Coca plants are understory shrubs with smooth oval shaped leaves. There are tiny white flowers in small clusters along the branches. Red berries grow on short stalks. In the Amazon region, the coca bush can grow into a small tree, but in the Andes, the plant is shorter due to the altitude.

The leaves of this plant have been used for thousands of years by the Andean Indians of South America. The leaves are chewed either whole or in powdered form with some form of lime to enhance the effect. The alkaloids in the leaves produce a decrease in hunger, increased energy, improved digestion, and may also result in feelings of euphoria.