One of fourty native species of the genus Erythroxylum in Colombia with a habitat between 500 and 1,800 feet. The leaves are the source of cocaine. The indigenous can be seen chewing the leaves. A variety of food products made from the nutritional leaves are sold in Colombia including tea. These can often be sampled in touristic locations with indigenous vendors and in some specialty shops. Availability goes up and down depending on the current government preferences. Photographed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.