Table 1 Studies on cocaine content in coca tea and benzoylecgonine concentration in urine

Siegel et al. [121]

N = 36?

HIT^*: ~  4.8 mg

Mate de Coca: ~  5.7 mg

(= 0.13–0.68% as normally found in coca)

No evidence of ‘decocainisation’,

No ill effect, no abuse

ElSohly et al. [122]

N = 1

1 teabag HIT in 1 cup

2.15 mg

6 samples within 29 h

Total amount excreted after 29 h: 818.8 μg + 31.1% of ingested dose.

Consider HIT consumption when interpreting data

Ferreira-Engelke et al. [123]

40 teabags of HIT

- 20 teabag (1 teabag/cup/10 min

- 20 teabags extracted in ethanol/15 min (method by Turner [124]

X ± SD

0.04% ± 0.017

0.33% ± 0.035

Not decocainised;

If stored for long (e.g. 3 years) cocaine in brewed tea 0.006–0.004%, in ethanol extraction 0.06–0.05%

Jackson et al. [125]

N = 4 males

1 cup of HIT

1.87 mg

Samples over 36 h

Maximum BE concentration 1.4–2.8 mg/l

Total BE excretion in 36 h 1.05–1.45 mg (= 59–90% of ingested cocaine)

Consider HIT when interpreting data

Floren et al. [126]

N = 2

1 cup/240 ml of tea brought from Bolivia

Technical problems prevented cocaine testing.

Estimated 0.8 mg of BE

(3.4 μg/ml)

In one subject 2608 ng/ml after 4 h;

Both subjects negative after 24 h

Authors concerned about having had coca tea for 10 days in Bolivia. ‘Experiment’ poorly described. Emphasise ‘illegality’.

‘Decocainisation cannot be done’

20-30 mg per line of cocaine

Jenkins et al. [32]

N = 1

Coca teabags from 1) Peru and 2) Bolivia randomly selected weighed and tea prepared 1 bag in 180 ml deionized water at 94 °C.

Infusion times: 6, 9, 12, 15 min

Subject drank 1 cup Peruvian tea; same subject drank 1 cup Bolivian tea on separate occasion

2 methods of methanolic extraction for both sources

Peruvian tea: 4.14 mg (range 3.40–4.76 mg)

Bolivian tea: 4.29 mg (range 4.09–4.49 mg)

Samples over 48 h

BE in urine for at least 20 h

Steeping time increased cocaine content in Peruvian tea (3.94–5.88 mg), approx. 80% of available cocaine transferred to tea.

Consider tea when interpreting data.

Turner et al. [127]

N = 1

1 teabag of Mate de Coca from Peru in 250 ml boiling water

Steeped for 25 min.

2.5 mg

Samples prior to consumption and 2, 5, 8, 15, 20, 21, 24, 43, 68 h after

Positive for BE 2–24 h after consumption

[IB: Nobody would steep tea for 25 min!]

Consider tea when interpreting data in sports drug testing

Mazor et al. [128]

N = 5

1 teabag of Peruvian coca tea in 8 fluid ounces.

Steeped for 15 min

Each volunteer drank 1 more cup than the previous (A = 1 cup; B = 2 cups, etc)

Samples prior and at 2, 12, 24, 36 h after ingestion

Mean BE concentration in all samples: 1777 ng/ml (95%CI: 1060–2495)

Consider tea when interpreting data.