How To Test for Authentic Shilajit Resin

Shilajit resin, a sticky, dark substance found in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas, has captured the attention of longevity seekers for centuries. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Shilajit is revered as a "rasayana," a class of herbs believed to promote health and vitality. This ancient reputation has fueled modern interest in Shilajit's potential to extend lifespan.

However, with its rising popularity, there is a growing concern about the prevalence of fake or counterfeit Shilajit in the market. This blog will explore how to differentiate between authentic and forged Shilajit, by discussing first, the forms of Shilajit, and second, the four tests you can do at home to check if Shilajit is pure and authentic.

FORMS OF SHILAJIT
Shilajit is predominantly consumed orally, and there are three primary forms of Shilajit, each potentially differing in quality, colour and taste.

SHILAJIT RESIN is a smooth, semi-solid paste, mainly black, with a high concentration of Shilajit. It is the strongest and considered the most pure form because of the minimal processing and preservation of its natural composition and bioactive compounds. Shilajit Resin can be put through tests at home (described below) or in a lab to measure its authenticity.

SHILAJIT POWDER comes in different shades of black, brown, and amber. The raw Shilajit is processed at a certain level to convert it into powder. Finding authentic Himalayan Shilajit extract powder is quite rare, and it is much harder to test the powder quality or authenticity without putting it through a lab test. Powders may have additives and fillers in them.

SHILAJIT CAPSULES provide a quick way to consume Shilajit, however, some capsules may be diluted with fillers, low grade sources of Shilajit (marketed as best-grade), or even filled entirely with counterfeit substances.

HOW TO TEST IF SHILAJIT IS PURE AND AUTHENTIC
There are 4 tests you can do at home to ensure you have pure and authentic Shilajit resin. They include assessing the Shilajits colour, smell, pliability, solubility and transformation when heated up.

1. Colour and Smell Test | Authentic Shilajit is uniformly black, and has a deep, smokey and earthy smell from the breakdown of plant matter and minerals.

2. Pliability Tests | Authentic Shilajit is responsive to temperature changes. When it is warm, it is tar-like substance and becomes sticky. When it is cold, it solidifies and becomes fragile to handle. It may crack or break when dropped in this form.
How to test: It becomes sticky and gooey in-between fingers. If Shilajit is left in a fridge it hardens like a rock.

3. Solubility Tests | Authentic Shilajit will dissolve in water, but it will not dissolve in alcohol. If it does dissolve or disintegrate in alcohol, it is likely to contain fillers or additives.
How to test: Stir Shilajit in water, authentic Shilajit will turn the water a dark brown or reddish-black colour. Or, stir Shilajit in alcohol, authentic Shilajit will not dissolve and may 'stick to itself'.

4. Flame/Heat Tests | Authentic Shilajit does not burn, or ignite a flame when heated intensely. It will bubble and then turn into an ash form.
How to test: Put Shilajit resin over a direct flame or intense heat source (like a pot or pan on a stove). Authentic Shilajit will start to bubble, peak and then produce an ash. If the Shilajit creates a flame, evaporates or becomes a form that isn't a bubble-to-ash, it may be impure or counterfeit.

We’ve provided detailed media showing Charava Shilajit Resin undergoing each of these tests, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and assurance that Charava Shilajit is pure and authentic.

COLOUR AND SMELL
Charava Shilajit Resin is visibly uniformly black, and has a deep and earthy smell.

PLIABILITY TEST 1
Charava Shilajit Resin became sticky and gooey in-between fingers.

PLIABILITY TEST 2
Charava Shilajit Resin quickly hardened to a solid form when left in a fridge. It was no longer sticky/gooey. It became hard and glossy.

SOLUBILITY TEST 1
Charava Shilajit dissolved well when stirred into water. Water turned dark brown.

SOLUBILITY TEST 2
Charava Shilajit did not dissolve in an alcohol solution. It stuck to the knife.

FLAME/HEAT TEST
In a hot pot on the stove, Charava Shilajit Resin began to bubble into a peak form, of which it turned into ash once touched with a knife.

Conclusion
Ensuring the purity and authenticity of Shilajit is crucial for experiencing its full range of health benefits. With the rise of counterfeit products on the market, it's important to recognize the forms of Shilajit and apply simple at-home tests, such as checking its color, smell, pliability, solubility, and reaction to heat. By following these steps, you can confidently determine whether your Shilajit is genuine. At Charava, we are committed to providing 100% authentic Shilajit resin, proven through visible testing to maintain the highest quality.