Karoo Hoodia

Processing Hoodia gordonii

7 Steps of Processing

There are Seven Steps for Processing Hoodia gordonii:
Please note that this is our guidelines for the processing of Hoodia gordonii and it is strictly just informational.

Step 1 - Harvesting
The harvesting of Hoodia gordonii is strictly carried out under supervision of the local Nature Societies. Wild Hoodia are harvested from the plant's natural habitat with a Harvesting Permit. Rules and regulations apply to harvesting cultivated material as well.

Step 2 - Processing
Once the Hoodia had been harvested and underwent the control procedures, it must be transported with a license in the driver's possession to the facility where it will be cleaned (if it is not the same facility). Both fresh and dead Hoodia material will be washed and dripdried. When the Hoodia has properly dried, it will be sliced and shredded.

Step 3 - Drying
The sliced and shredded Hoodia must be packed onto a tray system ready to enter the drying room/facility. This is a delicate process and should be run with an initial trial-and-error to get the correct temperature and timing settings. Key factors to keep in consideration is the heat at which the product will be dried and the period it will be left under the heat.

Step 4 - Milling
The dried Hoodia material must be milled approximately 2 - 3 times to get it to an acceptable particle size. The first milling should be done coarse or a roughmill and the second milling should be done through a much finer milling sieve.

Step 5 - Analysis
Once the powder has cooled down, a proper sample should be obtained from random bags. This sample must be sent away for testing and analysis. The temperature used to dry the material plays a major role on the outcome of the test results. Also any contamination of the product at any of the other processing steps can lead to poor test results.

Step 6 - Sieving to spec
The sieving process should be handled with care and it should be controlled at all times. Powder should be sieved down to the desired mesh/particle size. Reasons for the difference in particle sizes depends on the type of end-produce. A few examples of end-produce are tablets, capsules, caplets, shakes, tinctures and gel capsules.

Step 7 - Packaging
The last step completely resides in the hands of the client. Factors to take in consideration when choosing the most appropriate packaging method, is the type of transport, distance the parcel must travel and the temperature the product must withstand. For storage: Keep in a cool dry area, away from moist.