Uva ursi
Uva ursi suppliers and sourcing guide
Uva ursi is the dried leaf of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry), a low evergreen shrub of northern Europe, Asia and North America. Leaves are mostly wild collected, dried and sold as cut leaf, powder, or dry extracts standardized to arbutin, a hydroquinone glycoside measured by HPLC. Extracts and arbutin are also used in cosmetics.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · bearberry · bearberry leaf · kinnikinnick
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of uva ursi
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut leaf
Dried whole or cut leaf for tea and extraction.
Leaf powder
Milled leaf, usually with a declared minimum arbutin content.
Standardized extract
Dry extract standardized to arbutin (often 20% or more) by HPLC.
Cosmetic extract
Leaf extract in glycol or glycerin carriers for topical products.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Macroscopic and microscopic examination or HPTLC against a reference to rule out similar leaves such as cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).
- Arbutin assay (HPLC)
- Arbutin and methylarbutin by a named HPLC method; free hydroquinone is often reported as well.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture and foreign matter, including stems and other leaves.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Arbutin content varies with collection area and season, and wild-collected leaf can include other species, so check identity and arbutin on each lot. Record the supplier lot, collection region and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Bearberry natural health product monograph lists Arctostaphylos uva-ursi with the dried leaf as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same monograph covers dry extracts standardized to 20% to 30% arbutin.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists arbutin with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf among its source materials and, as a non-medicinal ingredient, limits topical use to 0.5%.
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.
Uva ursi suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking uva ursi 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 uva ursi? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of uva ursi can brands buy?
Common forms include cut leaf, leaf powder, standardized extract and cosmetic extract. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for uva ursi include?
Expect identity, arbutin assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, residual solvents and loss on drying, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should uva ursi be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of uva ursi?
Health Canada's Bearberry natural health product monograph lists Arctostaphylos uva-ursi with the dried leaf as the source part. The same monograph covers dry extracts standardized to 20% to 30% arbutin. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists arbutin with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf among its source materials and, as a non-medicinal ingredient, limits topical use to 0.5%.
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