How to buy real shilajit: purity, sourcing, price
Real shilajit is deep brown-black, dissolves cleanly in warm water, carries a distinct earthy odour, and comes with a public lab certificate showing heavy-metal panel results. Anything shy of that is worth walking past.
Six purity signals to look for
- Public COA (certificate of analysis) with a recent date.
- Third-party heavy-metal panel: lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium.
- Named sourcing region (Himalayan Gilgit-Baltistan, Altai, etc.) not just “pure Himalayan”.
- Colour: authentic resin is deep brown-black, not gold-brown.
- Solubility: fully dissolves in warm water within a minute.
- Price range that matches genuine sourcing (roughly $1.20 to $2.50 per gram at 2026 prices).
| Brand | Sourcing | 3rd-party tested | Per-gram cost | Verdict | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PurBlack Live Resin | Altai (Siberia) | Yes, public COA | $1.80 | 8.4 / 10 | Review |
| Pure Aisha | Himalayan (Gilgit-Baltistan) | Yes, per-batch | $2.40 | 8.1 / 10 | Review |
| Altai Shilajit | Altai (Russia) | Yes, heavy-metal panel | $1.20 | 7.6 / 10 | Review |
| VitaCore Gummies | Blend, unspecified | Partial (heavy metal only) | $0.90 (equivalent) | 6.4 / 10 | Review |
Frequently asked questions
Is shilajit safe to take daily?
Purified shilajit at 250 mg to 500 mg per day appears well tolerated in published trials of up to 12 months in healthy adults. Unpurified product can contain heavy metals and should be avoided. See our safety monograph for contraindications, drug interactions, and adverse-event data.
How much shilajit should a first-time user take?
Start at 250 mg once daily for the first seven days, taken with warm water on an empty stomach. If no side effects appear, ramp to the trial-standard 500 mg per day. See the how-to guide for the full protocol.
Does shilajit actually raise testosterone?
One 90-day randomised trial in 60 middle-aged men reported a 20 percent rise in total testosterone at 500 mg twice daily [PubMed 26395129]. The sample is small, and the result may not extrapolate to younger men. Evidence grade: moderate.
Himalayan vs Altai: does the origin matter?
Both regions produce genuine shilajit. Himalayan resin carries a small price premium partly for tradition and partly for slightly higher fulvic acid concentrations in some samples. Altai resin from a reputable supplier is chemically comparable and often cheaper per gram. Read the buying guide for sourcing detail.
Who should not take shilajit?
Do not take shilajit if you are pregnant, have hemochromatosis, take lithium, or take blood thinners without medical advice. If you have kidney disease, gout, or a heavy-metal exposure history, discuss with your doctor first.