Where Does Shilajit Come From, and How Is It Made?

Shilajit doesn't grow, and nobody manufactures it from scratch. It forms naturally in rock over hundreds of years, high in some of the world's tallest mountains. This guide explains where shilajit comes from, what makes Himalayan shilajit what it is, and how the raw material is turned into the resin you buy, using our own process as the example.

Where does shilajit come from?

Shilajit is found in high mountain ranges across Asia and beyond. The best-known sources are the Himalayas and the neighbouring Karakoram, the Altai Mountains of Russia and Mongolia, and the Caucasus. It's found in rock crevices and on cliff faces, often at very high altitudes, where the cold, dry conditions help preserve it.

How does shilajit form?

Scientists believe shilajit forms over hundreds of years as plant matter and microorganisms slowly break down and become trapped and compressed in layers of rock. The result is a dense, dark material rich in organic compounds, mainly fulvic acid and humic acid, along with naturally occurring minerals. In the warmer months the shilajit softens and seeps out of the rock, which is when it can be found and collected.

What is Himalayan shilajit?

Himalayan shilajit simply means shilajit collected in the Himalayan region, including the Karakoram range in northern Pakistan. It's the most widely known type, partly because the Himalayan region is where shilajit's long history in traditional Ayurvedic practice comes from. Shilajit from different mountain ranges, and even from different spots in the same range, can vary in composition. That's one reason testing every source matters.

How is shilajit made? From rock to resin

Raw shilajit isn't something you can eat straight from the mountain. It's a rock mixed with stone, soil and other material. Here's how we turn it into resin.

1. Collected by hand. Raw shilajit rock is gathered by hand from high mountain cliffs in Gilgit-Baltistan, above 17,000 feet, during the warmer months when the cliffs can be reached.

2. Sorted. The raw material is graded so only good-quality rock is kept for processing.

3. Soaked. The rock is broken up and soaked in clean water for around a day, so the shilajit dissolves and separates from stone and soil.

4. Filtered. The liquid is passed through several rounds of filters to remove sediment and impurities.

5. Slowly dried. The filtered liquid is dried slowly in the sun for weeks until it thickens into a smooth resin. There's no high heat and nothing added.

6. Tested and packed. Samples are sent to SGS for independent testing, and the resin is packed in an ISO 22000, ISO 9001, GMP and Halal certified facility before it ships to the US.

You can watch each of these stages in the videos on our homepage.

What is shilajit resin?

Shilajit resin is the finished product of that process: a thick, sticky, dark brown to black paste. It's the most traditional and least processed form of shilajit. Drops, capsules and gummies all start from purified shilajit and take it a step further for convenience. Our guide to the four formats compares them.

Why the process matters

Cleaning and filtering is what removes stone, soil and impurities from raw shilajit. Skipping or rushing these steps, or adding fillers to stretch the product, is how poor-quality and fake shilajit ends up on the market. Independent testing is the only way to confirm the result is clean. Our guide on how to tell if shilajit is real explains what to look for.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For adults 18 years of age and over. Not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. If you take any medication or have a health condition, speak to your healthcare professional before use.