We supply food-grade whole dried milk thistle fruit (Silybum marianum) with multiple grading options. Different fruit size grades can be selected to match requirements for botanical tea mixing, food formulation and plant ingredient compounding. Each batch is inspected and tested by third-party independent laboratories to meet international food safety and clean-label standards.

• Botanical Source: Dried mature fruit of Silybum marianum

• Processing Technology: Fruit harvesting, threshing, cleaning, low-temperature drying, size grading, impurity sorting, manual inspection

• Appearance: Whole dried fruit, clean surface, light brown to dark brown colour, no mildew, no musty rancid smell

• Natural Components: Contains silymarin, fatty oils, protein and natural mineral elements naturally present in milk thistle fruit

• Available Types: Whole dried milk thistle fruit; multiple fruit size grades available

• Handling Feature: Hard solid texture, suitable for crushing, infusion and blending into food formulations

• Key Features: Intact fruit grains, low foreign matter content, stable batch sensory quality, natural earthy plant aroma, clean formulation

• Available Certifications: ISO22000, Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO, Vegan compliant

• Shelf Life: 24 months under sealed, cool, dry and dark storage conditions

Raw Material Natural Characteristics

Silybum marianum is an annual herbaceous plant whose fruit naturally accumulates a range of plant substances during growth. Our whole dried milk thistle fruit is harvested at the proper growth stage, then gently dried and sorted to retain the natural fruit structure and original mild earthy flavour. With stable physical properties and flexible application options, this botanical raw material fits the global market trend for natural, plant-based and clean-label food ingredients.

• Natural Fruit Source: Harvested from mature milk thistle plants (Silybum marianum), sourced from stable planting areas, without mixing with other plant seeds.

• Mild Drying Process: Low-temperature drying treatment reduces moisture while limiting heat impact, helping maintain the natural aroma and texture of milk thistle fruit.

• Consistent Grading Standard: Unified sorting and size classification ensure similar fruit dimensions and appearance between batches, convenient for end product formulation and packaging design.

• Wide Application Flexibility: Whole fruits can be used directly or lightly crushed, compatible with many beverage and food systems for different production needs.

Disclaimer: This product is food-grade natural dried botanical fruit raw material only, for food formulation and processing. All descriptions refer only to natural material properties and application features. No medical judgement, treatment or health-related claims are made.

Application Fields

Thanks to its natural whole-fruit form, distinctive earthy aroma and stable batch quality, milk thistle fruit (Silybum marianum) is widely used in global botanical tea, beverage and food ingredient manufacturing industries:

• Botanical Tea and Infusion Blends: Dried fruit raw materials for herbal tea mixes and hot infusion formulations

• Beverage Formulation: Natural plant ingredients for plant-based drinks and specialty beverage bases

• Specialty Food Recipes: Additive for grain bars, granola and specialty plant-based snack development

• Food Ingredient Compounding: Mixed botanical formulations, plant-based food raw materials, clean label food production

• Retail Packing: Bulk raw material for private label retail packaging of dried botanical fruits

Our Supplier Advantages

We operate standardized milk thistle fruit sorting and drying lines. Stable raw material sourcing and complete batch inspection systems help maintain consistent fruit appearance, low impurity levels and fresh natural plant aroma for bulk export orders.

• Careful Raw Material Selection: Harvest fruits at suitable maturity, remove underdeveloped, broken and discoloured fruits and foreign impurities to secure quality from the source.

• Controlled Low-Temp Drying: Adjust drying parameters carefully to reduce moisture content without heavy heat treatment, protecting natural plant flavour and texture of milk thistle fruit.

• Multi-stage Sorting and Inspection: Combine machine grading and manual picking to cut foreign matter and broken fruit fragments, improving uniformity of finished fruit material.

• Full Batch Quality Control: Each batch is tested for moisture, appearance, microbial and heavy metal indicators before shipment, meeting international food export standards.

• Custom Service Available: Support selection of fruit size grading and packaging options. We can provide COA, MSDS and other export documents.

Packaging and Storage Guidelines

• Standard Export Packaging: 25kg food-grade polypropylene woven bag with inner plastic liner; small trial packs available upon request

• Storage Conditions: Store in cool, dry, dark and ventilated warehouse. Keep away from high temperature, humid air and direct sunlight.

• Storage Reminder: Dried milk thistle fruit contains natural plant oils and firm fruit tissue, and is sensitive to moisture, heat and oxygen. Seal tightly after opening to avoid mould growth, moisture absorption and flavour change.

FAQ

Q1: What grades of milk thistle fruit can you supply?

A1: We supply whole dried milk thistle fruit (Silybum marianum) with multiple fruit size grades to match different market and formulation requirements.

Q2: Are there any additives added to your milk thistle fruit?

A2: Our bulk dried milk thistle fruit goes through physical processing only. No added sugar, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, suitable for clean label and vegan food production.

Q3: What about sample service, MOQ and lead time?

A3: Samples are available for quality and formulation testing. Regular grades are in stock for prompt shipment. Custom requirements can be discussed separately.