According to the Peruvians, Lepidium meyenii is said to be an all- natural and safe aphrodisiac. No, it is not a new drug in the market but simply a tuber that is similar to a radish and is greatly cultivated in the high- altitude central highlands of Peru. It is also known as maca.

Since ancient times the sexual- enhancing ability of the maca has already been known. During the Incan empire, the maca was grown to be used both as a food staple and an energy and sexual- functioning enhancer. When explorers from the West arrived in Peru, they noticed that their farm animals had lesser sexual fertility as they grazed on higher altitude. Heeding the advice of the Incas, they fed their animals with maca and to their amazement, the animals’ fertility was quickly restored. The Europeans eventually learned that the same effects can be expected in humans.

Up to this day, maca is still greatly a part of the Peruvian palate. In one mining town called Cerro de Pasco in Peru, an annual National Maca Festival is being held. The festival lasts for two days and features maca growers and traders, plant geneticists, researchers and manufacturers. As a tourist, you will be in awe by the various maca- based products and delicacies available. Out of maca flour, there are baked goods (such as cookies and cakes) and puddings to be sampled. There is also maca jello, distilled maca liquors, maca chips and blender drinks with maca root, which accordingly resembles the taste of graham flour.

Maca blender drinks are quite popular and can be found in a number of booths and are made by women. The most common ingredients in the drinks are a couple of  maca roots that have been soaked, a small amount of the water used in soaking, a handful of fresh papaya (which come from the warm lowlands), some condensed milk, one egg, honey and vanilla. You can give this recipe a try to satisfy your curiosity.