Reading a chrysanthemum powder specification, line by line
What we do with a chrysanthemum specification before it becomes a price. When a chrysanthemum enquiry arrives, the first thing we establish is which basis the buyer is actually shopping on: total flavonoids at 2% or 5% by UV, or the 10:1 tea grade. Then we ask our manufacturing partner for the most recent lot COA rather than relying on the specification sheet, because the sheet states limits while the COA states results, and on a marginal lot those are two different documents.
A chrysanthemum powder specification is a short document, and it is read in the wrong order more often than any other sheet in the tea-and-blends category. Buyers open with the assay line, see “total flavonoids”, and assume a potency number they can put on a label. Sometimes they can, and sometimes the grade is a concentration ratio that says nothing about any compound. This article walks the sheet in the order that matters: first the basis the material is sold on, then the physical lines, then what the typical COA adds. The sourcing side — how suppliers are compared and what a first order looks like — is covered in our chrysanthemum powder sourcing guide.
Two specification bases, decided before anything else
Chrysanthemum powder is bought on one of two bases, and they are not interchangeable:
- Total flavonoids at 2% or 5% (UV). A quantified marker on the COA. The right basis when your label states a figure or your quality file needs an enforceable potency number per lot.
- 10:1 concentration grade. Ten kilos of Chrysanthemum morifolium flower go in for every kilo of extract. A statement about raw-material input, not a measurement of any compound. The right basis for classic tea-style blends where the label does not quantify a marker.
Both are available from us. Choose the basis before comparing prices, because a quotation against one basis tells you nothing about the other, and a 10:1 grade can never be relabelled as a flavonoids percentage after the fact.
The specification table, line by line
These are the lines published on the product page, and what each one controls:
| Line | Standard grade | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. | Species identity, the first line a specification file is audited on |
| Part used | Flower | Flower-only material; leaf or whole-plant material is a different product |
| Extraction solvent | Water (food grade) | Solvent class, relevant for clean-label positioning |
| Assay | Total flavonoids 2% / 5% (UV) or 10:1 | The basis the whole order is priced on |
| Appearance | Yellow-brown fine powder | Visual identity, checked on every lot |
| Particle size | 80 mesh | Dispersion in dry blends and dissolution behaviour in tea |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 5.0% | Moisture ceiling, a shelf-life and microbial-stability control |
| Shelf life | 24 months unopened | Storage window in the original packing |
What the typical COA adds
The specification sheet states limits; the COA states results. For a standard lot the typical COA shows total flavonoids at 2.4% by UV, loss on drying at 4.4% against the 5.0% limit, lead below 1 ppm, total plate count below 1,000 cfu/g, and E. coli and Salmonella negative. Two habits follow from that:
- Read the COA against the sheet, not alone. A 2.4% result is compliant for the 2% grade and short of the 5% grade. Which lot you received matters.
- Ask for the actual batch COA. Typical values describe a standard lot; the COA issued with your shipment is the document your quality file should hold.
Packing, lead time and the documents to ask for
Standard packing is a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner, with 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags for samples and pilot runs. MOQ is 1 kg, and OEM service is available with your label and your specification. In-stock items are ready in about 2 days; bulk production of standard grades takes 3 to 5 working days after deposit. From Xi’an, consolidation to Shenzhen takes about 3 days, then air freight about 6 days to major U.S. and EU airports, with sea freight at 18 to 25 days.
Ask for three documents with your first order: the written specification sheet, a sample COA from a recent lot, and the packing list. If a supplier cannot produce all three before you pay a deposit, the problem is not the paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Is chrysanthemum powder standardised on flavonoids?
Our standard grade is sold on one of two bases: total flavonoids at 2% or 5% by UV, or a 10:1 extract grade. The UV grades are the right choice when your label states a figure or your quality file needs a per-lot potency number; the 10:1 grade suits classic tea-style blends. Both are available and we confirm feasibility before quoting.
What does the typical COA show?
Indicative values for a standard lot: total flavonoids 2.4% by UV, loss on drying 4.4% against a limit of 5.0%, lead below 1 ppm, total plate count below 1,000 cfu/g, and E. coli and Salmonella negative. The actual COA for your batch is issued with the shipment.
What mesh size, packing and lead time should I expect?
The standard grade is a yellow-brown fine powder at 80 mesh, packed in a 25 kg fibre drum with a double polyethylene liner, with 1 kg and 5 kg foil bags for samples and pilot runs. MOQ is 1 kg. In-stock items are ready in about 2 days, bulk production takes 3 to 5 working days after deposit, and transit is about 3 days Xi'an to Shenzhen plus about 6 days by air, or 18 to 25 days by sea.
Related reading
Related: Chrysanthemum Powder — full specification, grades and documentation.