What is the shelf life of Maca?

In fact, many people have never seen maca in their daily lives. It is a plant, but after being processed in a certain way, it can be used as a Chinese medicinal material. In this way, its medicinal value becomes very rich. In this way, many people will use maca as a Chinese medicinal material to regulate their bodies when they feel unwell.

The main edible part of maca is the maca root. 7-9 months after sowing, when the maca plant grows to 12-20 cm in length, you can get the swollen maca root. It will bloom again after a few months, and the fruit can be obtained one and a half months after flowering. Under suitable conditions, it only takes one year for Maca to complete a life cycle. Studies have shown that in California and other places in the United States, as long as sufficient water is provided and the right season is chosen for sowing, Maca grown in the wild can complete its life cycle within a year.

However, more often than not, when the maca root grows to a maximum diameter of about 5 cm, due to the limited amount of rainfall, people dig it up, dry it, and store it for a period of time. When the conditions are right, the maca root can germinate again and the seeds can be harvested 4-6 months after cultivation. In this way, maca needs two years to complete a life cycle. Therefore, maca is an annual or biennial plant. [4][5]

Maca needs to live on a plateau more than 3,000 meters above sea level, where the temperature difference between day and night is large and the growing conditions are relatively harsh. Maca has very demanding growing conditions. It is only suitable for growing in high-altitude mountainous areas. It requires a temperature difference of more than 30°C between day and night, abundant rainfall, and freshwater lakes around it. This unique growing condition limits its cultivation. And because of its strong "absorption capacity" for soil nutrients, the land needs to rest for seven years after each harvest. The Andes Mountains in South America and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area in Lijiang, Yunnan, China are the most suitable planting areas for these stringent conditions.

Maca can be eaten after being dried in the sun, or made into a cold dish. It is better to eat it cooked. It can provide a lot of heat energy. People who have tasted maca say that eating it makes them feel satisfied and very comfortable, and it tastes sweet.

The fresh roots of Maca can be fried with meat or other vegetables, or they can be dried and cooked with water or milk. Local indigenous people often add honey and fruit juice to the fresh roots and drink them as a beverage. Maca is rich in high-unit nutrients and has the function of nourishing and strengthening the human body. People who have consumed it will feel energetic, vigorous and not tired.