Frequently asked
Where is your sea buckthorn sourced from?
All our sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is wild-harvested from Gilgit-Baltistan and Hunza Valley in northern Pakistan, at altitudes of 2,000-3,500 meters. Specifically: Skardu, Hunza, Nagar, and Ghizer districts. The high-altitude terroir produces berries with significantly higher concentrations of vitamin C, omega-7 (palmitoleic acid), and bioflavonoids compared to commercially-cultivated lowland varieties from China or Russia.
What forms do you ship?
Four primary forms: (1) Whole dried berries — orange-red color preserved, used for tea blends and superfood retail; (2) Berry powder — freeze-dried or air-dried, mesh 60-80, for capsules and food fortification; (3) Sea buckthorn oil — both seed oil (rich in omega-3, omega-6) and pulp/fruit oil (rich in omega-7, carotenoids); (4) Juice concentrate — 65° Brix, for beverage industry and nutraceutical formulations.
Why is high-altitude wild-harvest premium?
Three structural reasons: (1) Higher bioactive density — UV stress at altitude triggers defense compounds; vitamin C content in Hunza berries reaches 1,500-2,500 mg/100g vs 800-1,200 mg/100g for lowland cultivated. (2) Wild-harvest origin — no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetic modification; supply is genuinely organic by default (though we do not hold standing organic certification). (3) Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan terroir — specific UV/temperature/soil combination not replicable in cultivated Chinese or Russian operations.
What are typical specifications for berries?
Moisture ≤ 12%, foreign matter ≤ 2%, color: deep orange-red, vitamin C content 1,200-2,500 mg/100g (varies by harvest season and altitude), total flavonoids 1.8-3.5%, omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) in oil component 25-40%. Heavy metals tested per shipment; microbial limits per ISO 22000.
Is your sea buckthorn organic certified?
We do not currently hold USDA Organic or EU Organic certification on our sea buckthorn. The product is structurally organic (wild-harvest from pristine high-altitude habitat, no synthetic inputs), but formal certification requires per-shipment audit and chain-of-custody documentation we have not yet implemented. For buyers requiring certified organic: we can coordinate certification per-shipment via partner certifier (USD 1,200-2,500 + 14-28 days lead time) or recommend certified-organic competitors.
What is the harvest season?
Late September to mid-November in Gilgit-Baltistan. Berries ripen with the first cold nights; harvest before first heavy snowfall (typically mid-November). Hand-picked by local communities under PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation) and AKRSP (Aga Khan Rural Support Programme) coordinated programs. Berries are flash-frozen at altitude or sun-dried in clean racks; we receive bulk product Dec-Feb at our Hyderabad processing facility.
Who buys sea buckthorn from you?
Five buyer segments: (1) Nutraceutical capsule manufacturers — omega-7, vitamin C, antioxidant capsule products. (2) Cosmetic raw material importers — sea buckthorn oil for skincare/hair care lines. (3) Premium tea blenders — sea buckthorn berry tea is a fast-growing premium category. (4) Beverage industry — juice concentrate for premium-tier juice products and functional beverages. (5) Food fortification — powder added to bars, snacks, smoothie mixes.
What's the typical pricing?
Whole dried berries: USD 8-14/kg FOB Karachi (varies by year's harvest and altitude grade). Berry powder: USD 18-28/kg. Sea buckthorn seed oil: USD 65-110/kg. Pulp/fruit oil: USD 95-160/kg. Juice concentrate: USD 12-22/kg. Premium dark-color high-vitC grade commands 25-40% premium. Price is significantly higher than fenugreek/pink salt because of small-scale wild harvest and short season.
What is the MOQ?
Berries: 500 kg MOQ (smaller than other products because of limited annual harvest and high per-kg price). Powder: 200 kg MOQ. Oils: 50 kg MOQ. Juice concentrate: 1 MT MOQ. Standard FCL: berries 8-12 MT (lower density due to dried texture); powder 14-18 MT; oils typically air-freight in steel drums (50-200 kg per drum).
Do you ship sea buckthorn oil?
Yes — both seed oil (cold-pressed from seed kernel, omega-3 + omega-6 rich) and pulp/fruit oil (CO₂-extracted from berry pulp, omega-7 + carotenoid rich) are available. Steel drums 50-200 kg, food-grade or cosmetic-grade documentation. Refrigerated transport recommended for long-haul (oils oxidize); air freight in insulated containers standard for high-value oil shipments. Lab COA covers omega-7%, peroxide value, free fatty acid, heavy metals.
Is sea buckthorn safe to consume?
We do NOT make health claims for sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn berries and oils are foods (not regulated as drugs in most jurisdictions); however, claims about specific health benefits are regulated by destination markets. FDA, EFSA, FSSAI, and other authorities have specific rules about what can be claimed on packaging and marketing copy. Your responsibility to comply with destination-market claim regulations. We provide source documentation; claims are your formulation/marketing decision.
How is sea buckthorn from Pakistan different from Chinese or Russian?
Pakistani Hunza/Gilgit: wild-harvest, high-altitude (2,000-3,500m), small-scale, premium positioning. Chinese (mostly Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi): cultivated, lower altitude, large-scale industrial. Russian (mostly Altai region): mostly cultivated, strong domestic market. Mongolian: wild-harvest, similar high-altitude to Pakistan but smaller commercial scale. Pakistan is the highest-quality wild-harvest origin for buyers prioritizing bioactive density and authentic terroir story; China is most cost-competitive for volume buyers; Russia is regional for CIS markets.