Wholesome in bulk™ Maitake Mushroom Extract Powder, Fruiting Body
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Bulk Maitake Mushroom Extract for Supplement Manufacturing
Maitake extract is a dry powder made from the fruiting body of Grifola frondosa, a polypore fungus. The mushroom grows in clusters of overlapping caps at the base of hardwood trees. It is usually made with hot water and specified by beta-glucan content, measured with the Megazyme enzymatic method. We supply it in bulk to supplement brands, contract manufacturers, and formulators. You can request testing documents and samples on the quote form.
A mushroom extract you can specify by fungal part and measured beta-glucans
Maitake extract is easy to compare across suppliers once you name the fungal part, the solvent, and the assay. Each of those has an established check, from DNA identity to the Megazyme beta-glucan test.
One species, one name
Maitake is Grifola frondosa, also sold in English as hen of the woods. A single Latin name covers the trade, so your spec, COA, and label can all match.
Fruiting body material
The fruiting body is the ruffled cluster of caps sold as a culinary mushroom. Mycelium grown on grain is a separate material with its own starch content, so check the part named on the COA.
Protein bound beta-glucans
Maitake beta-glucans are polysaccharides with beta-1,6 and beta-1,3 links, many of them bound to protein. Specifications report them as a percentage of the powder.
Market grades by beta-glucan
Maitake extracts are commonly listed at 10% to 40% beta-glucans. Some listings give only a ratio, such as 4:1 or 20:1, which is harder to compare.
Hot water extraction
Most maitake extracts are made with hot water, then concentrated and spray dried. Some suppliers add an ethanol step and sell the result as a dual extract.
Savory mushroom aroma
Hot water extracts have a savory mushroom aroma that comes mostly from C8 compounds such as 1-octen-3-ol. That suits capsules and savory, coffee, or cacao drink mixes.
Where formulators use maitake extract
Maitake extract works in dry, measured formats where fill weight and serving size are controlled, including:
- Capsules
- Compressed tablets
- Single ingredient powders
- Mixed mushroom blends
- Stick packs and sachets
- Powdered drink mixes, including mushroom coffee and cacao blends
- Liquid extracts, after solubility trials
- Private label programs
Plan fill weights from the beta-glucan result on each COA. A 20% and a 40% beta-glucan extract are not interchangeable gram for gram, so redo your serving math whenever you change grades.
What to check before you buy maitake extract
Powders sold as maitake can differ in fungal part, growing substrate, extraction, and assay method. Review these points together, and ask for lot documents before you approve a supplier.
Fruiting body or mycelium
Ask whether the material is fruiting body, mycelium, or mycelium grown on grain. Mycelium on grain is usually sold with the grain included, so ask for a starch result as well.
Beta-glucans by Megazyme
Ask for beta-glucans measured with the Megazyme method (kit K-YBGL), together with the alpha-glucan result. A high alpha-glucan figure points to grain starch or an added carrier.
A ratio is not an assay
A ratio such as 4:1 or 20:1 tells you how much dried mushroom went into each kilogram of extract. It does not tell you the beta-glucan content, so ask for both figures.
Species identity by DNA
Milling and extraction remove the visual features of the mushroom. Ask how identity is checked: an HPTLC fingerprint, ITS DNA barcoding, or a species specific DNA test on the raw material.
Carrier and excipients
Some maitake extracts contain dextrin or maltodextrin. Ask whether a carrier is added and at what percentage, and make sure your label lists it.
Origin and contaminant limits
Ask for the country of origin and the growing substrate. Check heavy metals by ICP-MS, microbial limits by USP methods, and pesticide residues against your finished product specification.
Label naming: AHPA trade guidance asks labels to name the fungal part. If the material is mycelium, the word mushroom on the front panel should be modified, as in mushroom mycelium. Match your Supplement Facts panel to the part named on the COA.
Typical specification for maitake extract
These values reflect a hot water fruiting body extract. Final figures come from the specification sheet and COA for your lot. NLT means not less than, and NMT means not more than.
