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The Truth About Peruvian Maca

Since the year 2000, China has been unsuccessfully attempting to acquire this Peruvian treasure. To protect its national interest, the Peruvian government, in 2002, banned the export of whole Maca roots and seeds that could be used for cultivation outside of Peru.

In the years that followed, the Chinese illegally and in an organized manner exported seed material and Maca roots across the poorly guarded Bolivian border. The goal was to research and improve its cultivation in China's mountainous province of Yunnan. However, that project ultimately failed due to the significant difference in soil composition and unsuitable climatic conditions.



The Problem with Chinese Maca

Chinese maca has such a degenerated root that it often looks more like ginger, primarily because of the excessive amount of chemical fertilizers they use.

Conversely, it has been scientifically proven that Peruvian maca is an original product, intrinsically linked to the high-altitude Andes. It is grown at the ideal altitude of 3,900 to 4,300 meters and benefits from its proximity to the Equator, resulting in a soil extremely rich in minerals.

No other mountain range is as rich in ores and soil minerals as the Andes. This is why Peruvian maca is exceptionally rich in minerals and other essential nutrients. This rich soil is what enables the high content of alkaloids and macaenes in the root, which are responsible for Maca’s unique and beneficial effects. In fact, in the early 1990s, even NASA included Peruvian maca in their advanced astronautical diet.


The Crucial Role of Macaenes

The concentration of macaenes in the Peruvian root is paramount. They are known to be one of the most effective natural compounds for the pituitary gland (hypophysis), which naturally begins to decline in function with age.

These significant compounds—the macaenes—are contained only in Peruvian maca, which is proven to be a more effective adaptogen than some varieties of ginseng. The ginseng root is a Chinese national treasure, and Maca is a Peruvian one, yet no one is trying to take over the Chinese heritage.


The Global Market Deception

Historically, Chinese buyers always imported the best quality Maca from Peru for their own needs. Since 2000, the circumstances have changed, and now China exports its degenerated root, misrepresenting it as Peruvian Maca.

The significantly lower price of Chinese maca is a key reason many of the world's biggest superfood suppliers have switched to this more profitable resource. Despite this, it's evident that Chinese buyers themselves still prefer Peruvian maca, and the number of people who report not feeling the beneficial effects of the cheaper Chinese maca is increasing globally.

Chinese producers are selling maca far below the cost-effective price for the Peruvian farmer. Simultaneously, the best Peruvian maca cultivators are now sowing only a limited quantity of the world’s finest maca each year, sometimes having to rely on storing stock from past seasons. It is anticipated that one day, true Peruvian Maca may not be available outside of Peru.

The Peruvian government is making a final attempt to protect its heritage by adding 'Peruvianum' to its scientific name, a strategic move to safeguard its origin. We, however, continue to sow the finest Maca for our customers and remain committed to our mission in Peru because we simply love it.