Black maca powder in bulk: black, red and yellow maca for brands
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Short answer: black maca powder is the dried and ground hypocotyl, the root-like tuber, of black maca (Lepidium meyenii). Red and yellow maca are the same species with a different colour. Yellow is the most common colour, while black and red are less common. For a brand, the colour decides which raw material you buy and what you may call it on the label, so check that colour, origin and processing are stated on the specification. GOA Supply sells organic black maca powder from Peru from 10 kg and black maca capsules from 20,000 capsules.
Black, red and yellow maca compared
| Black maca | Red maca | Yellow maca | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Lepidium meyenii | Lepidium meyenii | Lepidium meyenii |
| Part used | Hypocotyl (tuber) | Hypocotyl (tuber) | Hypocotyl (tuber) |
| Availability | Less common | Less common | Most common colour; in one study of Peruvian maca, more than 47% of the hypocotyls were yellow |
| Composition | Differs by colour type, for example in glucosinolates and macamides; growing site and processing also play a role | ||
| EU novel food status | Tubers of Lepidium meyenii: not novel in food | ||
| At GOA Supply | Organic black maca powder (Peru), black maca capsules | Not in our standard range | Not sold under a colour name; see our standard organic maca powder and maca capsules |
What is black maca?
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant from the Brassicaceae family, the same family as turnip, cabbage and mustard. Its native growing area is the high plateaus of the Peruvian Andes, at roughly 3,500 to 5,000 metres. The part that is eaten and processed is the hypocotyl: the swollen part between root and stem, which is often simply called maca root.
The hypocotyl comes in many colours. Research over the last twenty years has described up to seventeen colour types, with black, red and yellow as the main ones and purple and grey as lesser-known types. Black maca is the dark variety. Maca is also grown outside Peru, for example in Yunnan in China, and maca from different regions differs in appearance and composition. Our organic black maca powder comes from Peru.
Why the colour matters for your product
For a brand that sells maca, the colour is more than a marketing detail:
- Composition. A field trial in Peru at 4,100 metres (Clément et al., 2010) found that the colour type largely determined the concentrations of compounds such as macamides, glucosinolates and sterols, and that the growing site also had an effect. Black, red and yellow maca are therefore different raw materials, even though the botanical name is the same.
- Price and availability. Yellow maca is the most widely available colour and the least costly. Some suppliers offer black and red maca as separate products. The share of each colour in the harvest can shift from year to year.
- Label. If you sell "black maca", your specification and CoA should state that the material is black maca. A powder of mixed or unspecified colour should not be sold under a colour name.
Whichever colour you choose, describe the product by what it is: the ingredient, the colour, the origin and the form. As the brand owner you are responsible for any claims on your label under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Raw or gelatinised maca powder
Maca powder is sold in two main processing forms. Raw maca powder is the dried and ground hypocotyl. Gelatinised maca is processed further: after drying and grinding, the powder goes through an extrusion step with short-term high pressure, temperature and moisture. This is done because of the relatively high starch content of maca. The two forms are different raw materials, so the specification should state which one you buy. Our organic black maca powder is described as dried and ground black maca root; ask for the specification if you need processing details.
What to check on a black maca specification and CoA
- Botanical name, part and colour: Lepidium meyenii, hypocotyl, black.
- Origin: country and, where available, region.
- Organic certificate if you sell the product as organic.
- Processing: raw or gelatinised.
- Particle size and moisture, especially if you fill capsules or make drink mixes.
- Microbiology and heavy metals against your specification and the EU maximum levels.
- Identity: in 2018 the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program reported maca powder diluted with corn, wheat and yam powder, so an identity test is worth asking for.
Our guide on how to read a certificate of analysis explains these lines in more detail.
Is maca a novel food in the EU?
No. The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists the tubers of Lepidium meyenii as not novel in food. That means no novel food authorisation is needed to use maca in food supplements or in other foods, such as drink mixes, bakery products and breakfast products. This is a difference with several other botanicals in the same market category: our article on adaptogenic herbs in bulk compares the status of ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca, ginseng and shilajit.
Ordering black maca in bulk or as private label
Our maca range for brands, webshops, health food stores and food producers:
- Organic black maca powder: dried and ground black maca root from Peru, organic and vegan, in 10, 50 or 100 kg.
- Black maca capsules: ground black maca root in vegetarian HPMC capsules, in 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 capsules.
- Organic maca powder: our standard maca, dried and ground maca root, in 10, 50 or 100 kg.
- Maca capsules: ground maca root from the Andes in vegetarian HPMC capsules, in 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 capsules.
Smaller quantities than the standard tiers are possible on request. Prices exclude shipping, and we can arrange transport. Orders are usually shipped within 1–2 weeks, depending on stock. A specification and certificate of analysis are available on request. GOA Supply is organic certified (NL-BIO-01), and our capsules are filled by an external Dutch contract manufacturer. All products are available as private label for your own brand.
FAQ
Is black maca a different plant from yellow maca?
No. Black, red and yellow maca are all Lepidium meyenii. The colour of the hypocotyl differs, and so does the composition.
Where does your black maca come from?
Our organic black maca powder comes from Peru.
Is your black maca powder organic?
Yes. Our black maca powder is organic. GOA Supply is organic certified (NL-BIO-01).
Is maca allowed in food products in the EU?
Yes. The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists maca tubers as not novel in food, so maca can be used in food supplements and in other foods.
What is the minimum order for black maca?
10 kg for black maca powder and 20,000 capsules for black maca capsules. Smaller quantities are possible on request.
Can I sell black maca under my own brand?
Yes. Black maca powder and capsules are available as private label. You are responsible for your label and claims.
Sources
- Minich D.M. et al. (2024). Not all maca is created equal: a review of colors, nutrition, phytochemicals, and clinical uses. Nutrients 16(4):530
- Clément C. et al. (2010). Secondary metabolites in maca as affected by hypocotyl color, cultivation history, and site. Agronomy Journal 102:431-439
- EU Novel Food Catalogue (European Commission): entry Lepidium meyenii Walp.
Written by Florian Fermin, co-owner of GOA Supply.