Comparison
Tongkat Ali vs Maca: What Trials, Doses and Cautions Say
Tongkat ali vs maca is a comparison of two root extracts with different records. Tongkat ali extracts raised total testosterone in a 2022 meta-analysis of five trials. A 12-week maca trial improved self-rated desire with no testosterone change. HoneyBoost has 25 mg of tongkat ali extract and 10 mg of maca extract, far below those doses.
- Label serving1 gummy (4.2 g)
- Per bottle30 gummies
- Guarantee60 days (offer page)
Written by the HoneyBoost label deskUpdated · 4 min read

Basics
What is the difference between tongkat ali and maca?
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is a Southeast Asian shrub whose root is used in traditional medicine. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian root vegetable used as food and as a supplement.
Both are on the HoneyBoost label. Tongkat ali is a 100:1 root extract, and maca is a 10:1 root extract. Neither name tells you how much plant went into the product, so read the mg.
Trials
What did trials find for tongkat ali and for maca?
Tongkat ali has a hormone result, and maca has a desire result. Neither is a result for the HoneyBoost gummy.
A 2022 meta-analysis of five trials found higher total testosterone with Eurycoma extracts in healthy and low-testosterone men. Doses and extract types varied, and the authors called for more research (Eurycoma and testosterone (meta-analysis, 2022)). The rise was in total, not free, testosterone.
In a 12-week trial of healthy men, 1,500 or 3,000 mg of maca a day improved self-rated sexual desire from week 8. Testosterone did not differ from placebo (Gonzales 2002, Maca, desire and testosterone).
| Tongkat ali | Maca | |
|---|---|---|
| Best-known result | Higher total testosterone | Better self-rated desire |
| Testosterone change | Seen in meta-analysis | None in the trial |
| Dose studied | 200 mg a day (one study) | 1,500 to 3,000 mg a day |
| On the label | 25 mg extract | 10 mg extract |
Doses
How do the HoneyBoost amounts compare with the studied doses?
They are well below. The tongkat ali line is 8 times below the 200 mg a day used in an open one-month study. The maca line is at least 15 times below the trial amount.
The extract ratio does not close the gap. Per the label, 25 mg of 100:1 extract equals 2,500 mg of root, but the root is not in the gummy. Only the extract is.

HoneyBoost: 2, 3 or 6 bottles30 gummies a bottle · 30 days at 1 a day · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsCautions
Which one carries more cautions?
Both have cautions, and they differ. LiverTox rates tongkat ali a possible rare cause of liver injury, based on one 2024 case report, and says product strength is not standardized (LiverTox, Tongkat Ali).
Memorial Sloan Kettering says maca may interfere with testosterone lab tests and may affect hormone-sensitive cancers (MSK, Maca). It may not be safe in pregnancy.
- Report yellow skin or eyes, or a new stomach ache, to a clinician.
- Tell your doctor before a testosterone test that you take maca.
- Ask first if you take medicine. The label says not to take HoneyBoost with other medications.
See each plant on our tongkat ali page and maca page.
If you decide
How many HoneyBoost bottles would you need?
One bottle is 30 gummies. Packs of 2, 3 and 6 bottles cover 60, 90 and 180 days.

90-day supply
3 bottles: 90 days
$20790 gummies · 1 a day
Shipping as shown at checkout · 60-day money-back guarantee
Order 3 bottles
Longest supply
6 bottles: 180 days
$294180 gummies · 1 a day
Shipping as shown at checkout · 60-day money-back guarantee
Order 6 bottlesA 2-bottle pack is also sold. Prices are the ones on the seller sales page; the live checkout is final. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order.
FAQ
HoneyBoost questions people ask
Which is better, tongkat ali or maca?
Neither is shown to be better. Tongkat ali has a testosterone result in a meta-analysis, and maca has a desire result in one trial. Both used doses far above the HoneyBoost label.
Can you take tongkat ali and maca together?
We found no source on that pairing. HoneyBoost combines both at small amounts, and no trial tested the mix. Ask a pharmacist first if you take medicine.
Does maca change testosterone levels?
Not in the 12-week trial we read, where testosterone matched placebo. Memorial Sloan Kettering also notes maca did not change serum testosterone in men.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized HoneyBoost Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about HoneyBoost
USA Authorized HoneyBoost Retailer
Ready to try HoneyBoost?
Check your medicines first, especially nitrates, erection medicines and blood pressure medicine, then pick a pack. One bottle is 30 days at 1 gummy a day; 3 bottles cover 90 days and 6 cover 180.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S. with tracking
