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In today’s newsletter, we’re sharing a closer look at how maca compares with ginseng, a brief look at the history of maca in the Andes, and a traditional Peruvian recipe for mazamorra de maca—one of the classic ways maca has been enjoyed for generations.
As always, thank you for being here and for supporting high quality Peruvian Maca.
Mark, and the rest of The Maca Team
Maca vs. Ginseng
Maca and ginseng are often mentioned in the same breath, but they’re actually very different plants with different histories and traditional uses. Ginseng is a root native to Asia and North America that has long been associated with stimulating and energizing effects. Maca, by contrast, is a cruciferous plant grown high in the Peruvian Andes and traditionally consumed as a nutritious food rather than as a stimulating herb.
In our updated article, we look at how these two well-known botanicals compare — from their botanical families and traditional uses to how people typically incorporate them into their daily routines today.
Maca has been cultivated in the high Andes of Peru for thousands of years, where it has long been valued as both a nourishing food and an important part of local culture. Grown at elevations above 13,000 feet, this resilient root has sustained Andean communities for generations.
Before maca was available as powders and extracts, it was traditionally dried and prepared in its whole-root form. Our organic whole maca root chips offer a simple way to experience maca much as it has been used in the Andes for generations—perfect for cooking, simmering, or making traditional preparations like mazamorra.
In the Andes, maca has long been prepared as a warm, nourishing dish called mazamorra de maca. This traditional recipe slowly cooks maca with simple ingredients to create a thick, comforting porridge that has been enjoyed for generations.
"Black maca chips are fantastic for energy and libido. I sometimes prefer eating the chips over powder, the chips seem to digest slower thus providing a bit more of a sustained energy boost. Try mixing a heaping tablespoon of maca chips with a half cup of oats, 110g of fresh cranberries and a half cup of milk (simmer maca chips in oats as they cook to soften before eating).
