SOURCING · LION'S MANE
Lion's mane extract and powder for European brands
Hericium erinaceus fruiting body as powder, hot water extract or dual extract. Bulk from 1 kg, documented batch by batch.
Fruiting body, not grain-grown mycelium · COA on every batch · From 1 kg
What is lion's mane extract?
Lion's mane extract is a concentrated powder made by extracting the dried fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus with hot water, with ethanol, or with both, and then drying the result. It is not the same thing as lion's mane powder, which is the dried mushroom milled without any extraction.
The name alone does not tell a buyer which part of the fungus was used, which solvent, or whether a carrier was added. A species name is not a product description.
Lion's mane extract vs powder: which form fits the product
| Form | How it is made | What it carries | How it behaves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruiting body powder | Dried and milled, no extraction | The whole mushroom: beta-glucans, fibre, chitin | Keeps taste and smell, does not dissolve |
| Hot water extract | Extracted with hot water, concentrated, dried | The water-soluble fraction: beta-glucans and other polysaccharides | Solubility depends on the carrier |
| Dual extract | Water and ethanol fractions combined | Adds ethanol-soluble compounds such as hericenones | Stronger taste, specified on two markers |
Three things to know before comparing quotes
A hot water extract of lion's mane needs a carrier. It is much stickier than reishi or chaga, because a large share of what is counted as polysaccharides is small sugars. It cannot be spray dried on its own. Ask which carrier is used: maltodextrin, polydextrose or fruiting body powder. Each one changes the numbers and the solubility.
Hericenones and erinacines are not interchangeable. Hericenones come from the fruiting body and need ethanol. Hot water does not extract them. Erinacines come from fermented mycelium. A fruiting body extract does not supply erinacines, whatever the label suggests. More in Mushroom fruiting body vs mycelium.
There is no universal test for hericenones. HPLC methods differ between laboratories. A hericenone figure without a method cannot be compared with another supplier's figure.
Specification
| Line | What is stated |
|---|---|
| Species | Hericium erinaceus |
| Fungal material | Fruiting body |
| Form | Hot water extract powder. Dual extract optional |
| Beta-glucans | 30 % or more, Megazyme K-YBGL |
| Hericenones | On request, HPLC |
| Erinacines | Not declared for fruiting body material |
| Carrier | Named on the specification |
| Heavy metals | ICP-MS, on every COA |
| Pesticides and microbiology | On every COA |
| Packaging | 1, 5 or 25 kg bags |
| Minimum order | From 1 kg |
| Lead time | 2 to 4 weeks |
Final timing depends on batch availability, packaging and additional testing. A result without a method is not a specification.
Where brands use it
- Capsules and powders for supplements.
- Mushroom coffee and other instant blends, where solubility and the choice of carrier decide the result in the cup.
- Functional beverages.
Tell Yi the application first. The form follows from it.
White label and private label
Lion's mane is also available as a finished product under a brand's own label. Minimums and lead times are on the sourcing page.
Request a quote for lion's mane
Pricing is not public. Send a defined requirement and Yi confirms what is available.
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Further reading: Lion's Mane for mood, cognition and healthy ageing
Questions buyers ask
What is the minimum order for lion's mane extract?
From 1 kg for bulk extract powder, in 1, 5 or 25 kg bags.
Is it made from fruiting body or mycelium?
Fruiting body. The fungal material is stated on the specification and on the COA.
Does the extract contain erinacines?
Erinacines are not declared for fruiting body material. They are compounds of fermented mycelium.
What is the difference between lion's mane extract and lion's mane powder?
Powder is the dried mushroom, milled. Extract has gone through extraction with water, ethanol or both, then drying. They differ in composition, solubility and taste, and they are specified differently.