Mullein leaf
Mullein leaf is the dried leaf of Verbascum thapsus and related Verbascum species, biennials in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) that grow wild across Europe, Asia and North America. Leaves are wild-harvested or cultivated, dried and sold cut and sifted for tea, as powder, or as water, alcohol or glycerin extracts. The leaves are covered in fine hairs, so teas are usually filtered and the flowers are traded as a separate material.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried leaf cut to tea grade, the most common form.
Dried, milled leaf for capsules and blends.
Water-alcohol or glycerin extract, sold by drug-to-extract ratio.
Leaf from certified organic farms or documented wild collection.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store leaf sealed in lined bags in a cool, dry, dark place. The woolly leaf picks up moisture and odors, so keep it away from humid areas and strong-smelling materials. Shelf life or retest dates come from the supplier's spec.
Much supply is wild-harvested, so color, foreign matter and microbial load vary by region and season. Record supplier lot, species, origin and harvest year.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.510 lists mullein flowers (Verbascum phlomoides or V. thapsiforme) among natural flavoring substances, with the limitation 'Do.' (ditto of 'In alcoholic beverages only' above it in the table). Mullein leaf is not listed.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists mullein flowers (Verbascum spp.) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 172.510.
Source: hfpappexternal.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 · Belpasso, Italy
Sells it as VERBALIEF
Bionap is a Sicilian producer of standardized extracts from Mediterranean plants and fruits, such as artichoke leaf, bergamot juice, prickly pear cladodes, olive leaf and mullein, for supplement, personal care and animal health makers.
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 cut and sifted leaf, leaf powder, liquid extract and organic or wild-crafted. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store leaf sealed in lined bags in a cool, dry, dark place. The woolly leaf picks up moisture and odors, so keep it away from humid areas and strong-smelling materials. Shelf life or retest dates come from the supplier's spec.
21 CFR 172.510 lists mullein flowers (Verbascum phlomoides or V. thapsiforme) among natural flavoring substances, with the limitation 'Do.' (ditto of 'In alcoholic beverages only' above it in the table). Mullein leaf is not listed. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists mullein flowers (Verbascum spp.) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 172.510.
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