11 Things to Know About Black Maca: Origin, Forms and How to Use It

by Mother Nature Organics 0 comment(s) Dec 07, 2021

The short answer: Black maca is the darkest color type of maca (Lepidium meyenii), an Andean root vegetable grown above 4,000 meters in central Peru. You can buy it as raw powder (1 teaspoon, 5 g per serving) or as a concentrated 50:1 extract in capsules (750 mg per capsule, made from 37,500 mg of root). Here is what to know before you choose.

Woman blending a smoothie in a bright kitchen with a bag of Mother Nature Organics organic maca root powder

A creator shows how he stirs our black maca powder into his morning coffee.

1. What is black maca?

Maca is a root vegetable in the same plant family as broccoli, radish and turnip. The roots come in yellow, red, purple and black; black maca has a dark skin and a slightly stronger, earthier taste than yellow.

2. Where does it grow?

Maca is cultivated on the high plateaus of the Junín and Pasco regions of Peru, at roughly 4,000 to 4,500 meters, where frost, strong sun and wind make most crops impossible. Our black maca is from Peru.

3. Why is black maca harder to find?

In a typical harvest, yellow roots are by far the most common. Black roots are a small share, so farmers sort them by hand after harvest. That is why black maca usually costs more than yellow.

4. How is it traditionally prepared?

After harvest, roots are dried in the open air for weeks. In Peru, dried maca is cooked into porridge, blended into warm drinks such as jugo de maca, or baked into breads. It has been a food crop in the Andes for centuries.

5. Raw powder or extract: what is the difference?

	Raw black maca powder	Black maca capsules (50:1 extract)
What it is	Dried, milled whole root	Concentrated extract plus 5 mg BioPerine®
Serving	1 tsp (5 g)	1 veggie capsule, 750 mg extract
Root equivalent	5 g root	37,500 mg root (per label)
Servings	about 91 per 16 oz bag	60 or 180 per bottle
Best for	Smoothies, oatmeal, baking	No taste, travel, routine

6. What does "raw" mean?

Our powders are raw: the root is dried and milled, never gelatinized. Gelatinized maca is a different product, pre-cooked under pressure to remove starch. Raw powder keeps the root's natural texture and flavor and is ideal for blending.

7. How much is a serving?

The label serving for raw black maca powder is 1 teaspoon (5 g), about 20 calories. For capsules, 1 capsule daily with water. There is no established best time of day; pick a moment you will remember.

8. What does it taste like?

Earthy, nutty and malty with a slight butterscotch note. It pairs well with cacao, banana, cinnamon, coffee and peanut butter.

9. Three easy ways to use the powder

Morning smoothie: 1 banana, 1 cup milk, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tsp black maca, ice.
Maca latte: 1 cup warm milk, 1 tsp black maca, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp honey.
Baking: replace 1 tablespoon of flour per batch with black maca, as in our cacao oat maca cookies.

10. How should you store it?

Keep the bag sealed in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration is not required. Moisture causes clumping, so use a dry spoon.

11. Is maca right for everyone?

Maca is a food, but if you are pregnant, nursing or taking medication, ask your healthcare professional before adding any supplement. Research on maca is limited, individual experiences vary, and we do not promise any result.

Frequently asked questions

Is black maca stronger than yellow maca?

Black maca has a stronger, earthier flavor. Its composition differs slightly by color type, but all colors are the same species, Lepidium meyenii.

Can I bake with raw maca powder?

Yes. Raw maca powder works in cookies, pancakes and breads. Swap up to about 1 tablespoon of flour per batch.

How many servings are in a bag?

Each 16 oz (454 g) bag of our raw black maca powder holds about 91 servings of 1 teaspoon.

What customers say

Woman holding a bag of Mother Nature Organics Organic Red Maca Powder (lifestyle photo, not the reviewer)

Woman blending a smoothie in a bright kitchen with a bag of Mother Nature Organics organic maca root powder (lifestyle photo, not the reviewer)

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Mother Nature Organics, founded 2016. Every order is backed by our 60-day money-back guarantee.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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