Himalayan vs Altai vs Somali Shilajit: What Bulk Buyers Should Know
Bulk buyers are offered “Himalayan”, “Altai” and unnamed shilajit at very different prices. Origin matters because shilajit takes its composition from local rock and plants. Here is what to know before you choose a source.
Shilajit is not one material
Shilajit is found in at least eight regions: the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Pamirs, Shandur, Altai, the Rocky Mountains and Somalia. A 2026 study comparing samples from five countries found some plant compounds varied more than a hundredfold. Two jars labelled “shilajit” can be very different products.
Himalayan shilajit
Himalayan shilajit is the most recognised name in the trade, which is exactly why the word is so often misused. Ask for the specific area. Ours is high-altitude gold grade rock from Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, in northern Pakistan. Gold grade rock is mostly shilajit with some mud and stone, while low-altitude rock can be mostly mud.
Altai shilajit
Altai shilajit (often sold as mumijo) comes from the Altai mountains of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia and is widely sold in Europe. It is a genuine source with its own profile. Two established buyers of ours, one in the EU and one in the US, switched from Altai to our Himalayan shilajit, but the right choice depends on your market and your customers.
Somali rock
Somali rock is far cheaper than Himalayan gold grade rock and makes up a large share of regional supply. It has a distinctly bad smell, which is usually processed out, and it is often sold as “Himalayan”. If a “Himalayan” bulk price looks too good, ask for the region and test a sample.
What to ask any supplier
- Which exact region and which harvest window?
- Is the rock hand-sorted, and is low grade rock rejected?
- Is it sun-dried or dried over fire or steam?
- Can I see a batch lab report with real heavy metal numbers?
- Can I test a sample at my own lab?
For the full list, see 12 questions to ask a shilajit supplier.
Looking for a Himalayan shilajit supplier? We supply sun-dried Himalayan shilajit from Skardu in bulk, white label and private label, from 1 kg. Request a quote.