Monk Fruit Extract
Monk fruit extract is a high-intensity sweetener made from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii, a gourd-family vine grown mainly in southern China. The sweet taste comes from triterpene glycosides called mogrosides, of which mogroside V is the main one and the usual specification marker. Fresh or dried fruit is crushed and infused in hot water, then the liquid is filtered, purified (often with adsorption resins) and either concentrated into a juice or dried into a powder standardized to a stated mogroside V percentage.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dry powder sold by mogroside V content, commonly in grades from about 25% up to 50% or higher; higher grades are sweeter per gram and usually more expensive.
Clarified, concentrated fruit juice (syrup) used in beverages and foods where a fruit-juice style ingredient is wanted rather than a purified extract.
A water-based brew of the fruit, sold as liquid or powder, positioned between whole-fruit juice and a purified extract.
Extract pre-blended with bulking sweeteners such as erythritol or allulose so it can replace sugar closer to one-for-one by volume.
Extract or concentrate from certified organic fruit and processing, offered by some suppliers alongside conventional grades.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Extract powders are hygroscopic, so keep them in sealed, lined containers in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags promptly to prevent caking. Juice concentrates should be kept closed and cool to limit microbial growth and darkening. Suppliers state a shelf life on the specification or COA; once that passes, a retest of mogroside V, moisture and micro is the usual basis for extending it.
Mogroside V content varies by harvest and processing run, so record the actual assay from each lot's COA rather than the nominal grade, and adjust use levels in recipes if a lot comes in off-target. Track harvest year where suppliers provide it, and use FEFO picking so older lots are consumed before their retest or expiry dates.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 301 for luo han guo fruit extract (notifier BioVittoria), closed on January 15, 2010 with the response "FDA has no questions".
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)In its October 11, 2016 response to GRN 627 (luo han guo fruit juice concentrate), FDA stated it had no questions about the notifier's GRAS conclusion.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Changsha, China
Chinese plant extract company that sells monk fruit extract, monk fruit concentrated juice and monk fruit sweetener blends. It operates manufacturing facilities in Hunan.
Manufacturer · Changsha, China
Hunan Nutramax is a plant extract producer in Changsha, China, best known for monk fruit (luo han guo), stevia and sweet tea extracts, that also offers a range of herbal extracts.
Portland, OR
Sells it as MonkSweet
North American sweetener supplier and formulation partner that sells bulk monk fruit extract (MonkSweet, in 25%, 40% and 50% mogroside V grades) and allulose (KetoseSweet) to food and beverage manufacturers.
Manufacturer · Guilin, China
Sells it as Go-Luo
Botanical extract maker that manufactures stevia and monk fruit extracts, including single steviol glycosides (Reb A, Reb D, Reb M and others) and the SteviUp blend platform.
Manufacturer · Libertyville, IL
Grows and processes monk fruit and sells juice concentrate, decoction and powdered extracts. Its extract range runs from 25% to 70% mogroside V grades.
London, United Kingdom
Sells it as PUREFRUIT
Global food ingredients company whose sweetener range includes TASTEVA stevia, PUREFRUIT monk fruit extract and DOLCIA PRIMA allulose.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include standardized extract powder, juice concentrate, decoction, sweetener blends and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect mogroside V assay, identity, heavy metals, microbiology, moisture and ash, pesticide and solvent residues and solubility and particle size, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Extract powders are hygroscopic, so keep them in sealed, lined containers in a cool, dry place and reseal opened bags promptly to prevent caking. Juice concentrates should be kept closed and cool to limit microbial growth and darkening. Suppliers state a shelf life on the specification or COA; once that passes, a retest of mogroside V, moisture and micro is the usual basis for extending it.
FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 301 for luo han guo fruit extract (notifier BioVittoria), closed on January 15, 2010 with the response "FDA has no questions". In its October 11, 2016 response to GRN 627 (luo han guo fruit juice concentrate), FDA stated it had no questions about the notifier's GRAS conclusion.
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