Spotting the Real Deal: How to Tell If Your Shilajit Is Pure

Shilajit is a powerful compound believed to promote vitality, improve energy, and support overall wellness. Originating in rugged mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, this tar-like substance is laden with fulvic acid, minerals, and a variety of other beneficial compounds.

Yet, as is often the case with products that suddenly enter the mainstream, the risk of encountering fake or low-quality shilajit is higher than you think. At Premium Jane, we’re proud to sell legitimate shilajit, but not every brand is as obsessed with high standards as we are.

So, if you’re interested in acquiring pure shilajit, here’s how to distinguish it from inferior or adulterated products. First, though, let’s learn more about why you may encounter fake shilajit in the first place.

Why Do Brands Sell Low-Grade Shilajit?

Sometimes, it’s not the seller’s fault because they have no idea how to tell whether they’re buying the real deal. Others don’t care either way as long as they make sales while sadly, there are shady operators who knowingly rip customers off.

There are many ways to create fake shilajit, including charcoal, coal, and even fertilizers, to produce the fulvic acid synonymous with the famous compound. If you’ve read my post on how shilajit is collected, you’ll know how difficult it is to access pure shilajit. It’s a rare substance that’s expensive to obtain and happens to be a massive seller in Asia, with interest growing significantly in Australia, Europe, and North America.

It’s also worth noting that there are varying grades of shilajit. So-called red and gold rock is considered the highest grade, followed by block rock, grey rock, brown rock, and fifth grade, which is NOT what you want to buy!

Now, let’s examine some of the ways to determine whether Shilajit is pure.

Colour & Consistency

The highest-quality shilajit comes from the Himalayan, Altai, Caucasus, and Siberian mountain ranges. It’s believed that the crème de la crème is found in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, some 16,000 feet above sea level! The black rock variety is often found in Nepal and Bhutan.

At room temperature, pure shilajit has a sticky, tar-like consistency. It should be easy to mould when warm, but the substance hardens a bit when it cools. Shilajit’s colour can range from dark brown to nearly completely black. If the substance seems powdery or crumbly in your hands or has a light brown or greenish colour, there’s every chance you’re holding an impure product.

Three Essential Shilajit Purity Tests

If you’re serious about buying pure shilajit, and you should be, take a little time to complete this trifecta of purity tests.

Temperature Test

Store the shilajit at room temperature on a clean surface. After a while, test its texture. Authentic shilajit will seem soft or even threaten to turn into a liquid. By contrast, low-grade products may seem relatively hard even at room temperature.

Solubility Test

High-quality shilajit will dissolve fully in warm milk or water and create a brownish or golden liquid while leaving behind no residue. With this in mind, put a piece into a glass of warm water or milk. It should dissolve fully within a few minutes and give the liquid a reddish or golden tint. The shilajit is of questionable quality if it doesn’t dissolve well or leaves a gritty or sandy texture behind.

Colour Test

Ideally, you will buy shilajit with a dark brown to blackish colour, although you may encounter golden hues or reddish streaks. If the substance has inconsistent colouring or betrays unusual colour shades, it could be impure or even fake. The best shilajit will retain its darker colour.

Pay for Lab Testing

This one isn’t practical for many people, but it’s a must if you run a business and plan to sell shilajit. At Premium Jane, we gladly pay for third-party lab testing to ensure that the shilajit in our gummies is of the highest standard.

Testing will reveal whether the substance is free from contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and other impurities. It will also verify the shilajit’s fulvic acid content, which generally ranges from 15% to 20%. If you see products with low or, conversely, unrealistically high fulvic acid contents, steer clear.

Don’t Buy Cheap

One of the easiest ways to determine the quality of shilajit is by looking at the price point. If you read my article on how shilajit is created, you’ll know that cleaning and purifying the substance is time-consuming and costly. Add in the dangers of collecting it and shilajit’s rarity, and it’s clear that the real thing isn’t cheap.

Therefore, be very wary if you see a product significantly cheaper than the average market price. Inexpensive shilajit is more likely to be diluted or contain fillers.

Don’t Be Fooled! Identify Authentic Shilajit Before Buying It

Ensuring the purity of shilajit is essential if you wish to maximise its benefits. Follow the above steps and confidently distinguish the real thing from lower-quality or adulterated versions. Although finding authentic shilajit takes time and diligence, the payoff is more than worth it. Pure shilajit offers a remarkable combination of minerals and fulvic acid and can support a variety of functions, including energy, endurance, and overall vitality.