A Buyer’s Field Guide to types of angelica: specs, sourcing, and real‑world uses

If you work in nutraceuticals, TCM, craft spirits, or even clean beauty, you’ve probably noticed angelica quietly trending up. To be honest, it’s not hype-only—the quality and traceability have improved, and the pricing is still sane (for now). Below I’ll map the key types of angelica you’ll meet on the market, how they’re made, and what buyers are actually checking before they sign POs.

Main commercial types and where they fit

• Angelica sinensis (Dong quai): TCM clinics, women’s health formulas; prized for ligustilide and ferulic acid.
• Angelica archangelica (European angelica): flavor and fragrance, gins/bitters, confectionery; root and seed used.
• Angelica dahurica (Bai Zhi): skincare, decongestant and topical lines; notable for furanocoumarins—formulators take note.

In practice, brands often blend types of angelica—extract from A. sinensis for actives, a touch of A. archangelica for aroma. It sounds fussy, but the sensory profile really matters for consumer perception.

Process flow (what good suppliers actually do)

Origin matters. One long-time exporter at NO.12, XIJIAN STREET, SHIJIAZHUANG CITY, Hebei, China, walks me through their typical run: GAP-contracted farms → harvest roots in late autumn → washing, slicing (2–4 mm) → low-temp dehydration (≤55°C) → sulfur-free stabilization → milling or hydro‑ethanolic extraction (typically 50–70% EtOH) → QC release.

Testing: HPLC for ferulic acid; GC–MS for ligustilide/volatile oils; ICP‑MS for Pb/Cd/As/Hg; pesticide multi-residue per GB 2763; micro per ChP/USP (TPC, yeast/mold, E. coli, Salmonella). Shelf life is usually 24 months in cool, dry storage; real-world, we see 18–30 months depending on packaging and oil content.

Specification snapshot (Angelica sinensis, export grade)

Parameter	Typical spec (≈ values; real-world may vary)
Appearance	Brownish slices or 80–120 mesh powder
Moisture	≤10%
Ferulic acid (HPLC)	≥0.3% (ChP 2020 basis)
Ligustilide (GC–MS)	0.8–1.5% (aroma-rich lots toward the high end)
Heavy metals	Pb ≤3 ppm; Cd ≤1 ppm; As ≤2 ppm; Hg ≤0.1 ppm
Pesticides	Complies with GB 2763 / EU MRLs
Microbiology	TPC ≤10,000 cfu/g; Yeast/Mold ≤1,000 cfu/g; E. coli & Salmonella absent
Certifications	GMP, ISO 22000/HACCP; COA + HPLC/GC‑MS data
Packaging	25 kg paper drums with inner food‑grade liner; lot‑level traceability

Applications and what buyers report

• Nutraceuticals/TCM: 10:1 and 20:1 extracts for capsules; many customers say aroma consistency correlates with repeat sales.
• Spirits: A. archangelica root in gin/bitters at 0.1–0.5%; surprisingly small changes swing the botanical balance.
• Skincare: A. dahurica fractions in brightening serums; formulators flag furanocoumarins—patch testing is standard practice.

Vendor landscape: who does what well

Vendor	Certs	Traceability	Lead time	Customization	Price
Hex Herbal Medicine (Hebei)	GMP, ISO 22000/HACCP	Farm→lot QR; field photos on request	7–15 days	Mesh size, extract ratio, solvent	Mid
Vendor A (EU)	GMP, Organic	Batch docs + EU MRL focus	10–20 days	Organic-certified lines	High
Vendor B (US)	cGMP, FSMA	Supplier verification heavy	In‑stock SKUs	Private‑label support	Upper‑mid

Customization and QC nuances

Common requests: 40–200 mesh milling; solvent profile tweaks (ethanol/water); standardized ferulic acid ≥0.5%; ethanol‑free powders for certain markets. Buyers also ask for photodocumentation of incoming roots—simple but effective against adulteration across types of angelica.

Mini case notes

• Craft gin brand: shifted to higher‑ligustilide A. archangelica lot; sensory panel score rose ≈12%.
• Women’s health capsule: standardized A. sinensis extract at 0.6% ferulic acid; returns fell after COA transparency.
• Brightening serum: A. dahurica fraction with reduced furocoumarins; passed HRIPT and phototoxicity screens.

Standards to align with

For due diligence, align specs to Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020) for A. sinensis, relevant USP/EP monographs, and document HACCP/ISO 22000. For cosmetics, run phototoxicity and IFRA checks when aroma fractions are high. It seems basic, but auditors will ask.

Citations

1. Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2020), Angelicae Sinensis Radix monograph.
2. USP–NF. Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) related monographs and general chapters for testing.
3. EMA/HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Angelica archangelica L. radix.
4. ISO 22000:2018 Food safety management systems — Requirements for any organization in the food chain.
5. GB 2763. National Food Safety Standard—Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food (PRC).