QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REBELLION

Yes. Cocayusa contains real Coca from Colombia.

The Coca leaf we use comes from traditional and legal cultivation by Indigenous communities in Colombia, including the Nasa people. Coca has been legally cultivated there for centuries and remains an integral part of cultural life.

For many Indigenous peoples, Coca is not an intoxicant but a plant of everyday life. It is used for energy, endurance and in communal and ceremonial settings.

Coca for Cola. Not for the cartels.

Coca has been part of Indigenous traditions in South America for centuries and is used there responsibly. Much of its negative reputation comes only from its illegal processing into cocaine and the criminal structures associated with it, structures that are not part of what we support.

When Coca is instead used legally, transparently and for products such as beverages, it creates an alternative and sustainable source of value.

Real Coca. Truly from Colombia. No cocaine.

No. Cocayusa contains no cocaine.

For our beverage, we use a specially produced Coca extract from which the cocaine alkaloids have been completely removed. The result is a flavor giving plant extract without any intoxicating effects or relevance under narcotics regulations.

The foundation is the Coca leaf, a traditional cultural plant from South America. In Colombia, Coca is legally cultivated for us by Indigenous Nasa communities within their territories. There, the plant has cultural, social and practical significance, including for endurance, alertness and as part of community rituals.

The important distinction is between the plant and the isolated substance:

Cocaine is only created through multiple chemical processing steps in which the alkaloid is extracted from the leaf and highly concentrated. This has nothing to do with the plant's original use.

In short: Coca yes. Cocaine no.

At first glance, our logo may seem unusual. And that's exactly the point. It is designed to attract attention while telling a story that many people have never heard.

The scene shown does not depict cocaine use. It depicts a Rapé ceremony.

Rapé, pronounced "ha-peh", is a traditional finely ground plant blend from the Amazon region that has been used by various Indigenous peoples for generations.

Rapé is typically made from different powdered plant materials, often combined with the ash of specific trees. The exact composition varies between tribes and traditions. It is not a recreational product in the Western sense but part of ceremonial and cultural practices.

It is administered through a small blowing pipe. The powder is gently introduced into the nose. To outsiders, this may initially seem unusual or even strange. Within Indigenous cultures, however, this practice carries a clear meaning.

It is not about intoxication. It is about focus, clarity and alignment.

Rapé is traditionally used to clear the mind, sharpen attention and create inner alignment. It is often used in ceremonial contexts, such as preparation for rituals, conversations or community decisions.

The connection to Cocayusa is not the practice itself, but the symbolism behind it. Our logo uses this imagery to draw attention to the original plant cultures of South America.

Just like Rapé, the Coca leaf has been part of Indigenous ways of life for centuries. It is traditionally used there not as cocaine, but as a natural leaf.

Our logo is meant to inspire exactly that shift in perspective.

Joshua van Dijk is an entrepreneur, plant enthusiast and the founder of Cocayusa.

In 2006, he founded his first company, Tausendkraut. In 2016, Matchachin followed, making him the first person to bring Guayusa to Germany. In 2026, he founded Cocayusa.

Why?

Because he was bored by what the Empire had to offer.

The same sugar water everywhere. Artificial flavor. Big brands. Very little soul. Even Cola from glass bottles no longer tasted the way it once did.

Then there was another absurd reality.

Coca was once part of Cola history. Today, almost exclusively the Empire benefits legally from the power of Coca. Meanwhile, many Indigenous communities can often only make a living from Coca when the plant enters illegal structures.

Joshua wanted to change that.

Bring Coca back into Cola.
Create legal income for Indigenous Coca farmers.
Coca for Cola instead of the cartels.
Plants instead of chemicals in beverages.
A Cola that tastes great while staying natural.

That's how Cocayusa was born. The rebellion tastes better.

Dr. Cola lives in Switzerland and is considered one of the world's most experienced Cola developers.

For more than 40 years, he developed Cola recipes for the Empire in Switzerland. Worldwide. For well known brands. Including everything from formulations and base ingredients to production.

But he never had true freedom.

Too expensive. Too plant based. Too uncompromising. No real cola nut. No real plant caffeine. And above all, no Coca.

After retiring, he continued researching in his own laboratory to create his ultimate Cola recipe.

Then he met Joshua through their shared interest in Guayusa and natural caffeine.

When Joshua told him he had access to legal Coca extract from Colombia, Dr. Cola switched sides.

From the Empire to the Rebels.

With Coca, Guayusa and cola nut, he developed his masterpiece recipe after 46 years of research.

Because of his past within the Empire, Dr. Cola prefers to remain anonymous.

Cocayusa. The rebellion tastes better.

Cocayusa tastes like Cola used to taste from a glass bottle, only more natural and more complex.

You get that familiar memory of how Cola used to be, with a gentle sweetness, a subtle bitterness and a refreshing finish. At the same time, the flavor feels less artificial and more rounded, plant based and authentic.

That's because of the ingredients:

• Coca adds a smooth and authentic depth
• Guayusa provides gentle natural energy and a lightly earthy note
• Cola nut brings everything together into a true Cola experience

The result is a balanced and natural flavor profile instead of pure sugar driven aromatics.

Many people describe it like this: Like Cola, but more real. Like Cola before it became industrial.

Because we prefer real plants over artificially manufactured active compounds.

Industrial caffeine is produced synthetically, using precursors such as dimethylurea and cyanoacetic acid or chloroacetic acid. While the final molecule may be chemically identical, it lacks the secondary plant compounds naturally found in botanical sources.

We consciously chose a different path. The caffeine in Cocayusa comes from real plant sources:

• Guayusa from Ecuador
• Cola nut from Africa

These ingredients provide more than caffeine alone. They offer a natural combination of plant compounds that noticeably influence the overall experience.

Many people experience plant based caffeine as smoother, more balanced and more pleasant over time.

Because we deliberately chose a more natural and balanced source of acidity.

Phosphoric acid is used in many classic Cola beverages, primarily because of its intense and sharp acidic profile. At the same time, it has been criticized for years, including concerns related to tooth enamel and its potential influence on mineral balance, particularly calcium, which may negatively affect bone health.

That's why we consciously decided against it.

Instead, we use citric acid:

• fresher in taste
• less aggressive
• better aligned with our plant based approach

No aggressive industrial acid. Just a fresher and more natural alternative.

Because we consciously avoid heavily processed color additives and instead choose a more natural solution.

Caramel color such as E150d is produced industrially, often using ammonium compounds and high temperatures. This process can create byproducts that continue to be debated, including substances such as 4-MEI, which has been associated with potential cancer risks.

From a flavor perspective, we are not convinced by this approach either. Caramel color mainly adds color, but very little genuine taste. It can even create a slightly burnt note that has nothing to do with the original idea of a plant based beverage.

That's why we chose a different path:

• We use caramel syrup
• It is produced more gently
• It contributes flavor depth as well as color

Not just color. A real contribution to flavor.