One thing I learned while building Korjin: a lot of ginseng on the shelf doesn't tell you much about what's inside.
Walk down any supplement aisle and you'll see "ginseng" everywhere. Look closer and many products:
- Come as pills, capsules or gummies built around sugar and fillers
- Don't say how much ginseng is actually in them
- Don't list ginsenoside content, the compounds ginseng is studied for
- Don't say which species you're getting
And species matters. Not all ginseng is the same plant:
- Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has the longest history of cultivation in Korea, with strict national quality standards
- American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a different species, traditionally used for its milder, "cooling" character
So people try "ginseng," feel nothing, and decide it doesn't work, without knowing what they actually took.
Traditionally, ginseng was never candy. It was taken in concentrated form, every day, over time.
What to look for
- The species on the label: Panax ginseng
- How much extract is in each serving
- Ginsenoside content, ideally with a lab report
- Where it was grown and made
That's the standard we hold Korjin to. Our lab results are published here.
Have you tried ginseng before? What was your experience?