The root that learned to live above the clouds

Peruvian maca root as a traditional Andean food ingredient for a considered morning ritual, nourishment shaped by altitude.

Maca root from Lepidium meyenii is selected for Clekina’s Energy & Vitality Collection as a traditional Andean food ingredient for a considered morning ritual.

Maca grows where comfort is not guaranteed.

High in the Peruvian Andes, the air is thin, the sun is strong, and the nights can be cold. The plant grows close to the ground, with its most valued part hidden beneath the surface.

Before maca became a powder stirred into coffee or smoothies, it was cultivated, dried, cooked and eaten as food.

It was not a luxury ingredient.

It was nourishment shaped by altitude.

Where it comes from

Maca, or Lepidium meyenii, belongs to the Brassicaceae family, alongside plants such as broccoli, cabbage and mustard. It is traditionally associated with the highlands of Peru, particularly the central Andes.

The edible underground part is often described as a root, although botanically it is a thickened storage structure known as a hypocotyl-root. Maca occurs in several natural colours, commonly including yellow, red and black.

These colours may differ chemically, but they should not be turned into simplistic promises that one colour is "for women," another "for men," or another "for energy." Research comparing maca types remains limited and product-specific.

Clekina should only describe the powder as Peruvian, tri-colour, organically grown or sourced from a particular altitude, farm or cooperative when the supply-chain documentation confirms it.

What the science says

Maca has been investigated in small human studies concerning sexual desire, mood, subjective energy, menopausal symptoms and male reproductive outcomes. Some studies have reported promising findings. However, systematic reviews repeatedly note that the number of trials is small, participant numbers are limited, products and doses differ, and study quality is not consistently strong.

- Maca does not boost testosterone - It does not balance hormones - It does not treat infertility - It does not cure fatigue or guarantee libido

In one controlled study, reported changes in sexual desire were not accompanied by changes in serum testosterone. This is an important distinction: maca should not be described as a hormone supplement simply because it has traditionally been associated with vitality.

The honest position is that maca is a traditional Andean food with developing but inconclusive human research.

Why this version

Clekina’s preferred format is gelatinised maca root powder, provided that the manufacturing specification confirms it.

Gelatinised does not mean that animal gelatin has been added. In food processing, gelatinisation refers to using heat and moisture to alter the natural starch structure. The precise process varies between manufacturers, so claims that a particular powder is easier to digest must be supported by evidence for that ingredient.

A tri-colour blend may reflect maca’s natural colour diversity, but its exact proportions and botanical identity should be documented.

Stir the amount stated on the final label into coffee, cacao, oat milk, porridge or a smoothie. Clekina places maca in the morning ritual, but it should not be presented as a stimulant or an immediate energy effect.

Frequently asked questions

What is maca?

Maca is an edible Andean plant known scientifically as Lepidium meyenii.

What does gelatinised maca mean?

It means heat and moisture have been used to alter the root’s natural starch. It does not mean gelatin has been added.

Does maca increase testosterone?

Available human research does not establish maca as a testosterone-boosting supplement. When should I take maca? Follow the final label. Clekina positions it as part of a morning food ritual.

Maca does not ask the body to become someone else.

It asks the morning to begin with something steady.

Discover Maca for a slower, more considered Energy & Vitality ritual.