Black maca vs yellow maca: what is the difference?

Short answer: Black and yellow maca are the same plant, Lepidium meyenii, with a different colour of root. Yellow maca is by far the most grown colour, black maca is rarer and tastes fuller and earthier. The composition partly differs by colour, but research per colour has mainly been done in rats and mice; in humans, yellow and black maca have never been properly compared. So choose mainly on taste, and follow the dose on the label. You can read more about the plant itself in our article on maca.

Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

We sell both yellow and black maca, as powder and as capsules. The question we get most often about it: what is the real difference? Below we set out what is known, what is marketing and how to choose.

What is the difference between black and yellow maca?

The difference is in the colour of the root, the taste, how often the colour is harvested and partly in the composition. The plant, the cultivation and the use are the same.

The percentages come from a Peruvian study in which roots from mixed harvests were counted by colour (Meissner et al., 2016). An older count from 1992 of 758 batches came to about 48% yellow and 4% black (Tello et al., cited in Meissner et al., 2016).

Why is black maca rarer?

On a maca field the colours grow mixed together. Black roots are only a small part of that. In Peru about 13 colours have been described, from white to black (Gonzales, 2012). After harvest the roots are sorted by colour. Because there is less black maca, it usually costs more. You see that with us too: black maca is a little more expensive than yellow.

Once ground, you can't reliably tell from the colour of the powder which maca it is. So you depend on what the supplier puts on the label. Check that the colour is clearly stated, and whether it is one colour or a mix.

Does the composition of black and yellow maca differ?

Yes, partly. In a controlled trial in the Andes, colour affected most of the plant compounds the researchers measured, such as glucosinolates, macaenes and macamides (Clément et al., 2010). In two other studies yellow maca always had the fewest glucosinolates and red maca the most, with black maca in between (Meissner et al., 2015; Meissner et al., 2016).

Two caveats. In nutritional value, such as protein and fibre, the researchers found only small differences between the colours (Meissner et al., 2016). And the composition depends at least as much on where the maca grows and how it is processed after harvest (Ulloa del Carpio et al., 2024). So a black maca from one field can be more like a yellow one than like a black one from another field.

What does research say about black maca?

Most research on black maca has been done in rats and mice. In humans there is one larger study that looked at black maca, and it did not include yellow maca. No health claims have yet been finally approved for maca in the EU, so below we only describe what was studied.

• Rats: rats received yellow, red or black maca for 7 or 42 days. The researchers compared, among other things, sperm production and sperm motility between the colours (Gonzales et al., 2006).
• Mice: in experiments with mice, researchers looked at memory and learning and compared black, red and yellow maca (Gonzales, 2012).
• Humans: 175 adults in Peru took 3 grams of black maca extract, red maca extract or a placebo a day for 12 weeks. The researchers asked about mood and energy, among other things. The black maca extract contained more macamides than the red one. Both extracts were well tolerated (Gonzales-Arimborgo et al., 2016).

A rat is not a human, and a dried extract is something other than ground powder. So these studies say nothing about what our maca does for you.

Is black maca stronger than yellow maca?

That has not been shown in humans. There is no good study comparing yellow and black maca in people. "Stronger" is mostly a marketing word. The same goes for "black maca is for men, yellow for women": it is the same plant, for everyone.

Our packs state a separate dose for each colour. Stick to the label of the product you use, and don't simply swap gram for gram between products.

What is red maca?

Red maca is a third colour, 10 to 20% of the harvest in the Peruvian count. In the Meissner studies red maca had the most glucosinolates. We don't sell red maca.

Black or yellow maca: which should you choose?

Choose mainly on taste and use. These are the questions we would ask ourselves:

1. Taste: if you like mild and sweetish, choose yellow, like our maca powder. If you want a fuller, earthy taste, for example in cocoa or coffee, choose black maca powder. Recipes and tips are in how to use black maca powder.
2. Price: yellow maca is cheaper. With black maca you mainly pay for its rarity.
3. Form: powder in your breakfast or smoothie, capsules if you don't want any taste.
4. Label: does it state the colour, the dose per day and whether it is organic?
5. Combining: if you use both, add up the amounts and stay within the daily dose.

Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or do you have a medical condition? Then talk to your GP or pharmacist first. That is also on our packs.

Summary in 3 points

• Black and yellow maca are the same plant with a different colour of root. Yellow is the most grown colour, black is rarer and tastes fuller.
• The composition partly differs by colour, but also by field and processing. Research per colour has mainly been done in animals.
• Choose on taste, price and form, and stick to the dose on the label.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: black or yellow maca?

That can't be said. The two colours have never been properly compared in humans. The nutritional value differs little, the plant compounds partly differ by colour.

What does black maca do?

No health claims have yet been finally approved for black maca in the EU. Research with black maca has mainly been done in rats and mice. In one human study, participants took an extract of black or red maca for 12 weeks and the researchers asked about mood and energy, among other things.

What does black maca taste like?

Fuller and earthier than yellow maca, which is mild, nutty and slightly sweet. Black maca goes well with cocoa, coffee and banana.

Can you combine black and yellow maca?

Yes. Just add up the amounts and stay within the daily dose on the label.

Is maca allowed in the EU?

Yes. The maca root is listed in the European catalogue as not a novel food. It was already eaten in the EU before 1997.

Sources

1. Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Piatkowska E, et al. Peruvian Maca (Lepidium peruvianum): (II) phytochemical profiles of four maca colours from two growing areas. Int J Biomed Sci. 2016;12(1):9-24. PubMed 27127450
2. Meissner HO, Mscisz A, Mrozikiewicz M, et al. Peruvian Maca (Lepidium peruvianum): (I) phytochemical and genetic differences between black, red and yellow maca. Int J Biomed Sci. 2015;11(3):131-145. PubMed 26508907
3. Clément C, Diaz Grados DA, Avula B, et al. Influence of colour type and previous cultivation on plant compounds in maca. J Sci Food Agric. 2010;90(5):861-869. doi:10.1002/jsfa.3896. PubMed 20355123
4. Gonzales GF. Review of the ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology of maca. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:193496. doi:10.1155/2012/193496. PubMed 21977053
5. Gonzales C, Rubio J, Gasco M, et al. Rat study with yellow, red and black maca and sperm production, 7 and 42 days. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103(3):448-454. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.035. PubMed 16174556
6. Gonzales-Arimborgo C, Yupanqui I, Montero E, et al. Randomised, placebo-controlled study with 3 g of black or red maca extract a day in 175 adults, 12 weeks. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2016;9(3):49. doi:10.3390/ph9030049. PubMed 27548190
7. Ulloa del Carpio N, Alvarado-Corella D, Quiñones-Laveriano DM, et al. Review of the variation in composition and research on maca. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1360422. doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1360422. PubMed 38440178
8. European Commission, Novel Food Status Catalogue, entry Lepidium meyenii Walp. (tubers): "not novel in food", accessed 5 November 2026. food.ec.europa.eu
9. GOYU, labels and product pages Maca Powder Organic, Maca Capsules 500 mg Organic, Black Maca Powder Organic and Black Maca Capsules 500 mg Organic, accessed 5 November 2026.

You'll find all colours and forms of our maca on the page buy maca. Curious which other superfoods there are? Read what superfoods are.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, pregnant or taking medication, talk to your GP or pharmacist.