Coca: The Ancestral Plant of South America The coca is a plant with a rich and diverse history and is deeply rooted in the cultures of the indigenous peoples of South America. The history of the coca is intertwined with the civilizations of the Andes, their religion, economy, and medicine. However, in recent centuries, the coca has acquired a negative connotation due to its manufacture into cocaine, an illegal and highly addictive drug. Read the full story on ColombiaOne.com and watch the full v