Holy thistle
Holy thistle suppliers and sourcing guide
Holy thistle, also called blessed thistle, is Cnicus benedictus, an annual thistle-like plant of the aster family native to the Mediterranean. The flowering tops and leaves are cut, dried and sold cut or powdered, or extracted with water and ethanol into tinctures and dry extracts. It is a different plant from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and the two are sometimes confused in trade.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Cnicus benedictus · blessed thistle · Centaurea benedicta · Carduus benedictus
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of holy thistle
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut herb
Dried flowering tops and leaves in tea-cut pieces for infusions and extraction.
Powder
Milled herb at a stated mesh for capsules, not standardized.
Liquid extract
Hydroalcoholic or glycerin tincture sold by herb-to-menstruum ratio.
Dry extract
Ratio extract on a declared carrier.
Organic
Herb from certified organic cultivation.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Macroscopy, microscopy and HPTLC confirming Cnicus benedictus and ruling out milk thistle and other thistles.
- Bitter value or marker
- Bitterness value or the sesquiterpene lactone cnicin by HPLC when the spec includes one.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen for cultivated herb and organic claims.
- Moisture and foreign matter
- Loss on drying and stems or other plants.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep cut herb, powder and extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Leaf-to-stem ratio, flowering stage at harvest and drying vary by lot, so record origin, harvest date and identity results, and label stock clearly so it is not mixed up with milk thistle.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.510 lists blessed thistle (holy thistle) among natural flavoring substances, for use in alcoholic beverages only.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Blessed Thistle (oral) natural health product monograph lists Cnicus benedictus, with the common names blessed thistle and holy thistle, and the dried herb tops as the source part.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Cnicus benedictus (POL-NF-00258) concerns the aerial parts, fruit, leaves and top and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (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.
Holy thistle suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking holy thistle 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 holy thistle? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of holy thistle can brands buy?
Common forms include cut herb, powder, liquid extract, dry extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for holy thistle include?
Expect identity, bitter value or marker, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and moisture and foreign matter, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should holy thistle be stored?
Keep cut herb, powder and extracts sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry, dark area off the floor, since moisture and warmth invite mold and caking and light fades color and aroma. Reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date is set by the supplier's specification, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually repeated before using aged stock.
What is the regulatory status of holy thistle?
21 CFR 172.510 lists blessed thistle (holy thistle) among natural flavoring substances, for use in alcoholic beverages only. Health Canada's Blessed Thistle (oral) natural health product monograph lists Cnicus benedictus, with the common names blessed thistle and holy thistle, and the dried herb tops as the source part. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Cnicus benedictus (POL-NF-00258) concerns the aerial parts, fruit, leaves and top and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
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