Maca root (Lepidium meyenii): the Andean vitality root explained
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a root vegetable that grows on the high plateaus of the Peruvian Andes. Andean communities have eaten it for centuries and value it as a traditional food for vitality. Today it is sold as a dried powder and in capsules.
Key takeaways
- Maca is a root related to radish and turnip, grown at very high altitude in Peru.
- It is traditionally eaten as a vitality food in the Andes.
- Longjack XXXL lists maca among its five confirmed plant ingredients.
- Gelatinised maca is gentler on the stomach than raw powder.
- Ask a GP first if you have a thyroid condition or a hormone-sensitive condition.
What exactly is maca?
Maca belongs to the cabbage family, the same group as radish, turnip and broccoli. It forms a small, squat root about the size of a radish. Colours range from cream to yellow, purple and black, and each has its own fans.
Fresh maca is hard and earthy. Growers dry it in the cold mountain air, which makes it keep for years. Powder made from the dried root is the form that reaches shops and capsules.
Where does maca grow?
It grows near Junín and Pasco, around four thousand metres above sea level. At that altitude the frost is hard, the wind is strong and the soil is poor. Few crops survive there, yet maca does.
Peruvian farmers have cultivated it for well over a thousand years. Peru's high plains are far from anything we see in South Africa, which is part of the charm: a root from the roof of the Andes ends up in a capsule in Soweto or Stellenbosch.
How have Andean people traditionally used maca?
Families cook the root in the ground as a baked vegetable, grind it into flour for porridge, or ferment it into a drink. Highland communities have long regarded it as a food that keeps them going through hard work in thin air.
That is where its reputation for vitality comes from. We describe it as a traditional food with a place in everyday Andean life. We do not claim that it produces any particular result in your body.
- Baked whole in hot embers
- Ground into flour for porridge and bread
- Brewed into a warm drink
- Dried and powdered for capsules
What is the difference between raw and gelatinised maca?
Raw maca powder is simply dried and milled. Gelatinised maca is heated first, which removes some of the starch and makes the powder easier to digest. Many people find the gelatinised version gentler on the stomach, and it is common in capsules.
The label of your own pack tells you which type it is, or the adviser can tell you when they call.
How does maca appear in Longjack XXXL?
Maca is one of five plants named for Longjack XXXL, together with fenugreek, Siberian ginseng, tongkat ali and horny goat weed. The seller describes the capsule as a daily men's formula for energy, stamina and confidence, taken in the evening before a meal with water as part of a three-month course. The pack lists the full composition with amounts.
Who should talk to a GP or pharmacist before taking maca?
Maca is a food, and it is well known in Peru. Capsules are more concentrated than a bowl of porridge, though, so a few checks make sense.
Ask first if you have a thyroid condition, because the cabbage family contains compounds that can matter for thyroid health. Ask if you have a hormone-sensitive condition, take blood-pressure medicines, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is maca a herb or a vegetable?
It is a root vegetable from the cabbage family, grown for its swollen root. People eat it as food and also use it as a powder.
What does maca taste like?
Earthy and slightly sweet, a little like butterscotch mixed with malt. In capsules you do not taste it.
Does the colour of maca matter?
Colours vary from cream to black. Each is traditionally preferred for different uses in Peru. The label of your product lists what it contains.
Can women take maca?
It is a food in the Andes, eaten by everyone. For capsules, women should check with a GP, especially with a hormone-sensitive condition, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Is maca safe with other medicines?
Ask your pharmacist if you take thyroid, hormone or blood-pressure medicines. Show them the pack so they see the full list.
