Maca is an incredible plant growing in the high, inhospitable areas of the andean mountains where it is cold, windy, and too bright for most plants to live. Maca is of the mustard family, and is also known as peruvian ginseng because of its medicinal effects. It has a tangy taste and butterscotch like aroma. Of all plants grown in the andes its nutritional value is among the highest. Today maca is becoming an important commodity for the andeans and is often traded for other staples such as corn, rice, and beans.