Peruvian Superfoods Guide: Maca, Cacao, Curcumin & Sacha Inchi

Updated September 2026. Written by Daniela Velarde, founder of Incaliving.

If you search for “best superfoods” you will find long lists of kale, blueberries and salmon. Those are great foods, but they are not what most people mean when they buy a superfood. When people shop for a superfood, they usually want a concentrated, single-ingredient food that adds something their everyday diet does not: extra minerals, plant protein, omega-3, or the traditional plant compounds that certain cultures have relied on for centuries. That is where Peruvian superfoods stand out.

Peru has more distinct climate zones than almost any country on earth, from the 15,000-foot Andean plateau to the Amazon rainforest. Four foods from those zones have become the backbone of the superfood world: maca, cacao, curcumin (turmeric) and sacha inchi. This guide explains what each one is, what makes it “clean”, how to use it, and how to choose a good one.

What makes a superfood “clean”?

“Clean” is not a regulated word, so here is exactly what we mean by it at Incaliving. A clean superfood is:

• One ingredient. Maca powder should be maca root. Cacao powder should be cacao. No fillers, flow agents, sweeteners or “proprietary blends”.
• Certified organic. USDA Organic certification means no synthetic pesticides, no GMOs, and an annual inspection you can verify.
• Traceable to a farm. You should be able to find out where it was grown, not just which country.
• Minimally processed. Cold-pressed oil, non-alkalized cacao, sun-dried roots. Heavy processing strips out the nutrients you are paying for.
• Fresh. Most superfoods travel by sea container and sit in warehouses for months. Freshness affects potency, especially for oils and cacao.

Every Incaliving product is grown on organic farms in Peru, packaged at the source, and flown (not shipped) to the United States. That is the whole idea behind our “from farm to your table” promise.

1. Maca: the Andean root for energy and balance

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a root vegetable that grows only at extreme altitude in the central Andes, around 13,000 to 15,000 feet, where almost nothing else survives. The Inca ate it for stamina, and it is still a daily food in the Junin region today. It has a malty, butterscotch-like taste and blends easily into smoothies, oatmeal and coffee.

Maca comes in three colors, and they are not the same:

• Red maca is the rarest and mildest. It is the color most often chosen by women, and it is traditionally used to support hormonal balance and mood.
• Black maca is the strongest. It is the color most often chosen by men and athletes, traditionally used for stamina, focus and physical performance.
• Triple maca is a blend of red, black and yellow roots. It is the best place to start if you are new to maca and want the full range of benefits in one jar.

Raw or gelatinized? Gelatinized maca has had its starch removed using pressure, not heat. It has nothing to do with gelatin (it is fully vegan). Gelatinized maca is easier to digest, more concentrated, and does not cause the bloating some people get from raw maca. All Incaliving maca is 100% gelatinized.

How to use it: Start with half a teaspoon a day and work up to one teaspoon (5 g). Take it in the morning; it is caffeine-free but energizing. Powder is the most economical; capsules are easier to travel with. Read more in our guide to red, black and triple maca.

2. Cacao: the original superfood of the Amazon

Cacao is the raw bean that chocolate is made from. In its unsweetened, non-alkalized form it is one of the richest food sources of magnesium, iron and flavanols, the plant compounds that give dark chocolate its reputation. Most cocoa in supermarkets is “Dutch-processed” (alkalized), which smooths the taste but destroys most of the flavanols. Clean cacao is never alkalized.

Our Peruvian Cacao Powder comes from Tingo Maria in the high jungle, sun-dried and ground with nothing added. Our Raw Cacao Nibs are simply the crushed bean, crunchy and slightly bitter, perfect on yogurt or in granola.

Does cacao have caffeine? A little, about a tenth of a cup of coffee per serving, plus theobromine, a gentler stimulant that gives a steady lift rather than a spike. Many customers use cacao to replace their afternoon coffee. See our full answer on caffeine in cacao.

How to use it: One to two tablespoons in smoothies, hot cacao, oatmeal, energy balls or baking. Cacao and maca together make a delicious morning drink.

