I bet it's popular. Vortex energy drink is another new Peruvian coca beverage, competing with energy drinks such as Austria's Red Bull. Aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds, it has proved a hit with party-goers. Peru Coca Leaf Fuels Energy Drink Demand LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - The sacred coca leaf that the Andean peoples of South America have used for thousands of years for its energizing qualities is a marvelous ingredient for yogurt maker Maria Quiroz. She started making yogurt with coca -- the raw material for cocaine -- several months ago to sell at Lima's organic market, and the strong demand for her product has allowed her to think about opening a bigger business. Quiroz's efforts are part of a new trend in Peru to use the ancient leaf in energy drinks and health foods, opening up a wider legal market that coca growers argue will direct coca production away from the drugs trade. Peru is the world's No. 2 cocaine producer after Colombia. "We've demonized coca in Peru for so long and we've forgotten its health value and how full of proteins and minerals it is," said Quiroz at her market stand. Two new coca drinks have been launched this year in Peru, with plans for export, while lawmakers hope to pass legislation to formalize coca production and allow the green leaf to be promoted much more widely as a health product. Nevertheless, coca contains more calcium than milk and more proteins than meat, according to medical studies. It is used by thousands of Indians to increase stamina, stave off hunger and is drunk traditionally by Peruvians in tea to aid digestion and as a remedy against altitude sickness. "Coca as a leaf is not a drug and we need to realize that," said Latorre. He said his bill would introduce a permit system whereby registered coca growers could grow set quotas of coca for legal consumption every year. Lima-based Kokka Royal Food, set up by Spanish and Peruvian investors with an initial investment of $300,000, is one of two companies trying to make the most of legal coca. In February, the company began selling its iced tea called K-Drink in Peru, giving away free samples in supermarkets, and calling it "divine energy." "It's a completely natural stimulant that is not addictive," said company Director Eduardo Mazzini. The company, which has sold 75,000 bottles of K-Drink between February and mid-April, hopes to turn a profit by the end of 2005, according to Kokka's General Manager Cristina Tudela. Vortex energy drink is another new Peruvian coca beverage, competing with energy drinks such as Austria's Red Bull. Aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds, it has proved a hit with party-goers. "Our sales are 10 times above what we expected so far," said Vortex Commercial Manager Christian Chang. "We've also signed our first option agreement with a firm in Europe and we received an order to send a trial to Central America." Chang said Vortex's coca ingredient gave it an edge over other energy drinks because of its natural qualities. "Coca supplies energy via carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids, something that other energy drinks don't have," he said. http://www.boston.com/news/world/la.../06/peru_coca_leaf_fuels_energy_drink_demand/
have you seen this yet? Sparks Energy Drink 6% alcohol ive seen it at a few corner stores. i havent picked it up yet. very tempting.
I know I'm addicted to red bull, so I'm very wary of drinking something else that can evenly remotely be more addicting.
<b>"Coca supplies energy via carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids, something that other energy drinks don't have," he said.</b> OK. This is a leaf, right? Carbohydrates - a few, mostly cellulose, which is indigestible (but keeps you regular for the rest of your life). Amino acids - most plants have a bit of "incomplete" protein (a few amino acids, small selection, not much variety) but not much. Fatty acids - very minimal. There's a common substance rich in those three major forms of energy - carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids. It's called food. Anyway, maybe there's something to this coca that I don't know about, but that claim sounds suspicious to me. Well, at least maybe it will be addictive to consumers. Maybe they're already putting it in Red Bull, the way some people are addicted to it. Red Bull doesn't do as much for me as the "Monster" energy drinks. The Monsters are also twice the size for the same price. I usually keep one and drink it slowly over a couple of days, and it does the trick. I do wonder what we're doing to ourselves with these things. I suspect most of their "energy" is due to caffeine from various sources. I am seriously considering doing lab research on the amounts of some of these substances in energy drinks. (If I can ever get my equipment working, I actually might try that sometime this summer.)
mmmmmmmmmm Li-Quid Crack... I find Red Bull and Sobe's adreneline rush to be the energy drinks that most suit my fancy. Although they are largely a scam because you consume an assload of sugar then become hyper and think it was from some ancient herbs.
I usually need 2 red bulls to get pumped up... I guess stuff takes its time on me, i need like 3 tylenol pm's to even get me sleepy.
I don't know much about energy drinks but my soccer coach told me that gatorade is bad for you if you drink it without exercising because it does the same damage to the liver as beer. I personally like Red Bull because it wakes me up everyday i have to go to UofH at the early time of 11:30am.
This just cracks me up --- coca yogurt, I guess they could stick those leaves in just about anything and have a huge success. *New from the Jolly Green Giant* -- Broccoli and Coca leaves! MMMM mmm
