How to Use Maca Powder: 10 Easy Ways and Recipes
By Dr Corin Storkey, co-founder of Seleno Health · Updated November 2026
Maca powder has a malty, caramel, slightly nutty flavour that is easy to love, and it fits into almost any routine. Here is how to use maca powder, how much to take, and three easy maca recipes to get you started.
What is maca powder?
Maca powder is made from the dried root of maca, a plant that grows at 3,500–4,500 metres in the Peruvian Andes. Roots come in yellow, red and black, each with a slightly different profile: yellow is the everyday all-rounder, while red and black are rarer and have been studied for specific areas of health (see yellow vs red vs black maca). Maca also comes as crunchy maca nibs and concentrated extracts.
Choose activated maca first
In Peru, maca is always cooked before eating. Raw maca powder should be cooked, but gelatinised (activated) maca is pre-cooked, so you can add it straight to cold or raw recipes. Read why you should never eat raw maca.
10 easy ways to use maca powder
- Smoothies: blend with banana, berries, nut milk and a handful of greens.
- Maca latte: whisk into warm milk with cinnamon and a little honey or maple syrup.
- Hot chocolate: stir into cacao for a rich, malty drink.
- Coffee: add a teaspoon to your morning flat white.
- Porridge and overnight oats: stir through with fruit, nuts and seeds.
- Yoghurt or kefir: top with maca, fruit and granola.
- Bliss balls and energy bars: mix with oats, nut butter and dates.
- Baking: add to pancakes, muffins, cookies and banana bread.
- Chia pudding: stir into coconut milk chia for a caramel note.
- Traditional Andean tea: simmer with cinnamon, cloves and dried fruit, as they do in Junín.
Three easy maca recipes
Maca caramel smoothie
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup almond or oat milk
- 1–2 tsp activated maca powder
- 1 tbsp nut butter
- Pinch of cinnamon
Blend until smooth. Add a few ice cubes or a date for extra sweetness.
Maca latte
- 1 cup milk of your choice
- 1 tsp activated maca powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
Warm the milk, whisk in the maca, cinnamon and sweetener until frothy, and serve.
Maca cacao bliss balls
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup nut butter
- 6 soft dates
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 2 tbsp activated maca powder
- Desiccated coconut, to roll
Blitz everything (except the coconut) in a food processor, roll into balls, coat in coconut and chill for 30 minutes.
How much maca powder should you take?
Most clinical studies on maca have used 1.5–3.5 g a day, roughly ½–1 teaspoon of maca powder, taken daily for 6–12 weeks. Start with a smaller amount and build up. Maca can feel energising, so many people prefer it earlier in the day. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication, check with your healthcare practitioner first. See is maca safe?
Which maca should you buy?
For everyday cooking and smoothies, try organic activated maca powder or chocolate maca. For targeted blends, see Maca for Women and Maca for Men. Prefer not to cook? Compare maca powder vs capsules, and read the benefits of maca root.
Frequently asked questions
What does maca powder taste like?
Activated maca has a malty, caramel, slightly nutty flavour. Raw maca is more earthy and bitter.
Can you put maca powder in coffee?
Yes. A teaspoon of activated maca stirs easily into coffee or a latte.
Can you bake with maca powder?
Yes. Maca works well in pancakes, muffins, cookies and banana bread.
When is the best time to take maca?
Many people take maca in the morning or early afternoon, as some find it energising. Consistency matters more than timing.
Do you need to cook maca powder?
Raw maca should be cooked. Gelatinised (activated) maca is pre-cooked and can be eaten as is.
