A practical purity guide to help you determine if you have real Shilajit.

When it comes to health and hygiene, concern is the primary emotion that comes to mind.Thinking of health and hygiene, the first emotion is concern.

The popularity of shilajit has resulted in a genuine problem as sham products are now available in the market, ranging from diluted and low potency to the well documented cases of compressed peat, soil or synthetic resin dyed to look like shilajit. Shilajit is not a manufactured product; therefore, quality and authenticity can be greatly variable between different brands and quality, as well as authenticity, can mean wasted money — unlike many supplements, getting the quality and authenticity wrong can mean a true heavy metal exposure risk.

You will learn about the actual tests and quality markers that will help you identify real and pure Shilajit from diluted or fake, before purchasing, and how to check what you have in your possession.

Why fake Shilajit is so prevalent?Why fake Shilajit is so common?

Genuine Shilajit takes hundreds of years to form and is a slow process that slowly trickles out of rock fissures formed at high altitudes through compression of ancient plant matter under geological forces. That shortage, plus the high demand around the world, has given ample financial motivation to those less scrupulous to cut corners. Examples of common problems in the low end of the market are:

Dilution using less expensive real resin extenders to stretch a smaller amount of resin to use a larger volume.
Compressed peat or soil in the form and color of a real resin.
Raw resin resin, which is not being treated for heavy metals, is sold with a real risk of contamination.
Synthetic fulvic acid powders which are sold under the name "Shilajit extract" that contain no true resin whatsoever.

These are not obviously wrong on the surface, hence knowing what to check is important.

How to test the purity of Shilajit at home?At home, there are simple tests you can use to check the purity of Shilajit.

The Warmth Test: Genuine Shilajit resin will feel soft when you warm it between your fingers and it becomes sticky. Fake products, or those that have been heavily adulterated will not bend or soften easily and will often fall apart, as these products do not have the natural resin content of the real product.

For Water Dissolution Test: Add a small amount of Shilajit to a cup of warm water. Real resin will take several minutes to dissolve completely, with the water running a translucent brown color, and a small amount of undissolved sediment at the bottom. The fake versions will either break down too quickly and completely (which is a giveaway that it is a synthetic powder and not resin) or there will be too much grit that hasn't dissolved (which means that it is soil or mineral filler).

Flame Test (Caution Advised): Genuine Shilajit will not readily burn if a flame is held on it for a short time; it will soften and smoke. Burning or melting products, such as plastic, are not good candidates. This type of test should be done with care, and it should not be performed in the presence of flammable materials; this type of test is used as an additional test rather than a main one.

The Genuine Shilajit has a distinct and strong earthy and somewhat bitter smell, which are like the smell of tar or hay. Should not be powdery, chalky, or overly smooth. An even "foreign" fragrance or one that is too sweet should be treated with suspicion.

There are several quality markers that are more important than home test kits.Several quality markers are more important than home test kits.

Home tests can be helpful indicators however they can't be used to replace correct lab verification. When shopping, keep these well-documented quality indicators in mind:

The one most important thing to look for is a Certificate of Analysis (CoA): Heavy metal testing (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) is confirmed by a genuine CoA from a third party lab, as is ideally the fulvic acid content. This is available for reputable brands upon request and/or directly on the product page.

Not Raw: Raw, unprocessed Shilajit has a significantly greater contamination risk. To get to the consumer, purified Shilajit has been processed in a specific way to eliminate heavy metals and other impurities — always look for this on the label.

Stated Fulvic Acid Percentage: The quality resin will have at least about 60% Fulvic Acid stated. Those that provide no such information, or only very ambiguous information, are more difficult to verify as being naturally potent.

Transparency: Sourcing the region and altitude from which Shilajit is sourced is a good general indicator that a brand is using sourcing seriously, and not concealing its product's source.Himalayan or High-Altitude Sourcing: Although it is not the only region Shilajit is sourced from, it is a positive sign of a brand that puts attention into sourcing, rather than hiding the source of their product.

Dark and UV-Protective Packaging: Real Shilajit is destroyed by light and will break down over time. Clear packaging or noticeable colour fading may be a sign of poor packaging or poor resin quality.

Smoothness Across Batches: Good quality brands are likely to be consistent in colour, texture and smell across batches. If there is a discrepancy in sourcing from the same brand that is noticeable in the products purchased, this may indicate some inconsistency in sourcing or processing.

When purchasing, keep an eye out for these red flags:

An unusually low price compared to other purified and tested products – a completely authentic and correctly processed product of shilajit is a labor-intensive product and a significant difference from the market rates is a good sign.
No mention of purification or testing on the packaging or listing.
Sourced at a generic level but without any geographic, altitude or supply chain specificity.
If a texture is suspiciously perfect, then it may not be a naturally variable mineral resin, but a synthetic or heavily processed product, as it has no variation, is smooth and uniform.
There is no review or third party feedback available, especially with respect to a product that is supposed to be a premium, tested resin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to know the purity of Shilajit without a lab? Not entirely — although home tests such as the warmth and water dissolution tests are helpful screening tests that can identify obvious issues, they cannot confirm the lack of heavy metals or provide accurate measurements of the actual fulvic acid content as a proper Certificate of Analysis can.

But is raw Shilajit a bad idea? Although not by definition unsafe, raw, unpurified Shilajit does pose a slightly greater risk of being contaminated with heavy metals, which is why purification and third-party testing are significant quality indicators to check for.

What is the reason behind the powerful smell of shilajit? The earthy, slightly bitter, tar-like odor is characteristic of natural Shilajit and is not a bad smell, as it can actually indicate a lower concentration or synthetic product — a very muted or oddly neutral smell may mean that it is diluted or synthetic.

Is there a correlation between price and quality? Not necessarily, but there's a general trend: the higher the price, the better the quality, because the sourcing, purification and testing by a third party is genuine investment. The best way to go is to seek out a Certificate of Analysis and wipe away purification claims as opposed to price.

Conclusion

As the popularity of Shilajit has risen, it's more important than ever to make a good decision about any product you purchase, not only for getting a true product for your money, but also because it is essential to avoid the real heavy metal exposure risk that comes with low-quality products. Simple checks at home, such as heat and water test, can be helpful, but the most accurate method of verification of authenticity is by obtaining a documented Certificate of Analysis to confirm purification and heavy metal testing. For a well tested and purified choice, you might choose to try Shilajit Resin at Wow Herbs.

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Related: Shilajit Benefits — What is Shilajit Good For? | Shilajit vs Ashwagandha — Which Should You Take?

DISCLAIMER: Provided for information only. Purity checks at home are only indicative and not replacement for third party lab testing. Only use purified, heavy metal tested Shilajit. Talk to your GP before taking supplements, particularly if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medicines.