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal source | Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray, fruiting body | HPTLC fingerprint; ITS DNA barcoding or species specific DNA test on raw material |
| Appearance | Fine light brown to brown powder | Visual |
| Beta-glucans | NLT 30% | Megazyme K-YBGL |
| Alpha-glucans (starch and glycogen) | Reported on the COA | Megazyme K-YBGL |
| Total polysaccharides, if stated | Reported on the COA | UV (phenol-sulfuric acid) |
| Extraction solvent | Hot water | Supplier declaration |
| Native extract ratio | 10:1, or as stated on the specification sheet | Supplier declaration |
| Carrier | None, or as named on the specification sheet | Supplier declaration |
| Particle size | NLT 95% through 80 mesh | USP <786> |
| Loss on drying | NMT 7.0% | USP <731> |
| Lead | NMT 3.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Arsenic | NMT 1.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Cadmium | NMT 1.0 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Mercury | NMT 0.1 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Total aerobic count | NMT 10,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| Yeast and mold | NMT 1,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> |
| E. coli and Salmonella | Negative in 10 g and 25 g | USP <2022> |
| Pesticide residues | Meets USP <561> | GC-MS and LC-MS |
| Irradiation | Not irradiated | Supplier declaration |
| Shelf life | 24 to 36 months, unopened | Stability data |
Storage and handling for bulk maitake extract
Store hot water mushroom extracts sealed, dry, and out of light. These steps keep the powder in good condition between production runs.
Keep it sealed
Close the inner liner after each use and press out the air. Spray dried extract powders pick up moisture from the air and can cake when left open.
Store cool and dry
Keep bags off the floor in a dry room, away from heat sources. Follow the temperature range on the spec sheet.
Keep away from light
Leave the powder in its original opaque packaging. Light and heat can shift color over time.
Rotate stock
Record the lot number and retest date for each bag. Send older lots to production first.
Maitake extract buyer FAQ
Quick answers to the questions procurement and quality teams ask most.
What is the difference between maitake fruiting body and mycelium?
The fruiting body is the visible cluster of caps, while mycelium is the threadlike network that grows through wood or a growing medium. Mycelium is often grown on grain and sold with the grain included, so it carries starch. Fruiting body extract is the usual choice when your spec names a beta-glucan minimum.
How is beta-glucan measured in maitake extract?
Most quality labs use the Megazyme enzymatic method, kit K-YBGL. It measures total glucan and alpha-glucan, then reports beta-glucan as the difference. Ask for both figures on the COA.
Which grade should I choose?
Choose the grade that fits your label target, capsule size, and cost per finished serving. Maitake extracts are commonly listed at 10% to 40% beta-glucans. A higher grade lets you use less powder per serving.
What does 4:1 or 20:1 mean on a maitake extract?
It is the native extract ratio: kilograms of dried mushroom used for each kilogram of finished extract. A ratio does not state beta-glucan content, and an added carrier changes what the ratio means. Ask for the Megazyme result as well.
Is bulk maitake extract the same as a branded maitake fraction?
No. Branded fractions are proprietary extracts that their owners make, test, and name. A bulk extract is defined by its own specification, so compare it on fungal part, solvent, and measured beta-glucans.
What documents can I get with an order?
A certificate of analysis (COA) and a specification sheet ship with every order. An allergen statement and a safety data sheet may also be available, depending on the lot in inventory. Contact us to request them.
Can I get a sample before a bulk order?
You can request one by choosing sample options on the quote form. We will confirm availability, size, and timing.
How should I store an opened bag?
Close the liner, press out the air, and keep the bag in a cool, dry place away from light. Use the powder within the shelf life shown on the COA.
Request a quote for bulk maitake extract
Tell us your grade, fungal part, quantity, and timing. We will reply with current pricing. Select testing documents and sample options on the quote form.
Order Maitake ExtractBulk orders: Choose a pack size above, or use the quote form for larger volumes, testing documents, and sample options. We serve supplement brands, contract manufacturers, product developers, and formulators.
This bulk ingredient is sold for further manufacturing and formulation. The information on this page describes the ingredient and how commercial buyers evaluate it. It is not medical advice. Each finished product brand is responsible for its own labeling and product claims.
