Sacred Tree of the Mapuche: The Maqui Berry

Maqui, Aristotelia chilensis, is a small tree that grows wild in the Southern Chilean countryside, where it has been eaten for centuries by the Mapuche Indians. The Mapuche Indians of Southern Chile are an incredible culture. They successfully defended their territory from the invading Incas and the Spanish and were never conquered.

How did they resist conquest for hundreds of years? Simply put, they had to be faster, stronger and healthier than their adversaries. The Mapuche warriors consumed a beverage daily that was made from Maqui Berries and their amazing strength and stamina is legendary. The Maqui tree is sacred to the Mapuche and they hold that its fruit has "healing powers".

Our experience over and over again is that legends about food are frequently backed up by science, and in the case of Maqui it is no different. We sent Maqui berry samples for antioxidant testing and we were stunned by the results. This little known berry received the highest score for any fruit we had ever tested. Maqui came in at an impressive 616 on the ORAC antioxidant scale.

For comparison, blueberries score a 35 on the ORAC scale. Maqui has a deep rich purple color which is a tell tale sign of anthocyanins, a powerful group of antioxidants. The anthocyanins in maqui not only give it its color but also give it its many documented health advantages such as fighting fatigue, inflammation and stomach disorders. Maqui is also said to help slow the aging process, a reoccurring theme in antioxidant rich foods.

Anyone looking to boost their antioxidants should check out Maqui. It has a great flavor and makes an excellent smoothie. The Mapuche often use maqui to make jams.

Here is a quick recipe for a Simple Maqui Smoothie:

10 oz almond milk
1 frozen banana
1 Teaspoon maqui powder