Coca Colla facts for kids
Coca Colla is a special energy drink made in Bolivia. It uses extract from the coca plant as its main ingredient. This drink was first sold in Bolivian cities like La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba in April 2010.
The name "Coca Colla" sounds a bit like "Coca-Cola." The "Colla" part of the name comes from Qullasuyu. This was the southern area of the ancient Inca empire, which included the western part of Bolivia. Today, the word Qulla is used to describe the Aymara and Quechua people. These are native groups in Bolivia who have traditionally used coca leaves for a very long time.
What is Coca Colla?
This drink has a red label with white writing. The liquid inside is a dark caramel color and tastes sweet. It comes in 500 ml bottles and costs about $1.50. The unique flavor of Coca Colla comes from extracts of the coca leaf.
Evo Morales, who was Bolivia's first president from the native Aymara group, has supported the traditional use of coca leaves. People in the Andes mountains have used coca leaves for thousands of years. They use them for things like medicine and special ceremonies.
About 30,000 acres (121 km²) of land in the Andes region are used to grow coca bushes each year. The Bolivian government wants to find more legal ways to use the coca plant. They hope to increase the growing area to 80,000 acres (324 km²). This could lead to new products like toothpaste, medicines, and coca tea.
Advertising the Drink
The company that makes Coca Colla in Bolivia has worked with an advertising group from Europe. Their goal is to tell more people around the world about the new Coca Colla drink.
The launch of the drink created a lot of interest because coca leaf ingredients are often seen as controversial in other parts of the world. However, using coca leaf is accepted by the native cultures in Bolivia who have grown it for a long time. Victor Ledezma, the president of OSPICoca, the company that makes the drink, said, "Coca is ours, coca is a Bolivian product and mostly occurs in the Qullasuyu."
See also
- National Coca Company
- Stepan Company
