Source86 supplies bulk herb and leafy botanical ingredients harvested from culinary and functional plant species, in both organic and conventional offerings. Our lineup spans whole cut leaves, TBC (tea-bag cut) format, and fine powders, including basil, cilantro, oregano, peppermint, and spearmint. These ingredients contribute distinct aroma and flavor profiles to commercial products.
Formulators evaluate volatile oil yield, cut size uniformity, and moisture levels when qualifying a botanical lot. Drying method and heat sensitivity determine how effectively an ingredient retains its natural visual clarity and flavor profile.
Key Product Selection Criteria
- Volatile oil content: Drives flavor and aroma strength, and fades with age or heavy processing, making it the main differentiator between two otherwise similar lots.
- Cut and physical form: Whole leaf, TBC, flakes, and ground versions differ in visibility, dispersion, and how quickly flavor releases in a formulation.
- Total ash and acid-insoluble ash: Signal purity and flag soil or mineral contamination, which is a real risk for leaf material harvested close to the ground.
- Moisture: Governs shelf stability and mold risk in dried leaf material.
- Foreign matter tolerances: Run tighter for hand-harvested leafy herbs than for many other botanical categories.
- Certification and sourcing: Organic status and origin vary by product and lot and often determine which of two otherwise comparable herbs to choose.
Common Manufacturing Applications
- Culinary blends and seasonings: Ground and rubbed basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and mint anchor dry seasoning blends and rub formulations.
- Sauces, dressings, and marinades: Parsley, cilantro, and tarragon, along with powdered and fine-cut formats generally, are used across liquid sauce and dressing systems.
- Tea and herbal infusions: Cut leaf and TBC formats of chamomile and mint are used across hot and cold beverage systems, including tea bags and ready-to-drink infusions.
- Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals: Milled leafy botanicals like matcha and ginseng powder are used in encapsulation, tableting, and functional powder mixes.
- Bakery and snack seasoning: Dried herbs work as coatings and inclusions in crackers and savory snacks.
Documentation and Qualification Support
Certification and compliance records for this category are confirmed at the product and lot level.
- Certified Organic, available across most items in this family, alongside conventional versions
- Kosher, Halal, and Non-GMO status, confirmed per product
- Standard documentation, including Certificate of Analysis, Product Specification Sheet, Allergen Statement, Country of Origin Documentation, and Safety Data Sheet
- Volatile oil and ash testing, documented specifically to confirm identity and purity
- Microbiological testing, documented consistently given the higher surface contamination risk in leaf material
Frequently Asked Questions
Particle size and form affect visibility, dispersion, and how quickly flavor releases once the herb is in a formulation. Source86 carries multiple forms across herbs such as basil, cilantro, marjoram, and rosemary.
Moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, foreign matter, and cut or mesh size make up the core specification set. Volatile oil is also reviewed where it applies to a specific herb.
Total ash measures overall inorganic residue, while acid-insoluble ash specifically flags contamination from soil or sand. Both help confirm a lot’s purity before it’s accepted.
They share the same spec baseline: moisture, ash, volatile oil, and mesh size. Culinary herbs get evaluated more on flavor performance, while chamomile and matcha get evaluated more on identity and purity.
Yes. Both are available for most herbs in this family, with certification and origin confirmed at the product and lot level.
Volatile oil content is the main comparison point once standard specifications are confirmed. It reflects flavor and aroma strength and is the field most likely to vary between two similar lots.
