How to Compare Brands of Maca

Maca is a powerful root that is grown traditionally at altitudes of 13,000-15,000 feet. It is native to the Junin plateau highlands of Bolivia and Peru, where it has been cultivated for more than 2000 years. Most brands currently available harvest and grind from these regions.

History

• While there are no documented accounts of its use by the Incan people, legends from various sources connect it extensively with Inca warriors. It is clear that maca has been cultivated for centuries as a major agricultural crop in the highlands, where few other crops grow.

Types

• Maca varies in the color, size and shape of the root. The root may be triangular, circular or rectangular. It is found primarily in colors of black, cream and red. Cream is the most common and widely used. The cream roots are the largest and the sweetest tasting. The black roots are reported to have the strongest medicinal value, although research is not conclusive.

Benefits

• Maca is used primarily as a sexual enhancer for men and women. It also has been found to boost energy and sometimes is referred to as the Peruvian ginseng. It has nutritional value as well, as it contains a spectrum of trace elements and B vitamins.

Regions

• Alpaca and sheep eat and fertilize maca root

  Maca croplands are fertilized mainly with sheep and alpaca manure. Maca cultivation from the Bolivian and Peruvian highlands is almost entirely organic. Although maca has been cultivated outside the Andes, research has not yet shown whether it develops the same active composition or potency.

Brands

• Almost all the individual brands have their own websites. Each will give details on the region where the maca was cultivated and the type of maca that is being ground. Brands may differ in concentration if you are purchasing the powder in capsule form. Some brands may add other ingredients to capsules as well. This information will be labeled clearly.