Last Updated : 21st January 2021
Authentic Tongkat Ali is increasingly rare and almost difficult to find. Unless you purchase from a reputable brand or manufacturer, chances are it is not a genuine Tongkat Ali.
If you are directed to www.authentictongkatali.com, it may not be even the right place to buy pure Tongkat Ali extract. To avoid being a victim, this article shares the facts on everything you need to know about authentic Tongkat Ali, why does it matter your health and where to buy one.
Authentic Tongkat Ali roots exhibit superior bio-active properties that are beneficial to health.
Tongkat Ali is known by other names such as ‘Pasak Bumi’ (Indonesia), Cay Ba Binh (Vietnam), Pin Yin: 东革阿里 or Dōng gé āllǐ (China), ‘Longjack’ (United States) or even ‘Malaysian Ginseng’.
Authentic Tongkat Ali products are manufactured from it’s roots (and not other parts of the tree) which contains the most or the highest level of bio-active properties.
As the herbal market is highly unregulated, finding an authentic Tongkat Ali can be a nightmare for consumers.
Now lets review the authentic Tongkat Ali based on feedback from consumers and our technical assessment on Pasak Bumi Authentic Tongkat Ali.
In its original form used by the indigenous for centuries, an authentic Tongkat Ali is usually sourced from a pure root extract that is not contaminated by additives, preservatives or artificial fillers (eg: maltodextrin).
Our analysis revealed that at least 90% of the Tongkat Ali supplements sold on Amazon, iHerb and eBay are not authentic as some are not made from pure original root extract. Popular US-made Tongkat Ali brands such Solaray, Nootropics Depot and MaxMale are using Tongkat Ali extracts that are filled with maltodextrin that alters the purity, potency and efficacy.
“Solaray Tongkat Ali contains 0.12% eurycomanone, which is less than 6x than premium authentic Tongkat Ali products” says Head of R&D Lab of Biotropics, Jean, who tested more than 50 Tongkat Ali extracts in the last 5 years.
If you are not getting any measurable results from your blood work or testosterone test reports from taking Tongkat Ali, chances are you have bought Tongkat Ali that is not deemed authentic, clean or pure.
From the legendary American herbal medicine guru Chris Kilham to renowned MIT scientists, top Australian herbalists and British functional health coaches, many have ventured into the wild rainforests of Malaysia to experience the original Tongkat Ali since the early 90s.
As this rare herb is often abused for mass production on a global scale, handpicked mature Tongkat Ali roots are seen as a gem amongst herbal purists and health coaches due to their purity and zero damage to the natural ecosystem.
AKARALI is among the most authentic pure Tongkat Ali that is highly sought after by affluent and discerning health-conscious customers in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Their genuine approach to helping local indigenous to harvest quality Tongkat Ali plants in remote rainforests has proven to attract health wellness enthusiasts. Its carefully handpicked roots coupled with continuous lab tests, research, product development, and education set AKARALI apart from the rest as the number one authentic Tongkat Ali brand in the world.
The authenticity of Indonesian Tongkat Ali is often a big question mark as the country does not have any form of national standardization of its Tongkat Ali products to begin with.
Indonesian-owned Tongkat Ali brands such as Sumatra Pasak Bumi are often deemed less authentic by clinical scientists and herbalists as most contain eurycomanone content of less than 0.5%
Indonesian Tongkat Ali often consists of a mix of Yellow, Black and Red Tongkat Ali found in its extract although you may still find yellow Tongkat Ali (i.e Eurycoma Longifolia) from reputable suppliers. In the case of Indonesian Pasak Bumi Tongkat Ali and the highly-sought after Huberman Momentous Tongkat Ali, we found no clinical studies, lab tests, or even references made on its extract. This raises concern about the authenticity of its Tongkat Ali extract and its claimed benefits.
