Coca is a non-frost resistant tropical rain forest plant that cannot be cultivated in the highlands. In spite of being non-native to the highlands, coca leaves play a central role in the life of highland populations. Early documents left by the Spaniards indicate that coca leaves were not only very important, but also had different uses. Here it is my aim to explore whether coca leaves were also important before the Inka State. In order to do that, first I will provide with a brief review of the uses of caca leaves within the Inka State and contemporary highland populations of the Central Andes.
