Buying green tea extract is more nuanced than picking a percentage. A “98% polyphenols” drum and a “50% EGCG” drum are very different ingredients with different price points and assay methods. This guide walks B2B buyers through exactly what to specify so the material you receive matches the claim you intend to make.
1. Decide Which Marker You Are Buying
Green tea extract can be standardised on three different numbers, and conflating them is the single most common sourcing error:
- Total polyphenols - measured by UV-Vis (Folin-Ciocalteu). The broadest, least specific number; grades run from 50% up to 98%.
- Total catechins - measured by HPLC. The sum of the active flavan-3-ols (EGCG, EGC, ECG, EC); typically 40-80%.
- EGCG - measured by HPLC. The single most-studied catechin; typically 30-50%.
A “98% polyphenols” grade can still contain a relatively modest EGCG fraction, so if your claim or clinical rationale rests on EGCG, specify the EGCG percentage by HPLC - not just the polyphenol number. See our UV vs HPLC standardisation guide for the full breakdown.
2. Set the Caffeine Profile
Tea leaf is naturally caffeinated, so standard extracts carry caffeine (often 4-10%). Decide early whether you need:
- Standard (caffeinated) - for daytime energy, thermogenic and pre-workout lines.
- Decaffeinated (≤0.5%) - for clean-label, evening, or caffeine-sensitive formulas. Confirm the residual-solvent method used for decaffeination.
3. Confirm Grade, Form and Certifications
| Specify | Options | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Standardisation | 50% / 90% polyphenols; 40-80% catechins; 30-50% EGCG (HPLC) | Drives potency, price and claim |
| Caffeine | Standard or decaf (≤0.5%) | Label and tolerability |
| Form | Fine powder or instantised/water-soluble | Capsule vs beverage suitability |
| Mesh | 40-80 mesh | Blend uniformity |
| Certification | Organic, Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO | Market access & positioning |
4. Read the Certificate of Analysis
Every batch should ship with a CoA. At minimum, verify: polyphenol assay (UV), catechin and EGCG assay (HPLC), caffeine content, loss on drying, heavy metals (ICP-MS), pesticide residues against EU MRL (EC 396/2005), residual solvents (USP <467>), and a full microbiological panel. Treat a CoA that lists only “polyphenols ≥X%” with no HPLC catechin/EGCG line as incomplete for any EGCG-based positioning.
Regulatory watch: The EU has set conditions on green-tea catechins. Under Regulation (EU) 2022/2340, supplements must keep below 800 mg EGCG/day and carry specified warnings; EFSA flagged a hepatic-safety signal at or above that level. Calculate your finished-product EGCG dose before locking a formula.
5. MOQ, Lead Times and Documentation
SV Botanica supplies green tea extract at a 25 kg minimum order, with custom polyphenol/catechin/EGCG standardisations available for orders of 100 kg or more. Standard lead times run 10-15 days for in-spec grades; organic and high-EGCG grades may differ. Export shipments include CoA, MSDS, allergen and BSE/TSE statements, Country of Origin and Phytosanitary certificates, plus Organic/Halal/Kosher certificates where applicable. For raw-material origin and supplier vetting, continue with our sourcing guide.
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