Black Maca Benefits: What I Noticed After 60 Days of Testing It

Black maca has been getting a lot of attention as a supplement — people were calling it a game-changer, claiming it improved everything from energy and strength to libido and focus. I was intrigued enough to actually test it, so I bought a bag of black maca powder and ran a two-month trial. Here’s exactly what happened.

What Is Black Maca?

Maca is a root vegetable native to Peru and comes in several varieties — yellow, red, and black. Black maca is considered the rarest and most potent of the three. It’s been used by indigenous Peruvians for centuries as both a food source and a medicinal remedy. The claimed benefits are extensive: improved strength, energy, stamina, hormone balancing, libido, and focus — the last two in particular have driven a surge of interest among men.

It’s not hard to find and it’s not expensive. I bought mine as a powder, though capsules are also widely available.

What Does Black Maca Taste Like?

It’s an acquired taste — earthy and quite strong, though nowhere near as brutal as shilajit. If you’re a coffee drinker you’ll probably tolerate it fine. What I’d warn against is taking it raw on a spoon. It has a sticky, dense consistency that doesn’t mix well with water and sticks to the roof of your mouth.

The move is to add it to a smoothie with some fruit. The taste blends in and you’ll barely notice it. Capsules are the other option if you want to skip the taste entirely.

How Long Does Black Maca Take to Work?

For the first three to four weeks I noticed nothing. I was starting to think the video was going to be a disappointing one. Black maca is a slow burner — it needs time to build up in your system before anything shifts. If you try it for two weeks and feel nothing, that’s not unusual. Don’t bail early.

Around the month mark is when things changed for me.

What Results Did I Notice After 60 Days?

My gym numbers started moving. Deadlift, bench press, weighted pull-ups — all improved, and at a faster rate than I’d seen in a long time. This was notable because my numbers had been stuck for a while, partly due to a back injury in 2021 that knocked me back significantly. I’d been slowly recovering those numbers, but since taking black maca the progression accelerated.

Beyond the numbers, my motivation shifted. I found myself willing to push further than I normally would — adding weight where I’d usually be cautious, going for another set when I’d normally stop. I wasn’t feeling as tired between sets. It’s hard to quantify but it felt like a real change in what I was willing to attempt, and I kept surprising myself.

On libido, sleep, and mood — no particular change in those areas. The main effect for me was physical performance in the gym, which was consistent and noticeable.

Does Black Maca Increase Testosterone?

This is one of the most common claims about black maca and I looked into it. I couldn’t find solid evidence to back it up — and that’s consistent with what the research actually shows. A 2024 review confirmed that while maca improves sexual function, it doesn’t significantly alter testosterone levels. So if you’re buying black maca expecting a testosterone spike, the evidence isn’t there. The strength and performance benefits are a different matter.

Should You Try Black Maca?

Yes — with two important caveats. First, find a good quality product. As with any supplement the market varies wildly in terms of what you’re actually getting. Second, be consistent and be patient. A month of nothing before it kicks in is discouraging, but if you bail at week two you’ll never find out if it works for you.

It’s now something I plan to keep in my routine long term. The gym performance improvement alone is enough reason, and it’s cheap and easy enough to take that there’s no real barrier to trying it.

Author

Stuart Patrick

Stuart Patrick is a health and fitness lifestyle journalist who writes for ListedFit.com.

“I've spent a lot of time trying to get in shape and change my body and I realised there are so many untruths in the health and fitness industry that can slow down or stop your progress, so I share my knowledge and experience to help others to cut through the BS.”

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