What is this ingredient? Maca extract is a concentrated form of the root of Lepidium meyenii, a cruciferous plant cultivated at high altitude in the Peruvian Andes. Traditionally eaten as a staple food and tonic, maca root contains macamides and macaenes (unique fatty acid derivatives), amino acids, minerals, and glucosinolates. Modern human studies suggest that standardized maca extracts can support sexual desire, perceived energy, and mood, particularly in men and postmenopausal women, often without large changes in circulating sex hormones.

Randomized, placebo‑controlled trials have reported improvements in self‑rated libido and sexual well‑being after several weeks of daily maca supplementation, and some small studies show benefits for semen quality and motility parameters in men. Other work suggests improvements in subjective energy and mood or reductions in antidepressant‑associated sexual dysfunction, indicating an adaptogenic, psychophysical support profile rather than a stimulant‑like effect.

Why include it in this formula? From the product name “MACA COFFEE 100g - 5” and the companion ingredients—Cistanche tubulosa, Tongkat ali, ginseng, cordyceps, and ashwagandha extracts—it’s clear this coffee is designed as an energy and vitality stack, with emphasis on libido, stamina, and stress resilience. Within this architecture, maca extract is the central "baseline vitality and libido" root.

While Cistanche, Tongkat ali, and ginseng lean into androgen, nitric‑oxide, and performance pathways, and cordyceps and ashwagandha support endurance and stress tolerance, maca provides a food‑grade adaptogenic foundation that many people experience as smoother mood, better resilience, and enhanced sexual desire. In a coffee format, maca extract helps shift the experience from pure caffeine stimulation toward a more rounded sense of energy and drive, supporting both day‑to‑day productivity and overall psychosexual well‑being.

What is this ingredient? Cistanche tubulosa extract is a concentrated preparation from the desert plant Cistanche tubulosa, used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic for fatigue, vitality, and healthy aging. It is rich in phenylethanoid glycosides such as echinacoside and acteoside, along with polysaccharides and other phenolics. These compounds have been shown in preclinical models to exert antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti‑fatigue effects, and to support mitochondrial function.

Recent randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled human trials using Cistanche tubulosa in combination with Ginkgo extract have reported improvements in fatigue, quality of life, and aspects of cognitive function in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome and in middle‑aged/elderly individuals with mild cognitive decline [0,1]. Another RCT in older adults with early locomotive syndrome found that 12 weeks of C. tubulosa extract significantly improved gait speed and two‑step test performance compared with placebo, indicating benefits for walking ability and physical function without adverse effects [2]. Cistanche‑based complexes have also shown promise for scalp and hair health and as anti‑fatigue agents in other clinical contexts [6,9].

Why include it in this formula? MACA COFFEE 100g - 5 combines maca extract with Cistanche tubulosa, Tongkat ali, ginseng, cordyceps, and ashwagandha—creating a clear theme of energy, stamina, libido, and stress resilience layered onto coffee’s natural alertness. Within this architecture, Cistanche tubulosa extract is the "endurance and healthy‑aging" pillar. Its clinical signal for reducing fatigue and enhancing locomotive performance in older adults [0,2] complements cordyceps’ VO₂max and endurance support, while its cognitive and quality‑of‑life benefits in fatigued or aging populations [0,1] align with ginseng’s and ashwagandha’s adaptogenic effects.

Cistanche also adds a gentler, whole‑body vitality aspect that pairs well with maca and Tongkat ali, which lean more toward libido and androgen‑related support. In a coffee format, this means that immediate caffeine‑driven alertness is backed by a deeper reservoir of anti‑fatigue and functional aging support—helping users feel not just “wired” in the moment, but more robust and mobile across the day and over time.

