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Sage

Sage suppliers and sourcing guide

Sage is the dried leaf of Salvia officinalis, a woody herb of the mint family grown widely around the Mediterranean, with Albania and the Balkans among the main sources of Dalmatian sage. The leaves are harvested, dried, cleaned of stems and sold whole, cut and sifted, rubbed or ground. Flavor houses also buy sage oil and oleoresin, and Greek sage (Salvia triloba, also traded as Salvia fruticosa) is sold as a separate, lower-priced item.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Salvia officinalis · Dalmatian sage · Garden sage · Rubbed sage
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of sage

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Rubbed

    Lightly crushed, fluffy leaf typical of US poultry seasoning and stuffing mixes.

  • Cut and sifted

    Leaf cut to a defined mesh for teas, blends and visible-particle applications.

  • Ground

    Fine powder for sausage, seasoning blends and dry mixes, often steam-treated to lower microbial counts.

  • Organic

    Certified organic leaf, offered whole, cut and ground.

  • Oil and oleoresin

    Steam-distilled sage oil and solvent-extracted oleoresin for liquid flavors and meat processing where dosing a leaf is impractical.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity and purity
Macroscopic and microscopic identity, with stems and other extraneous matter reported; Greek sage and other Salvia species are the usual substitutes to rule out.
Volatile oil
Volatile oil content by steam distillation (for example ASTA method 5.0), the main measure of flavor strength.
Moisture and ash
Moisture by toluene distillation or loss on drying, plus total and acid-insoluble ash, which flags soil and sand.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella; results depend heavily on whether the lot was steam-treated or otherwise reduced in microbial load.
Pesticide residues
Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, reported against the limits of the destination market.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS against the supplier's specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, away from strong odors; heat and light drive off volatile oil and fade the green color. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for volatile oil, moisture and micro before use.

Lots and expiry dates

Volatile oil, color and stem content vary with origin, harvest year and drying. Record volatile oil, moisture and the treatment method (steam, none) per lot, and rotate first-expired, first-out since ground sage loses aroma faster than whole leaf.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • 21 CFR 182.10 lists sage (Salvia officinalis) and Greek sage (Salvia triloba) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • 21 CFR 182.20 lists sage extractives, including essential oil and solvent-free oleoresin, among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are GRAS for their intended use.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • FDA's Compliance Policy Guide 525.750 describes sage as the dried leaves of Salvia officinalis, with quality measured by volatile oil, total and acid insoluble ash, moisture and freedom from stems.

    Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's oral sage natural health product monograph lists the dried leaf of Salvia officinalis as the source material.

    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.

Sage suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking sage 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 sage? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of sage can brands buy?

Common forms include rubbed, cut and sifted, ground, organic and oil and oleoresin. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for sage include?

Expect identity and purity, volatile oil, moisture and ash, microbiology, pesticide residues and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should sage be stored?

Store sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, away from strong odors; heat and light drive off volatile oil and fade the green color. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and older stock is usually retested for volatile oil, moisture and micro before use.

What is the regulatory status of sage?

21 CFR 182.10 lists sage (Salvia officinalis) and Greek sage (Salvia triloba) among spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use. 21 CFR 182.20 lists sage extractives, including essential oil and solvent-free oleoresin, among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are GRAS for their intended use. FDA's Compliance Policy Guide 525.750 describes sage as the dried leaves of Salvia officinalis, with quality measured by volatile oil, total and acid insoluble ash, moisture and freedom from stems. Health Canada's oral sage natural health product monograph lists the dried leaf of Salvia officinalis as the source material.

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