Finding Quality Tongkat Ali in the UK

Yellow Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is an herbal plant that is native to a few countries in Southeast Asia, particularly renowned in Malaysia. It has a centuries-long history as a versatile traditional medicine there and, today, Malaysia leads the world in Tongkat Ali research, cultivation, harvesting, extraction, and production. With this in mind, not all Tongkat Ali supplements are created equal. In fact, with growing popularity across the world and dozens upon dozens of brands vying for attention in the UK, it can be difficult for consumers to sniff out the duds from the best. So, does where it is grown actually matter? What about the processes it goes through before it reaches your doorstep? 

In this article, we’ll go into detail to explore how the best Tongkat Ali supplements are made, from cultivation, harvesting, extraction, to how it is stored and delivered right to you.

 

1. Planting and harvest

As a plant that grows best in the wild, where it is grown forms the backbone of the best Tongkat Ali extract. Location determines the soil quality which contributes to the generation of high levels of bioactive compounds in Tongkat Ali roots. The right location is equally important for minimizing contaminants coming from pollutants that can be found in the soil. Protected and remote rainforests are ideal as these spaces remain largely untouched by industrial pollution or modern human activity. Malaysia is well-known for its diverse natural ecosystem, giving the best balance of nutrients and biodiversity necessary for the best Tongkat Ali plants to thrive. 

The most potent Tongkat Ali plants are those that are grown wild in remote rainforests of the Malaysian states like Pahang and Borneo – where some of the oldest rainforests in the world are found. The Tongkat Ali plants found in these two locations have been found to have the highest levels of sheer bioactive ingredients due to the rich, nutritious soil and high levels of biodiversity.

What are some key factors to take into account? 

• Timing of harvest: Tongkat Ali plants properly mature after between 5 - 7 years, making it the best time frame to harvest mature roots rich in bioactive compounds.
• Harvesting by hand: In Malaysia, Tongkat Ali is a protected species, and only the indigenous population are allowed to harvest raw plants from the remote rainforests, as they have done for hundreds of years. This is done by hand and without any industrial farming or machinery, ensuring that the soil and surroundings remain pristine.
• Replanting: Each harvested plant is replaced with a sapling to ensure the cultivation and harvest cycle is done sustainably and with the rainforest’s integrity in mind.
• Proper storage: Harvested Tongkat Ali should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from humidity at collection centers to avoid fungal contamination.
• Chromatography tests: Each harvested batch is tested to ensure bioactive compounds exceed minimum thresholds for potency.

 

2. Extraction & Standardization

In order to produce high quality Tongkat Ali extract, it must contain the best ratio of bioactive compounds that you can extract out of the plants. This amount is carefully balanced to ensure both potency and safety. The highest concentration of bioactive compounds is found in the roots of the Tongkat Ali plant and this is what the best extracts are made from.

A superior Tongkat Ali extract comes with a standardized amount of four key bioactive ingredients: eurycomanone, eurypeptides, glycosaponins, and polysaccharides. The industry standard from the best hot-water extraction method contains up to 3% eurycomanone, 22% eurypeptides, 30% polysaccharides, and 40% glycosaponins. In contrast, cheaper generic extracts may use marketing gimmicks like extract ratios, touting 200:1, or 500:1 extract, but these do not mean anything when it comes to potency or quality.

What’s the best extraction method? 

There are two common extraction methods employed by supplement producers: 

1. Standardized Hot Water Extraction: considered to be more effective at preserving the active compounds in the root, as it uses heat and pressure to extract the compounds, rather than solvents or chemicals. Research says hot water root extracts have the best balance of safety and potency, ideal for long term human consumption at high doses as a supplement.
2. Generic Ethanol Extraction: considered to be cheaper and good for concentrating one specific bioactive compound. However, the use of solvents and chemicals can result in undesirable components left in. Research says ethanol extracts may be toxic for humans at high doses, potentially precluding them from long-term use as health supplements.

Standardized hot-water extraction is also considered to be a more sustainable method, as it uses less resources and produces less waste than other methods. Once all the right components are extracted, the liquid extract is then freeze dried into a convenient and fine powder form while retaining all the bioactive ingredients. 

High quality brands like AKARALI use a patented hot-water extraction method jointly developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Government of Malaysia (US Patent: 7132117, EU Patent: 1313491). This specific proprietary extract is what the vast majority of Tongkat Ali human clinical trials are based on and is the gold standard for regulations governing the minimum bioactive levels that all Tongkat Ali products produced in Malaysia must adhere to in the form of Malaysian Standard 2409 (MS2409).

 

3. Production & Storage

The stage where extracts are encapsulated, bagged, and bottled also forms a key part of the process that can be crucial for determining the quality of a given Tongkat Ali supplement. In fact, the best Tongkat Ali consumer products also undergo third-party lab tested and certified by reputable organizations like EUROFINS before they are sold to consumers.

For the production of final consumer goods, the encapsulation, bagging, and bottling process should take place in a USFDA-approved manufacturing facility that follows the highest quality standards such as Goods Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as well as Halal and Kosher certification for maximum accessibility. AKARALI standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract products, for example, are manufactured in partnership with Biotropics, a public listed company owned by the Government of Malaysia.

In terms of storage, and to ensure optimal shelf life, high quality Tongkat Ali products should be stored in dry spaces, with temperatures below 30C and a low level of humidity with minimal sunlight exposure. If stored correctly, the average shelf-life or expiry date is approximately 36 months from the production date. 

 

Parting words

Quality Tongkat Ali comes from a careful and detailed process that starts with the right roots in the right location, all the way to the package delivered to your door. The wild grown plants are considered an herbal medicinal treasure in Malaysia and is a protected species for a reason. The investment in research and development as well as developing the right extraction method jointly with US experts has been a meticulous process culminating in the only clinically tested Tongkat Ali extract in the world. And while products made with this extract can come at a premium, we think it is well worth the price for peace of mind and your long-term health!