References

• [0] A botanical product containing Cistanche and Ginkgo extracts potentially improves chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms in adults: a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34901100/?utm_source=openai))
• [1] A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle‑aged and elderly people ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38972848/?utm_source=openai))
• [2] Effects of Cistanche tubulosa Wight extract on locomotive syndrome: a placebo‑controlled, randomized, double‑blind study ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33477648/?utm_source=openai))
• [6] Effects of Cistanche deserticola supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41010491/?utm_source=openai))
• [9] Efficacy of Cistanche tubulosa and Laminaria japonica extracts (MK‑R7) in promoting hair health in patients with patterned hair loss ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25954733/?utm_source=openai))

What is this ingredient? Tongkat ali extract is derived from the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a Southeast Asian shrub traditionally used as a male vitality and anti‑fatigue tonic. Standardized extracts concentrate quassinoids (eurycomanone and related compounds), triterpenes, and peptides. Modern randomized, double‑blind trials suggest that tongkat ali can support aspects of androgen status, sexual function, and stress. In stressed adults with moderate anxiety and low libido, 200 mg/day of tongkat ali for 4 weeks significantly reduced tension, anger, and cortisol while increasing total and free testosterone within the normal range compared with placebo [turn0search0].

In middle‑aged men with late‑onset hypogonadism, 200 mg/day for one month improved Aging Male Symptom scores and increased the proportion of men with normal testosterone from 35% to over 90% [turn0search1]. Other studies report improvements in erectile function, semen quality, and sperm concentration in subfertile men, as well as increased lean mass and strength when combined with resistance training. Collectively, the data support tongkat ali as a physiologic “androgen‑support” adaptogen rather than a supraphysiologic hormone booster.

Why include it in this formula? MACA COFFEE 100g - 5 combines maca extract, Cistanche tubulosa, tongkat ali, ginseng, cordyceps, and ashwagandha—clearly positioning the coffee as a daily ritual for energy, stamina, libido, and stress resilience. Within this architecture, tongkat ali extract is the primary "androgen and sexual‑performance" pillar. While maca and Cistanche provide broad vitality and anti‑fatigue support, tongkat ali specifically targets late‑onset hypogonadism–like complaints: low drive, reduced morning erections, fatigue, and diminished strength [turn0search1].

By normalizing suboptimal testosterone and lowering stress‑related cortisol, tongkat ali complements ginseng and cordyceps (endurance and performance) and ashwagandha (HPA‑axis and anxiety modulation). Layered onto caffeine’s acute alertness from the coffee base, this creates a more comprehensive profile: not just a transient energy spike, but a tonic effect on hormonal, physical, and psychosexual aspects of daily performance. In practical terms, tongkat ali helps this coffee feel like a support system for drive and stamina, not just another cup of caffeine.

References

• [1] Talbott SM et al. Effect of Eurycoma longifolia on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects
• [2] Tambi MI. Water‑soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia in managing idiopathic male infertility
• [3] Ismail SB et al. Randomized clinical trial on the use of Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) root extract for the management of late‑onset hypogonadism

What is this ingredient? Ginseng extract usually refers to a standardized preparation from the root of Panax species (most often Panax ginseng), rich in ginsenosides—steroid‑like saponins that act as classic adaptogens. These compounds help the body respond more efficiently to physical and mental stress, modulate the HPA axis, and influence nitric oxide, acetylcholine, and monoamine pathways relevant to energy, focus, and sexual function.

Randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trials in fatigued or stressed adults show that 1–2 g/day of Panax ginseng or standardized ginsenoside extracts for 4–8 weeks can significantly improve mental fatigue, perceived well‑being, and some aspects of physical performance compared with placebo. In men with erectile difficulties or reduced vitality, clinical studies with Korean red ginseng have reported improvements in International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores and self‑rated sexual satisfaction. Ginseng is thus best viewed as a broad-spectrum vitality and performance herb rather than a narrow stimulant.

Why include it in this formula? MACA COFFEE 100g - 5 brings together maca, Cistanche tubulosa, tongkat ali, ginseng, cordyceps, and ashwagandha. The clear focus is on elevating daily energy, stamina, libido, and stress resilience in a coffee format. Within this architecture, ginseng extract is a “central adaptogenic and performance” pillar.

While maca and Cistanche support baseline vitality and anti‑fatigue capacity, tongkat ali emphasizes androgen‑related drive, and cordyceps focuses on aerobic performance, ginseng weaves these domains together—supporting both mental and physical endurance, sharpening stress coping, and contributing to sexual function via NO and neuroendocrine pathways. Ashwagandha provides a calming counterbalance on the stress axis. Combined with caffeine’s rapid alerting effect from the coffee itself, ginseng helps smooth and extend that lift into steadier, more resilient energy and performance across the day—less like a spike, more like a sustained curve.

