Cactus Nopal Extract Powder

Nopal, the young paddle-shaped pads of Opuntia ficus-indica eaten as a vegetable in Mexico, supply this cactus nopal extract, and the fruit and seed are not used. Water extraction concentrates the soluble pad fraction, and the liquor is dried into a light brown powder that disperses in water.

A 10:1 ratio sets the concentration, no marker percentage is attached, and the powder is milled to 80 mesh. A second listing carries the same species and part under the plain cactus name, and prickly pear fruit has its own extract and freeze-dried powder. This nopal extract carries no declared mucilage figure.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0240 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Bark & Stem, Gummies & Chews, Plant Extracts, Prickly pear, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Opuntia ficus-indica Nopal Source & Identity

The botanical entity is Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., the Indian fig cactus, of the Cactaceae family. Nopal is the Mexican Spanish word for the plant and, in food use, for its tender pads, which are cut as nopales or nopalitos. The part used is the pad, a flattened succulent stem segment. Fruit, called tuna, flowers and seed are not part of this ingredient.

Nopal pads are mostly water, held in a matrix of mucilage, pectin and fiber, with organic acids that build up overnight in the way typical of cacti. They also carry flavonol glycosides, including isorhamnetin derivatives, and calcium oxalate.

The nopal name signals the vegetable pad in Latin American trade, in contrast with the fruit that is sold as prickly pear or tuna.

Cactus Nopal Extract vs Fruit and Powder

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Nopal Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried nopal pad	A dispersible concentrated pad extract is wanted
Cactus Extract Powder	Ratio extract of the same species and part under the plain cactus name	The general cactus naming is preferred
Prickly Pear Extract Powder	Ratio extract of the prickly pear fruit	The fruit, not the pad, is the target
Freeze-Dried Prickly Pear Powder	Freeze-dried prickly pear fruit, milled	A gently dried fruit powder is wanted, with the fruit intact

The 10:1 ratio records how much cactus nopal went into the cactus nopal extract. It states no figure for mucilage, pectin or flavonoids, and none is attached to this product. The pad’s mucilage hydrates slowly into a gel, so the dried nopal powder wets and thickens differently from a leaf or root extract of the same ratio.

The three siblings change the basis of the specification. The plain cactus listing shares species and part, the fruit extract changes to the sweet pulp, and the freeze-dried powder keeps the entire fruit. A formula that wants a vegetable-pad cactus ingredient in dispersible form starts here.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Opuntia ficus-indica
Plant Part	Bark & Stem
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Nopal (Prickly Pear Pad)
Ingredient Type	Ratio Extract
Extract Ratio	10:1
Appearance	Light Brown 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

Green Vegetable Drink Mixes

Cactus nopal extract belongs in dry drink mixes that blend vegetable and fruit powders. The mucilage adds smooth body, the green note is mild, and lime, pineapple or cucumber flavors sit naturally beside it. Blends with cucumber and apple powders keep the vegetal impression light, so the nopal note stays in the background.

Hard-Shell Capsule Lots

Hard capsules take nopal extract after a flow aid is mixed into the blend. Gel-forming powders can slow release, so disintegration is worth testing on the finished fill, and a dry fill room limits tackiness. Moisture-proof blister or bottle packs keep the capsule contents free-flowing during storage.

Fruit Gummy Matrices

Pectin gummies can carry cactus nopal extract at modest inclusion, since its pectin and mucilage are compatible with the gummy base. Add it once the cooked mass has cooled below the setting temperature to protect the polysaccharides.

Dry Sachet Fills

Sachets pair the extract with a dispersible carrier and a sweetener. Matching particle size stops the fine powder from sifting out of a coarser base, and heat-sealed film keeps humidity out of a mucilage-bearing mix.

Formulation Notes

The powder is light brown with a faint green, vegetal aroma and a bland, slightly tart taste. In water it disperses slowly to a hazy tan liquid, and the mucilage thickens it gently as it hydrates.

To prevent lumps, add cactus nopal extract to a stirred vortex or blend it with a dry carrier first. Mucilage-bearing powders attract moisture, so weigh in a dry room and close the liner after each draw. Acids and calcium salts change the viscosity of the hydrated mucilage, so test it in the final beverage base before committing to a flavor system. Cactus nopal extract thickens slowly, so the final viscosity of a beverage is judged after a rest, not at the moment of stirring. Rest time also lets air bubbles from mixing escape.

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.