Local Drinks

1. Kaphiya

   Coffee

   Usage

   Bolivian coffee comes from the Yungas (Yunka) of La Paz — Caranavi and Taypi Playa in particular, planted with criollo and caturra. Highland eating houses often sugar it before serving, so say so when you order if you do not want it

   Grammar Note

   As a drink it takes the form kaphiy uma (coffee drink); junt'u kaphiy uma is 'hot coffee drink'

2. Pulu

   Herbal infusion (mate)

   Usage

   The general word for leaves steeped in hot water — Spanish mate or té; "mate" will be understood in a hotel or an eating house. Name the leaf in front of it, as in kuka pulu (coca tea). At 3,600 m in La Paz a hot drink makes the altitude easier

   Grammar Note

   Pulu corresponds to Spanish mate, té, and means "a plant remedy that cures many illnesses" (kunaymana usunaka qullasiña qura qulla). ⚠ The same string is also used for a gourd vessel in Andean languages; for the vessel use jaruchi (Spanish jarro, taza)

3. Kuka pulu

   Coca-leaf tea

   Usage

   Coca leaves steeped in hot water. In Bolivia and Peru hotels often leave leaves and hot water in the lobby, and it is offered for altitude sickness or a bad stomach. ⚠ Do not carry it out of the country. Leaves and tea bags alike are banned from import into many countries, Japan included, and drinking it can produce a positive drug test

   Grammar Note

   Aymara puts the modifier first, so in "Kuka pulu" kuka modifies pulu. "Kuka laphi junt'u umaxa puraka usunitakiwa walixa" (a hot drink of coca leaf is good for a bad stomach)

4. Millk'i

   Milk

   Usage

   Milk from livestock; also called ñuxñu. ⚠ What is sold in highland markets or straight from a farm may be unpasteurised, so a sealed carton is the safer choice for a traveller. To say you cannot have dairy, use Millk'ix usuchiyitu

   Grammar Note

   Millk'i corresponds to Spanish leche: "qachu uywanakana ñuñupata q'usmi" (the liquid from the udder of female livestock). It is also called ñuxñu. Cheese, kisu, is made from cow's milk

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