Continuing with our series of blogs – introduction to the Peruvian Market place, here we are including some interesting plants and herbs.
Coca
Coca is a traditional, pre-Colombian crop of the Andes and still widely used today as a tea or to chew. Coca is thought to help with the acclimatization process and increased energy. Many people in Cusco drink a mate de coca after finishing a meal to help with digestion.
Muña
Also known as Andean Mint, muña makes excellent tea! This is a Quechua name, and is used in traditional medicine to ease cramping of the digestive cramping and as an aphrodisiac.
Cacao
Cacao (the primary ingredient in chocolate) is indigenous to the Americas. In Peru, it is produced around and within the Amazon jungle, in areas such as Quillabamba, San Martin & Madre de Dios.
Café (Coffee)
Coffee is grown in high jungle to jungle areas of Peru. The growing season is roughly May-September, but this depends of a variety of factors, particularly altitude.
