Fresh Panax ginseng root on a bed of moss

Adaptogenic herbs in bulk: ashwagandha, rhodiola, maca, ginseng and shilajit compared

Short answer: "adaptogens" or "adaptogenic herbs" is a category name that the supplement market uses for a group of roots, tubers and resins. The five products compared here are very different raw materials: ashwagandha and rhodiola are roots, maca is a tuber, Panax ginseng is a root that we supply as an extract, and shilajit is not a plant at all but a resin-like substance found in mountain rock. All five are listed in the EU Novel Food Catalogue as not novel, at least in food supplements. Maca and Panax ginseng are also not novel in other foods.

Five adaptogenic herbs in bulk compared

Product Source and part Forms at GOA Supply Specification on the product page EU Novel Food Catalogue
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera, root Organic ground root powder; capsules with ground root; organic KSM-66 root extract as powder and capsules KSM-66: withanolides > 5% (water extract) Not novel in food supplements; a non-concentrated aqueous infusion of the root is not novel in food
Rhodiola Rhodiola rosea (golden root), root Root extract powder; capsules with Rhodiola rosea root Specification on request Root and herb: not novel in food supplements
Maca Lepidium meyenii, hypocotyl (tuber) Organic maca powder; organic black maca powder; maca and black maca capsules Black maca powder: origin Peru, organic Tubers: not novel in food
Panax ginseng Panax ginseng (Korean or Asian ginseng), root Root extract powder and extract capsules Specification on request Panax ginseng: not novel in food
Shilajit Mumijo, a resin-like substance from mountain rock Purified resin extract, standardised to 5% or 50%, as powder and capsules Fulvic acid ≥ 5% or ≥ 50% Not novel in food supplements; novel in other foods

Standard order tiers for all of these are 10, 50 or 100 kg for powders and 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 capsules.

What "adaptogenic herbs" means for a bulk buyer

Webshops, health food stores and supplement brands group these products under one name, and many buyers search for them that way. For purchasing, quality control and labelling, the group name is not very useful: each product has its own botanical source, plant part, processing and regulatory status. Handle every product in the category as a separate raw material, with its own specification and certificate of analysis.

The category name also has a labelling side. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, any claim that states, suggests or implies a relationship between a food or one of its constituents and health is a health claim, and health claims may only be used if they are authorised and included in the EU lists. As the brand owner, check every word on your label and website against that rule, including the way you describe the category.

Ashwagandha: ground root or KSM-66 extract

Ashwagandha is the root of Withania somnifera. In bulk it comes in two main forms. Ground root powder is the dried and milled root, without extraction. KSM-66 is a branded, root-only extract of ashwagandha made by Ixoreal; our organic KSM-66 powder is specified at withanolides > 5% as a water extract. The two forms are different raw materials with different specifications, so do not compare them on price per kilogram alone. We supply organic ashwagandha powder, ashwagandha capsules with ground root, and organic KSM-66 powder and capsules.

The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists Withania somnifera as not novel in food supplements; only a non-concentrated aqueous infusion of the root is listed as not novel in food. In practice, ashwagandha is a raw material for food supplements; any other food use would first have to be checked under the novel food rules.

Rhodiola rosea: root extract

Rhodiola rosea, also called golden root, belongs to the Crassulaceae family. The root is the part used. We supply rhodiola rosea extract powder, an extract of the root, and rhodiola rosea capsules with Rhodiola rosea root in vegetarian HPMC capsules. Rhodiola extracts on the market are specified in different ways, so ask for the specification and compare the marker compounds and ratios line by line. The catalogue lists the root and herb of Rhodiola rosea as not novel in food supplements.

Maca and black maca

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is the only product in this comparison that is listed as not novel in food in general, so it can also go into food products such as drink mixes and bakery products without a novel food authorisation. We supply organic maca powder, organic black maca powder from Peru and maca and black maca capsules. Our article on black maca powder in bulk explains the difference between black, red and yellow maca.

Panax ginseng: root extract

Panax ginseng, also known as Korean or Asian ginseng, is a different plant from American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and both have their own entry in the catalogue. We supply Panax ginseng extract powder, an extract of the root, and Panax ginseng extract capsules. Make sure the species is stated on your specification, because "ginseng" alone is not a botanical name.

Shilajit: 5% or 50% extract

Shilajit, also known as mumijo, is a dark, resin-like substance found in mountain rock. It is not a herb, but it is sold in the same market category. Our shilajit is a purified resin extract, standardised to fulvic acid ≥ 5% or ≥ 50%, as shilajit 5% extract powder, shilajit 50% extract powder and capsules of both. The EU Novel Food Catalogue lists mumijo (shilajit) as not novel in food supplements but novel in other foods. Use in other foods would require a novel food authorisation, so shilajit is a raw material for food supplements.

Comparing specifications across the category

Because these products range from ground roots to standardised extracts, the specification lines that matter differ:

  • Ground powders (ashwagandha root, maca): botanical name, part, origin, particle size, moisture, microbiology and heavy metals.
  • Extracts (rhodiola, Panax ginseng): additionally the extract ratio or standardisation, the solvent and any carrier.
  • Standardised extracts (KSM-66, shilajit 5% and 50%): the marker compound, the minimum content and the test method.

National rules for botanicals in food supplements also differ between EU countries. Check the rules and any notification duty in every country where you sell.

Ordering adaptogenic herbs in bulk or as private label

All products in our adaptogens collection are available in bulk: powders in 10, 50 or 100 kg and capsules in 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 capsules. Smaller quantities are possible on request. Prices exclude shipping, and we can arrange transport. Orders are usually shipped within 1–2 weeks, depending on stock. A specification and certificate of analysis are available on request. GOA Supply is organic certified (NL-BIO-01), and our capsules are filled by an external Dutch contract manufacturer. Every product is also available as private label. As the brand owner, you are responsible for your label and claims under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.

FAQ

Which adaptogenic herbs does GOA Supply sell in bulk?
Ashwagandha (ground root and KSM-66 extract), rhodiola rosea, maca and black maca, Panax ginseng extract and shilajit 5% and 50% extract, as powder, in capsules or both.

Are adaptogenic herbs novel foods in the EU?
Not these five. Ashwagandha, rhodiola and shilajit are listed as not novel in food supplements; maca and Panax ginseng as not novel in food. Check the catalogue entry for the exact part and form.

Is shilajit a herb?
No. Shilajit, or mumijo, is a resin-like substance from mountain rock. It is sold in the same market category as the herbs.

What is the difference between ashwagandha powder and KSM-66?
Ashwagandha powder is ground root. KSM-66 is a branded root extract made by Ixoreal, specified at withanolides > 5%.

What is the minimum order?
10 kg for powders and 20,000 capsules for capsules. Smaller quantities are possible on request.

Can I use the word adaptogen on my label?
Wording that suggests a relationship between a product and health is a health claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and needs an authorised claim. You are responsible for your label.

Sources

Written by Florian Fermin, co-owner of GOA Supply.

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