Especially in more mountaineous regions coca leaves are available for breakfast instead of coffee. Some hot water over a few leaves makes for a quite refreshing tea, which I found less aggressive than coffee in its effect.
Leaves can be openly bought at kiosks in bags and contain the calcium stone required to chew them. Personally I found the taste a bit offputting (the effect is rather refreshing, though), but figured it needed to be tried once in Peru (same as guinea pigs, which, alas, I found too much of a bother).
Also, Chicha is still widely available in Peru. My sister in law (who is Peruvian) adores the stuff.
Especially in more mountaineous regions coca leaves are available for breakfast instead of coffee. Some hot water over a few leaves makes for a quite refreshing tea, which I found less aggressive than coffee in its effect.
Leaves can be openly bought at kiosks in bags and contain the calcium stone required to chew them. Personally I found the taste a bit offputting (the effect is rather refreshing, though), but figured it needed to be tried once in Peru (same as guinea pigs, which, alas, I found too much of a bother).
Also, Chicha is still widely available in Peru. My sister in law (who is Peruvian) adores the stuff.