Pau d'arco
Pau d'arco suppliers and sourcing guide
Pau d'arco is the inner bark of Handroanthus impetiginosus (formerly Tabebuia impetiginosa or T. avellanedae) and related trumpet trees in the Bignoniaceae family, native to Central and South America. The bark is stripped, dried and cut for tea or milled to a powder, and some suppliers sell water or hydroalcoholic extracts. Because the timber is valuable and species are hard to tell apart, identity of the bark is the main sourcing question.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Handroanthus impetiginosus · Tabebuia impetiginosa · Tabebuia avellanedae · lapacho · taheebo
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of pau d'arco
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut bark (tea cut)
Dried inner bark cut to a uniform size for teas and decoctions.
Bark powder
Dried, milled inner bark sold by mesh size for capsules and blends.
Bark extract
Water or hydroalcoholic extract dried to a powder and sold by extract ratio, sometimes with a declared naphthoquinone content.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity and species
- Macroscopic and microscopic examination with HPTLC or DNA testing to confirm Handroanthus inner bark and exclude other timber barks or sawmill waste.
- Marker assay
- Lapachol and other naphthoquinones by HPLC where the specification sets them.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, cut size or mesh, and foreign matter (outer bark and wood).
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep cut bark and powder sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry place away from light. Bark is stable when dry but picks up moisture and mold if stored damp. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Marker content and the share of inner versus outer bark vary between lots, so record identity results, origin and foreign matter for each lot. Ask for harvest or sawmill origin documentation and keep retained samples.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Handroanthus impetiginosus, with common names including lapacho, pau d'arco and taheebo, as an approved herbal name.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (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.
Pau d'arco suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking pau d'arco suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell pau d'arco? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of pau d'arco can brands buy?
Common forms include cut bark (tea cut), bark powder and bark extract. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for pau d'arco include?
Expect identity and species, marker assay, heavy metals, microbiology and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should pau d'arco be stored?
Keep cut bark and powder sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry place away from light. Bark is stable when dry but picks up moisture and mold if stored damp. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of pau d'arco?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Handroanthus impetiginosus, with common names including lapacho, pau d'arco and taheebo, as an approved herbal name.
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Sell ingredients to brands?
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