Ideas for hiding taste of Maca?

[Bampot]

I bought some Maca powder ages ago (before I went raw) because I heard great things about it and that it was good for balancing hormones.

Trouble is I absolutely loathed the taste and just couldn't stomach it on its own (mixed with water). Think I ended up chucking it out (what a waste)!

I'd like to try again with Maca now I'm doing the raw diet - and try to mix it in my morning smoothie or something. But is it possible to hide the taste?

I don't mind if I can taste it a wee bit - maybe it works quite nice mixed with banana and things?

Thanks for your help :)

[adrienne]

just add a little agave (adjust amount to your liking) to your smoothies and it totally masks the taste and yes, banana works well too (plus agave = super yummy)

[Bampot]

just add a little agave (adjust amount to your liking) to your smoothies and it totally masks the taste and yes, banana works well too (plus agave = super yummy)

Ooh thanks for the tips Adrienne - that was what I was hoping to hear!

I just didn't want to buy it and find I had to throw it away again - also I loathe adding something to a smoothie and it ruins the taste of the whole thing.

What does it taste like in a smoothie - say with bananas and greens? Kind of malty?

[adrienne]

yeah, a bit malty and i find a little like a vanilla shake
i really like it as long as i have agave to offset that bitterness
and in our smoothies (almost one whole vitamix containter) i use about 1/2 teaspoon of maca and a couple of squirts of agave plus the fruit and greens, but experiment and have fun, you can always add more agave etc if needed)
good luck!

[Bampot]

Great I'll put my order in for some Maca!

[mblessed]

Bampot, in addition to what others have shared, I use it in the BestCoffeeEver recipe (see this board, it has a thread of its own.) It kind of tastes like a malted shake. It calls for some unusual ingredients, that you may or may not have (it took me awhile to gather them up from various sources), but it was truly worth the wait! So, if you are open to that recipe, it is a perfect compliment of super foods. My husband and I both love the recipe.

Good luck to you finding ways to incorporate Maca!

Blessings and peace,

Marcia

[snowdrop]

i came across this recipe in the journal section:
"A Chocolatey Morning
The wonderful thing about owning a raw chocolate business is always having chocolate in all its various forms on hand. I LOVE raw chocolate drinks. This morning I'm have the following yummylicious drink:

3 cups water
12 raw cashews
small handful gogi berries
1 dessert spoon of raw maca
4 dessert spoons of raw cacao nibs
3 dessert spoons of raw agave nectar
1 heaping dessert spoon of raw coconut cream (oooohhhh!)
Whiz in the Vita-Mix and sip all morning. Gotta love this stuff!!!

I'm literally buzzing and feeling great. I remember the first time I ever tried raw cacao. I knew I had been introduced to something special. I don't eat it all that much actually. Maybe, 2-3 times a week, but when I do it's a definite treat."

ok i tried this and it is yummo!!!
i made it w/ & w/o the goji, still good.
less agave, still good.
it is just gooood.
i put a dash of cinn in too.


i tried my maca in a fruit smoothie and gagged. tasted like i put a radish in there. so i backed off and use 1 tsp instead of 1 T, and i only use it in choclate or banana concoctions. it works real good in there.
hope you can eat your maca. don't throw it out if you can't tho... wait and see if it works later on in your raw journey, or send it to me!!!!
:)
xoxoxo

[fairygirl]

that drink sounds yummo!!!

I have maca in my smoothie every day. now, this isnt a sweet smoothie, but has everything the body needs ;)

water
frozen strawberries
wild blueberries
maca
msm
goji berries
cacao beans
spirulina
spinach
coconut butter
touch of agave
sometimes ginger and cayenne for an extra boost

[Veganforlife]

Pineapple (fresh or frozen) is a good flavor-hider.
Fairygirl -your smoothie sounds yummy!
Snowdrop - that sounds good too!

[Rawkinlocs]

I use it in my vanilla or chocolate shakes and it works well...I don't use a lot, probably about a tsp.

[GurlyGirlOne]

We cut over ripe bananas in half, wrap them in Saran Wrap and keep them in the freezer.

Once frozen, we put one in the Vitamix with 1TB maca, 1 tsp agave, a touch of both cinammon and vanilla. A little coconut water (regular water will do in a crunch) for consistency and you've got a super delish shake.

[beppa66]

Here's one suggestion. They sell plain gel caps at the healthfood store, you could fill them with the maca and take them like a suplement if the recipes aren't doing the trick. We actually take ours this way...no icky taste.

[Bampot]

Fab - thanks for all your tips! Snowdrop that recipe sound srumptious, and is a variation on one I already make, so gets the thumbs up from me. :)

I managed to find Maca today in a great health food store across town that I'd not been to for ages (called Grassroots on Woodlands Road for anyone else from Glasgow reading this) - despite the guy in the shop never having heard of it!

So.... I got home and made a green smoothie with the following:

1 large frozen banana
large handful frozen raspberries
large handful blueberries
1 tsp maca (I thought I'd just try a little to start with)
good scoosh of agave syrup
big handful spinach
dessert spoon green food powder
mineral water

.... and guess what - it tastes fabulous!!!!

Can't really taste the Maca at all, and next time I think I'll be brave and add a bit more. If I really make the effort I can taste something a bit malty - but nothing that makes my taste buds go bleurrgghhh.

[Veganforlife]

Here's one suggestion. They sell plain gel caps at the healthfood store, you could fill them with the maca and take them like a suplement if the recipes aren't doing the trick. We actually take ours this way...no icky taste.

Oh - you gotta watch those gel caps - normally they are made from beef - unless it specifically states Vegan somewhere on the container. Just a word of advice.

[Chickadee]

Oh - you gotta watch those gel caps - normally they are made from beef - unless it specifically states Vegan somewhere on the container. Just a word of advice.

Actually, they're normally made from pork...all the really nasty, scary parts too. Or a combo of beef & pork. Just for your 411.