As Malaysian Tongkat Ali is mostly preferred by discerning consumers in the UK, US, Canada and Europe, there are 5 reasons why Malaysian Tongkat Ali is considered the most authentic by herbalists and functional health coaches compared to Indonesian Tongkat Ali.
Our review of quality authentic Tongkat Ali brands showed that few brands use pure unadulterated Tongkat Ali extracts from Malaysia, but generally, Indonesian Tongkat Ali found in Momentous Tongkat Ali and Solaray contains the least purity as it is filled with maltodextrin.
However, users are recommended to check their level of eurycomanone, eurypeptides and glycosaponin to ensure they are buying authentic Tongkat Ali extract.
To assess the level of authenticity of any Tongkat Ali products, you check on the following attributes:
Quality Certifications:
Authentic Tongkat Ali products often are certified by the brand owners and the Ministry of Health. This level of certification trumps any other 3rd party lab tests which can be manipulated and forged.
Herbal Extraction Methodology
Authentic Tongkat Ali using hot water extraction method mimics the century-old traditional boiling method, which was practiced by the indigenous people. This form of extraction is often cleaner, more pure and contains fewer contaminants compared to the ethanol-based extraction method.
Quality Tests:
Heavy metal lab tests by in-house and 3rd parties may position the product as “more authentic”, although most of these tests are to comply with regulatory, and safety requirements.
Customer Feedback:
Genuine Tongkat Ali reviews help you to assess the authenticity. Consumer reviews, recommendations, or even long-term reviews of Tongkat Ali can be used as an indicator in your assessment.
Tongkat Ali Quality Processes and Standards are an important part to ensure the authenticity can be retained
You may read more about quality processes that define an authentic Tongkat Ali here.
If you can’t afford to venture into the Malaysian rainforest to find an authentic Tongkat Ali root, the best way is to assess the Tongkat Ali extract is through taste, water solubility test, HPLC test and identifying the extraction method used by Tongkat Ali brands.
The extraction method tells more stories behind any authentic Tongkat Ali products.
The reality is, that bio-active compounds for any genuine unadulterated herbal products differ largely on the extraction technology which gives the bitter taste profile, colour, texture and efficacy. At times, the level of bitterness is often associated with authentic Tongkat Ali extract, but that is not the final indicator (marker) that defines the level of potency.
Authentic Tongkat Ali brands such as AKARALI™ use US-patented hot water extraction technology known as Physta® which is reported to best the purest and cleanest Tongkat Ali you could buy in the UK. The purity of its single-origin raw Tongkat Ali roots is a game changer and makes it truly special amongst top-ranking authentic Tongkat Ali in the US.
Purchasing an authentic Tongkat Ali product benefits your health greatly and leaves you peace of mind.
In the case of Solaray Tongkat Ali and Momentous Tongkat Ali, the level of authenticity, purity and potency are big question marks. At the same time, Sumatra Pasak Bumi and the rest of the US-made Tongkat Ali brands are riding on the hype of using 200:1 extract as a marketing gimmick to convince customers on the level of potency.
The truth is, Tongkat Ali’s true potency marker is measured by:
For consumers seeking authentic products, it is important to search for reputable Tongkat Ali brands that genuinely source their extract from 100% Tongkat Ali roots. That is the reason why building strong working relationships with Tongkat Ali suppliers / indigenous people directly at source is crucial to ensure a consistent supply of quality harvests.
Most US-based Tongkat Ali brands are unable to control the raw supply and quality of Tongkat Ali extracts, which makes it challenging for consumers to buy pure authentic Tongkat Ali in the US.
Chromatography tests are one of the ways to measure the level of authenticity of Tongkat Ali. Read more about the test here.
Here is our technical review between two Tongkat Ali brands in order to assess the level of authenticity based on several key parameters.
