What is the Best Type of Maca to Take?
Posted by The Maca Team on 30th Apr 2025
Maca root has been treasured for thousands of years for its ability to support energy, stamina, hormone balance, and overall wellness. But did you know there’s more than one type of maca? Each variety - yellow, red, and black - offers its own unique profile of benefits. Whether you're looking to boost your endurance, support hormonal health, or simply feel more vibrant, choosing the right type of maca can help you get the best results.
At The Maca Team, we believe that knowing the differences between each maca variety is key to unlocking its full potential. Here’s a quick guide to help you find the perfect fit for your health goals.
Yellow Maca: The Most Versatile Choice
Yellow maca is the most abundant and widely available form of maca root, making up about 60% of the maca harvest in Peru each year. It has a well-rounded nutrient profile and is considered the "generalist" among the different types.
Benefits:
- Supports overall energy and resilience
- Helps maintain hormonal balance
- Enhances mood and emotional well-being
What it’s Best for:
Yellow maca is ideal for those who are new to maca and want a gentle, everyday boost. It’s affordable, plentiful, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for an easy introduction to maca’s broad range of health benefits.
Red Maca: Hormonal Support and Bone Health
Red maca stands out for its high phytonutrient content and mild, slightly sweet flavor. It accounts for approximately 25% of the yearly maca harvest. Traditionally, it has been associated with reproductive and hormonal health, particularly for women. Our red maca products have been our standout bestsellers for good reason.
Benefits:
- Supports hormonal balance, especially during PMS and menopause, reducing harsh symptoms
- May aid fertility in women
- Promotes bone strength and density
- Provides antioxidant support
What it’s Best for:
Women seeking natural support for hormonal shifts, as well as anyone concerned with maintaining strong, healthy bones, often turn to red maca. Its gentle yet powerful properties make it a favorite for long-term wellness.
Black Maca: Strength, Stamina, and Brain Power
Black maca is the rarest type of maca root, accounting for only about 15-20% of yearly harvests in Peru. It's also considered the most potent when it comes to boosting physical and mental performance. These factors make it our most costly product range, but you’ll find that it’s well worth the expense.
Benefits:
- Enhances stamina, endurance, and athletic performance
- Improves memory, focus, and cognitive function
- Supports male fertility and sperm health
What it’s Best for:
Black maca is a powerhouse for athletes, busy professionals, students, and anyone looking to maximize both body and mind performance. It’s also highly recommended for men who want extra reproductive support.
Should You Choose Raw or Gelatinized Maca?
Once you’ve chosen your maca type, there’s another important decision: raw or gelatinized?
- Minimal processing preserves enzymes and nutrients.
- Best suited for individuals with strong digestive systems.
- Ideal for those seeking the most "whole food" experience.
- Gently pre-cooked to cut down on starch content, making it easier to digest.
- Concentrates maca’s active compounds.
- A better choice for individuals with sensitive digestion or those new to maca.
If you’re unsure where to start, gelatinized maca is often a gentle, effective introduction - especially if you sometimes experience digestive discomfort. The gelatinization process has minimal effect on the nutritional content of maca, ensuring that you’ll still get the most out of its wide range of benefits while heading off any stomach upset.
How to Pick the Right Maca for Your Needs
Still not sure which maca is right for you? Here are a few quick questions to guide your choice:
- Are you primarily interested in hormone balance or fertility? Try red maca.
- Are you an athlete, student, or looking for extra brain power? Go for black maca.
- Want an overall vitality and mood boost? Yellow maca is a safe, effective choice.
- Have a sensitive digestion? Choose gelatinized maca over raw maca.
Remember, some people find that combining different types of maca gives them even better results. For example, blending red and black maca can provide hormonal balance along with increased stamina! Our maca also comes in a tri-color or “heritage blend” similar to how it would’ve been consumed by the indigenous people of the Andes throughout history, offering the best benefits of all three colors.
Why Shop From The Maca Team?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the best type of maca root. The right variety depends on your individual goals, your lifestyle, and your body’s unique needs. Whether you choose yellow, red, or black maca - or a combination of all three with our tri-color maca products - you can trust that The Maca Team offers only the highest quality, organically grown maca sourced directly from the Peruvian Andes.
Ready to discover your perfect match? Browse our full range of maca powders, capsules, and extracts today - and experience the benefits of true, authentic maca for yourself. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! We’d love to hear from you. You can Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.
Enjoy the Day!