouble for that...Just a toothache. Anyone know of a good dentist?
Can I bring back a bottle of liquor? Serious...Can I(legally)?

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jay1234 says on Jan 15, 2007, 15:41:

Look at TSA rules on transporting liquids... Which would seem to indicate that you cannot. I think you might be able to if bought at duty free shop (past the security checkpoints). I did see a local newscast showcasing the hundreds of bottles of liquor confiscated during the holidays at the local airport.

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goin_south says on Jan 15, 2007, 18:10:

southern151, which way are you wanting to bring? ..To Colombia? or, upon coming back to EEUU?
I think, either way, as long as you pad and pack it real well in the luggage you check on the plane, (not carry-on) you are okay, last time I went, in September 2006.

Depending upon where you are going, if you got a favorite liquor, then sometimes it might be a good idea to take a bottle with you. (you know, 'Tequila Rose'?) If you are going to see a lady, or more.... she (they) will love that stuff, and it might be hard to get down there. No se.

Es el año, 2007: "El Año de Los Santos!"

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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Robert Jorge says on Jan 15, 2007, 20:02:

Southern151, you absolutely CAN bring and take liquor in and out of Colombia. I flew out of El Dorado with 6 bottles of various Colombian Rums, no problem. Of course, you can't have them in your carry-on bag. I declared them, and after landing in Miami, the government dude that asks you questions asked if I had anything in my bags. I said, "booze". He chuckled and let me through. I expected to pay a tax for bringing so much back, but they didn't even care. Taking booze in is the same. Just don't put it in your carry-on, and be prepared to pay a tariff if you have a bunch of booze. I have heard conflicting reports on what are the allowed amounts before a tax is charged ... in Colombia or the US. I never have gotten a straight answer, and it seems to be at the discretion of the customs people. But what else is new?

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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adrimm says on Jan 20, 2007, 02:53:

Colombiche The powder is something alkaline - traditionally burned seashells.

One River, interesting read about a variety of indigenous traditions from Latin America - mostly around the Amazon but there is a section about the Kogi and the Ika. Also has some great insights into the natural rubber industry

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