Keep Cool with Maca

It’s important to stay hydrated as temperatures rise. You don’t want a day of fun in the sun to end on a sour note due to dehydration or heatstroke. Many beverages touted as refreshing contain lots of sugar or food coloring that isn’t actually good for you at all. If you’re making an effort to stay healthy this summer, you should know what you’re putting into your body. Adding maca to your diet is a good way to keep those energy levels high. But did you know that you can also incorporate maca into nutritious, refreshing drinks that can help you stay cool? Here are some of our favorite recipes for beverages that will keep you going strong on these hot summer days!

Keeping it Traditional

Chicha de maca is a fermented maca beverage that’s been prepared for centuries in the Peruvian Andes where our quality organic maca originates.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup purple corn flour
• 1 cup Maca chips (or 1/2 cup Maca powder)
• 1/4 cup Quinoa
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 10 Cloves
• 1.5 Gallons of Water

Preparation:

1. In a large pot, boil the cornstarch, Maca, Quinoa, Cinnamon and Cloves over the course for about 2 hours.
2. Allow the mixture cool, strain and place in a large container. Add sugar.
3. Allow to ferment for 2-6 days.
4. Serve cold.

Keeping it Simple

Maca teas and juices are a simple, straightforward way to enjoy maca beverages made with our Fair Trade, non-GMO maca products. We encourage you to give them a try!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 fresh carrots
• 1/2 a lemon or lime
• 2-3 radishes
• 3 stalks celery
• 1-3 t Maca powder

Directions:

1. Juice all vegetables.
2. Add Maca powder and blend either in a blender or a blender bottle.
3. Enjoy immediately

Here's a simple Maca Tea Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2-3 t maca powder 
• 1 C of your favorite hot tea

Instructions:

1. Brew your hot tea for 3-5 minutes
2. Add Maca and stir or shake in a blender bottle until well combined.
3. Add ice (if desired)

Keeping it Sweet

Many people start their day with a sweet beverage, whether it’s a cup of coffee with sugar or a smoothie. But a high sugar intake can accelerate dehydration, so it’s a good idea to try a more natural alternative during these sweltering summer days.

Ingredients:

• 6-10 medium fresh strawberries
• 1 banana
• 1-3 t maca powder
• 1/4 cup rice or almond milk
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1 t flaxseed oil
• 1 C ice cubes (if you want a cold drink)

Preparation:

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy this healthy strawberry banana smoothie immediately.

Maca Mocha Frappe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brewed and cooled coffee
• 3/4 cup non-dairy milk
• 1 large, plump pitted Medjool date (or 2 tsp honey)*
• 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I love Vitacost’s raw cacao powder)
• 1 tsp maca powder

Preparation:

In a high speed blender, blend until smooth and frothy:Serve in a glass (or a mug). Pour over ice cubes. Using coffee ice cubes is recommended!

H2 Feeling Inspired?

We hope these recipes have inspired you to keep cool with maca this season! Maca is an important part of our health routine, and we hope it will become part of yours, too. Still have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We love talking about our maca. Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.

Enjoy the day!