3. Curcumin: Peruvian turmeric at its most potent

Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric root, and the reason turmeric is golden yellow. Turmeric grown in Pampa Camona, in the Chanchamayo valley of Peru, is prized for its unusually high curcumin content. Curcumin is traditionally used to support joint comfort and a healthy inflammatory response, and it is one of the most studied plant compounds in the world.

Our Curcumin Powder is pure ground turmeric root, and our Curcumin Capsules give you 500 mg per veggie capsule, 120 capsules per bottle, with no fillers.

The absorption trick: Curcumin on its own is poorly absorbed. Take it with a pinch of black pepper (the piperine in pepper dramatically increases absorption) and a healthy fat, such as sacha inchi oil, coconut milk or eggs. Golden milk and curry are traditional ways of doing exactly that. Read our post on curcumin and black pepper.

4. Sacha inchi: the plant-based omega-3 and complete protein

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis), also called the Inca peanut, is a star-shaped seed from the Peruvian Amazon. It is remarkable for two things. First, its oil is about 45 to 50% omega-3 (ALA), one of the highest of any plant, with a light, nutty taste that is excellent on salads. Second, the seed is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids, which is rare in the plant world.

• Cold-Pressed Sacha Inchi Oil: extra virgin, unrefined, from our farm in Lamas, Peru. Use it raw (do not fry with it): one tablespoon a day on salads, in smoothies, or straight from the spoon.
• Sacha Inchi Protein Powder: about 9 g of complete plant protein per serving, with the fiber and omega-3 that whey and pea protein do not have.
• Sachi Snacks: roasted sacha inchi seeds, natural, salted or spicy. About 10 g of protein and only 4 g of carbs per serving, which makes them one of the cleanest keto-friendly snacks you can find.

How to choose a clean superfood (a five-question checklist)

1. Is it USDA Organic certified? Look for the seal, and look up the certifier (ours is CCOF).
2. Is it one ingredient? Read the label. If it lists anything you would not expect, put it back.
3. Do they name the farm or region? “Product of Peru” is not the same as “grown in Junin at 14,000 feet”.
4. How was it processed? Cold-pressed, non-alkalized, sun-dried and gelatinized are the words you want to see for oil, cacao, cacao and maca respectively.
5. How did it travel? Ask. Almost nobody flies their superfoods. We do, because freshness is potency.

A simple daily superfood routine

• Morning: 1 teaspoon of maca and 1 tablespoon of cacao in a smoothie or warm plant milk.
• Lunch: 1 tablespoon of sacha inchi oil on a salad, or a handful of Sachi Snacks.
• Evening: Curcumin capsules with dinner, or a golden milk made with curcumin powder, black pepper and a little fat.

Every Incaliving order ships with free samples, so you can try the products you have not ordered yet. If you have questions about which maca color or which product is right for you, contact us. Daniela answers every message personally.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best superfoods from Peru?

Maca, cacao, curcumin (turmeric) and sacha inchi are the four most established Peruvian superfoods. Quinoa, lucuma and camu camu are also from Peru, but the four above have the strongest tradition of daily use and the most research behind them.

Can I take maca, cacao, curcumin and sacha inchi together?

Yes. They are whole foods, not drugs, and many of our customers use all four every day. Maca and cacao go together in the morning; curcumin works best with a fat, and sacha inchi oil is a good one.

Are Incaliving superfoods organic?

Yes. Our maca, cacao, curcumin and sacha inchi are USDA Organic certified through CCOF, grown on organic farms in Peru and packaged at the source.

Why fly superfoods instead of shipping them by sea?

Sea freight adds one to three months in a hot container and then more time in a warehouse. Oils oxidize and powders lose aroma and potency. Air freight gets our products from Peru to Florida in days, which is why customers so often tell us they can taste the difference.

How long does a bag last?

Our sizes are designed to be about a one-month supply at the suggested serving: 250 g of maca, 284 g of cacao, 120 curcumin capsules, or 8.5 oz of sacha inchi oil.

Shop all Peruvian superfoods | Maca | Cacao | Curcumin | Sacha Inchi

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Traditional uses are described for educational purposes only.