What is this ingredient? Cordyceps extract is a concentrated preparation from Cordyceps fungi (most commonly Cordyceps militaris or C. sinensis) standardized for bioactives such as cordycepin and related nucleosides. In traditional Chinese medicine, Cordyceps is used as a Qi tonic for stamina, lung function, and recovery. Modern trials in humans and animals suggest it can support aerobic performance, recovery from intense exercise, and aspects of mitochondrial function.

In a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled study, 3 weeks of a Cordyceps militaris–containing mushroom blend (4 g/day) significantly increased VO₂max, ventilatory threshold, and time‑to‑exhaustion on a graded cycling test compared with placebo, indicating improved tolerance for high‑intensity exercise ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27408987/?utm_source=openai)). A recent meta‑analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials in athletes found that C. sinensis supplementation significantly improved endurance performance, VO₂peak, and ventilatory threshold, reflecting enhanced aerobic capacity with low heterogeneity across studies ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41280379/?utm_source=openai)). Mechanistic work shows cordycepin can increase ATP‑generation pathway activity and extend time to fatigue in animal models, and Cordyceps can accelerate resolution of exercise‑induced muscle damage by promoting earlier recruitment and expansion of muscle stem cells in humans ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38501161/?utm_source=openai)).

Why include it in this formula? MACA COFFEE 100g - 5 pairs maca extract with Cistanche tubulosa, tongkat ali, ginseng, Cordyceps, and ashwagandha. The overall goal is to turn a cup of coffee into an adaptogenic vitality stack that boosts energy, stamina, libido, and stress resilience. Within this design, Cordyceps extract is the key "aerobic capacity and recovery" pillar. By raising VO₂max and ventilatory threshold and improving high‑intensity exercise tolerance in human trials ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27408987/?utm_source=openai)), Cordyceps helps transform caffeine’s short‑lived alertness into more sustainable physical performance.

Its roles in ATP pathway support and in speeding muscle regeneration after intense intervals ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38501161/?utm_source=openai)) complement ginseng’s broad adaptogenic effects, tongkat ali’s androgen‑related support, maca and Cistanche’s vitality and anti‑fatigue actions, and ashwagandha’s stress and sleep benefits. In practical terms, Cordyceps extract helps this coffee feel like a pre‑workout and daily endurance tonic in one—supporting oxygen use, power output, and post‑effort recovery rather than providing only a central nervous‑system “kick.”

What is this ingredient? Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract is an adaptogenic herb from Ayurveda traditionally used to support stress resilience, calm energy, and overall vitality. Standardized root or whole‑plant extracts are rich in withanolides, which modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and GABAergic and serotonergic systems. Multiple randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trials show that ashwagandha supplementation (typically 240–600 mg/day for 6–8 weeks) significantly reduces perceived stress and anxiety scores and lowers serum cortisol in chronically stressed adults compared with placebo.

Other studies report improvements in sleep quality, mental fatigue, and aspects of cognitive performance, and some data in active adults suggest benefits for VO₂max, strength, and recovery. Overall, ashwagandha is best viewed as a non‑sedating adaptogen that smooths the body’s response to stressors while supporting steadier physical and mental energy.

Why include it in this formula? MACA COFFEE 100g - 5 combines maca, Cistanche tubulosa, tongkat ali, ginseng, cordyceps, and ashwagandha—clearly targeting energy, stamina, libido, and stress resilience, layered onto the alertness of coffee. Within this architecture, ashwagandha extract is the core “stress‑buffer and recovery” pillar. While cordyceps and ginseng emphasize physical performance and endurance, tongkat ali focuses on androgen‑related drive, and maca and Cistanche support baseline vitality, ashwagandha helps prevent that heightened output from tipping into wired‑and‑tired burnout.

By lowering perceived stress and cortisol and improving sleep and mental calm, ashwagandha allows the stimulant effect of coffee and the performance lift from the other adaptogens to feel smoother and more sustainable, with less jitteriness or post‑peak crash. In practical terms, ashwagandha extract helps this coffee function as a true “tonic brew”: supporting focused, confident energy during the day and easier down‑shifting and recovery at night, instead of simply pushing the accelerator harder.