Buchu Leaf Extract Powder

Buchu leaf, the small aromatic leaf of Agathosma betulina from the South African fynbos, is the only plant material behind this extract. The leaves are extracted in water, concentrated and dried to a green powder. Stems, flowers and other buchu species are not part of the material.

This buchu leaf extract is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker assay and no essential oil figure. The powder is milled to 80 mesh and disperses in water. Because the extraction solvent is water, the volatile oil of the leaf is not concentrated in it.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0231 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bars & Bakery, Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Plant Extracts, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Agathosma betulina Leaf Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Agathosma betulina (Bergius) Pillans, called round-leaf buchu, a small shrub of the rue family, Rutaceae, native to the mountains of the Western Cape in South Africa. The part used is the leaf, which has a rounded blade, finely toothed margin and oil glands visible as translucent dots. Stems and flowers are not part of this buchu leaf extract.

Buchu is traded as more than one species. Agathosma crenulata, oval-leaf buchu, and Agathosma serratifolia, long-leaf buchu, have different leaf shapes and a different essential oil composition. The older name Barosma betulina is a synonym of the species used here.

Flavonoids such as diosmin, hesperidin and rutin, along with a volatile oil rich in sulfur-bearing and ketone components, are the constituent families of the leaf.

What 10:1 Means for Agathosma betulina

The 10:1 ratio measures leaf going into the buchu leaf extract. It is not an essential oil assay. The aroma of buchu comes from its volatile oil, which is lost to a large degree when the leaf is extracted with water, so the extract is milder in smell than the dried leaf.

That is useful for formulators who want the soluble flavonoid matrix of the leaf without the strong blackcurrant-like, minty smell of the herb. A buyer who needs the full aroma needs a different ingredient, and a buyer who needs species, part and solvent fixed will find them here.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Agathosma betulina
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Round-Leaf Buchu, Bucku
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Green powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Dispersible
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Application Areas

Capsules for a Leaf Extract

Buchu leaf extract fills hard capsules after a flow check at 80 mesh. A leaf extract is lighter than a root extract, so confirm fill weight on the machine rather than from a bench estimate. Fill weight is checked at the start of the run, and a glidant is added only when the powder bridges.

Tablets with Neutral Fillers

Use a dry-binder blend for compression, with lubricant added at the final stage. Flavonoid-bearing leaf extracts can change tone with alkaline excipients, so choose neutral fillers and compare tablet colour and hardness at pressing and after a week of storage.

Tea-Style Instant Sticks

Buchu is traditionally brewed as a leaf tea, so tea-style sticks suit the extract. It disperses in hot water to a green-brown cup with a light haze. Citrus, mint or blackcurrant-style flavours match the fynbos character, and a taste test at the planned dose sets the fill weight.

Dry-Blended Drink Powders

Blend buchu leaf extract into a drink powder by sieving it into a sugar or fibre carrier first. The green tint is easiest to place in a lightly coloured, fruit-flavoured base, and a dose-uniformity check at the start, middle and end of the run confirms an even blend.

Gummy and Bar Premixes

Gummies and bars take the extract in a dry premix. Dark-fruit or herbal bases suit the green-brown tone, and a short taste trial after a week shows how the leaf note changes during storage. Keep the premix away from open humid air while it waits on the line.

Formulation Notes

Buchu leaf extract is a green powder with a faint, herbal smell and a bitter-leaning taste. In water it forms a green-brown dispersion with a light haze that settles slowly. The strong blackcurrant-like aroma of the dried leaf is largely absent after hot-water extraction, so flavour work depends on the added flavours.

For buchu leaf, lump-free dispersion needs agitation during addition, or a small-volume wetting step beforehand. Blend dry by sieving the buchu leaf extract with some of the carrier before the full batch is mixed. For buchu leaf, opened drums go back into storage with the liner tied or clipped shut, away from humid corners.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.