Alfalfa Extract Powder

Alfalfa extract powder comes from the aerial parts of Medicago sativa, the forage legume grown worldwide as lucerne. The leaves and stems are extracted with water, concentrated and dried to a green powder, and saponins and chlorophyll pigments are the traditionally named constituents of the herb.

The product is a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker percentage attached. It is water dispersible and milled to 80 mesh. A milled alfalfa leaf powder and a milled alfalfa sprout powder are separate products, and the extract is neither of them.

SKU: BOT-BEX-0154 Category: Botanical Extracts Tags: Alfalfa, Gummies & Chews, Leaf & Herb, Plant Extracts, Water Dispersible, Water Extracted

Medicago sativa Identity & Plant Part

The botanical entity is Medicago sativa L., family Fabaceae, known as alfalfa or lucerne. The part used in this alfalfa extract is the aerial parts, meaning leaf, stem and flower tops; seeds, sprouts and roots are not part of the product.

Alfalfa appears in the catalog in several forms. The leaf powder uses leaf only, the sprout powder uses germinated seedlings, and the sprout and seed tissues are known to carry the amino acid canavanine, which is a reason for keeping the forms apart. Alfalfa also should not be mistaken for clover species of the genus Trifolium, which resemble it but are different plants. Alfalfa extract, as defined here, therefore means a water extract of the aerial parts, and it should be compared with other alfalfa offers by part and process, not by the common name alone.

Alfalfa Extract vs Leaf and Sprout Powders

Form	What It Is	Choose It When
10:1 Aerial-Parts Extract	Water-extracted, concentrated and dried M. sativa aerial parts	A concentrated, water-dispersible alfalfa extract is wanted
Alfalfa Leaf Powder	Milled dried alfalfa leaf with no extraction step	A fiber-containing leaf powder at higher inclusion is wanted
Alfalfa Sprout Powder	Dehydrated and milled alfalfa sprouts	A sprout-based vegetable powder is wanted

In the 10:1 figure, ten parts of aerial material stand behind each part of powder. It is a concentration ratio and says nothing about saponin, chlorophyll or nutrient content. The siblings differ in plant tissue, because the leaf powder keeps all of the leaf and the sprout powder comes from a different stage of the plant.

Choose the extract when a concentrated, water-dispersible alfalfa ingredient is wanted for drinks, capsules or sticks. Choose a powder sibling when whole-tissue bulk is the point. The botanical is the same, and the definition of the material changes with the part and the process.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Medicago sativa
Plant Part	Leaf & Herb
Processing	Water Extraction
Common Name	Lucerne, Alfalfa Herb
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

Green Capsule Fills

The green alfalfa powder is hidden by opaque shells and shows faintly through clear ones, so opaque capsules give an even look. Herb extracts can bridge in the hopper, so run a flow check on the lot and weigh capsules at intervals.

Green Drink Powders

In drink powders the extract gives a mild green, grassy note and a light green tint. It pairs with apple, mint or lemon flavors, and a taste test in plain water shows how much grassiness the finished drink will carry.

Green-Blend Powder Sticks

Powder sticks can combine alfalfa extract with barley grass, wheatgrass or spirulina-type ingredients in a green blend. Screen the powders first and match particle sizes so the green color spreads evenly across the sticks. Protect the sticks from light, since green pigments fade in clear packaging.

Tablets with Green Herb Extract

In tablets, the alfalfa extract compacts with a dry binder and a disintegrant. Herb extracts soften with absorbed moisture, so keep humidity low and test hardness and disintegration on finished tablets. A green extract can mottle pale tablets, so premix thoroughly and inspect a pressed sample.

Green Gummies

In gummies the extract gives a soft green tint that suits apple, pear or lime flavors. Add the powder after cooking and cooling slightly, and keep the gummy away from strong light and acid, which can turn the green toward olive.

Formulation Notes

The extract is a green powder with a mild grassy, hay-like aroma and a slightly bitter taste. It disperses in water to a green to green-brown, lightly hazy liquid. Green plant pigments fade with light, heat and acid, so judge the final color in the finished drink and not only in the dry powder. Aerial-part extracts absorb moisture quickly. Close the container after each use, and pre-blend the powder with filler before it enters the main mix. Store opened containers away from light, and compare an opened lot with a retained sample for color.

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.