Coffee is the favoured beverage for most people looking to energise their day, but ancient mayan cultures preferred a different vice!
In Peru people add ground maca root to boiled water, making a drink rich in vitamin and protein content. It is also blended with juice or into porridge and other foods to add nutrients and a nutty flavour.
Maca is a plant of the mustard family grown by the Andean people for centuries as a food crop and medicinal plant. It was traditionally used by warriors to nourish the body and sustain energy for battle. Today, this superfood is cultivated for global distribution and sold as a health supplement in the form of powder or capsules.
Maca is an adaptogenic food that helps enhance energy and balance stress in the body. Unlike stimulants such as caffine, it supports adrenal function and assists with regulating hormones.
The following recipe places a modern spin on an ancient elixir.
MACACCINO:
A Superfood Mix to replace your Starbucks Fix!
INGREDIENTS:
1 teaspoon maca powder
1 teaspoon of lucuma powder (adds a nice caramel note)*
1 tablespoon coconut sugar*
1 1/4 cups of tree-based milk
DIRECTIONS:
Warm the milk over a stove or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Then place wet and dry ingredients into a blender and blitz on high until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
NOTES:
Serves one. *Achieve a similar result by substituting homemade tree-based milk with unsweetened coconut milk.