AKARALI™ | Pasak Bumi | |
 |
| |
Manufacturer Ownership | Government of Malaysia | Private |
Chromatography Test | Yes | Unknown |
GMP Certified | Yes | Unknown |
Halal Certified | Yes | Unknown |
Trademark Registered | Yes | Unknown |
Standardized Extract | Yes | Unknown |
Freeze-Dried Extraction Technology Physta® | Yes | Unknown |
Potency Level | High | Low |
Ministry of Health (MOH) Certified | Yes | Unknown |
Origin | Malaysia | Indonesia |
Capsules | 30 | 100 |
Price | USD 36.90 | USD 119 |
A pure authentic Tongkat Ali, when processed using hot water extract, is often rich in bio-active compounds which is great news if you are seeking to optimize your health benefits.
To avoid confusion, the definition of authenticity and quality of Tongkat Ali roots are often used interchangeably but superior extraction methods often underpin the definition of an authentic quality Tongkat Ali.
Therefore, the authenticity of any Tongkat Ali supplements can be measured effectively by the level of bioactive compounds that can be extracted from Tongkat Ali root such as eurycomanone, glyosaponin, polysaccharide and total protein.
Most high-quality authentic Tongkat Ali extract meet or exceed the minimum standards defined by the Malaysian Tongkat Ali standards, MS2409 – which is essentially the only international Tongkat Ali standard that most manufacturers refer to.
Now here is a common question from consumers – is my Tongkat Ali authentic? And how do I know if my Tongkat Ali is genuinely authentic compared to other brands?
Chances are you too lazy to ascertain the originality of that Tongkat Ali product you just bought on Amazon, or if you are still in doubt, you can perform this simple test at home to verify the authenticity of Tongkat Ali.
Here are some quick steps:
Authentic Tongkat Ali made from fine extracts is highly soluble in water, which helps in faster absorption and reduces long-term kidney damage. Using standardized hot water extract often delivers the highest level of potency that your body requires at a minimal dosage. This level of authenticity almost guarantees optimal benefits if you are using it long-term.
Check out the video below to differentiate pure authentic Tongkat Ali fine extract vs. generic 200:1 extracts that are sold in the market.
Reviewed and tested amongst the top-tier premium Tongkat Ali in the US and UK, AKARALI offers pure authentic Tongkat Ali extract sourced from handpicked mature roots that are clinically tested to perform better with higher efficacy. Located at the heart of California (US) and London (UK), You may buy authentic Tongkat Ali at AKARALI’s official store with fast delivery in 3 working days.
You may also buy authentic Tongkat Ali on Amazon via AKARALI’s official store which offers speedy delivery to US customers, making it the largest and most reputable Tongkat Ali shop in the US.
Real authentic Tongkat Ali is defined by three major components; i.e quality of Tongkat plants, quality extraction that forms the ingredient and scientific studies to validate its extraction/ingredient. So if you are buying one, always look out for these three major elements.
While Momentous Tongkat Ali, Nootropics Depot, Solaray Tongkat Ali and Sumatra Pasak Bumi are US best-selling Tongkat Ali brands, these are deemed less authentic and consumers need to be aware of their impurities, potency, efficacy and potential side effects.
Single-origin Tongkat Ali supplements such as AKARALI are deemed the most authentic, and rare and their products come at premium prices. Ultimately, the artisan authentic Tongkat Ali brand performs better due to its quality harvesting techniques that are proven to produce higher potency backed by 26 clinical human tests and clinical trials.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a writer and journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meanings through words. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness.
Disclaimer: Content published in this article is not intended to provide any form of recommendations, directly or indirectly to purchase or consume herbal supplements, drugs, medications, alternative remedies and practices or any brands mentioned in this article. By reading this, the sole responsibility and decision lies on the reader to make an informed decision based on publicly available information published on the internet. Any herbal supplements can be used as a health supplement, dietary plan or to treat illnesses. However, we encourage you to consult your nearest doctor before making any purchase from this website or any other websites or social platforms after reading this article. We do not hold any responsibility or accountability for any products purchased from this website or any third-party websites that are linked to this articles, sales channels or social platforms
