Maca a root vegetable native to the peruvian andes has been in use since pre incan times also known as peruvian ginseng maca is becoming increasingly popular nowadays for its many health benefits what is maca powder maca lepidium meyeni or lepidium peruvianum a root vegetable native to the peruvian andes has been in use since pre incan times maca powder is simply the root vegetable which has been gently dried and milled at low temperatures into a fine powder what does it taste like