Is it Possible to Obtain a Sample Before Placing a Large Order?
In the realm of plant extracts, product quality and consistency are of utmost importance. For a supplement brand, an herbal skincare company, or a buyer from a pharmaceutical company, asking for a sample before making a large order is not just logical but a requirement.
This guide answers your question through various supplier sampling policies as well as the technical aspects that allow safe and confident purchasing.
Why it is Smart to Request a Sample?
Can I get a sample before placing a large order? Yes, and here’s why it is critical. Requesting a sample before purchasing bulk quantities allows for a confident and informed decision moving forward. This approach is the safest and most effective method for testing product performance, monitoring batch-to-batch consistency, and verifying critical parameters such as phytochemical and microbiological safety. It also helps mitigate the chances of obtaining counterfeit or adulterated extracts, which is essential when dealing with international suppliers.
Advantages of Sample Testing
Upon receiving a product sample, your team can:
• Evaluate the color, odor, solubility, and flow characteristics
• Evaluate the lab tests of the active constituents
• Evaluate the blending with your formulations
• Ensure it meets the standards set by your brand
This especially aids in making better decisions while simultaneously strengthening your trust with the supplier of the Chinese botanical extract.
Who Should Request Samples?
Every participant in the natural ingredients market, ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations, can take advantage of sample testing:
- Startups: Validate supplier claims before the first bulk order
- Formulators: Evaluate blend compatibility with existing materials
- QA Teams: Verify consistency of production quality over multiple batches
- Brand Managers: Incorporate samples in product development trials
If integrity matters for the long term, product sampling is the very first step.
What Extract Types are Offered as Samples?
Major suppliers such as B-Thriving offer diverse formats:
• Plant-based powders such as green tea, turmeric, and ginseng.
• Liquid extracts (water or ethanol-based).
• Standardized active extracts, e.g., 95% curcuminoids.
• Whole herb extracts and full-spectrum blends.
• Specialty phytochemical blends such as adaptogens and nootropics.
Typical Sample Sizes:
• 10-100 grams of powder
• 10-50 mL of liquid
The specimens of this volume are adequate for laboratory tests, pilot production, and internal assessments prior to large order placement.
What are the Ingredients of a Sample?
A supplier with a good reputation would describe the sample as more than just a jar of powder. The following should be included:
• Batch number.
• Manufacturing date.
• Expiry date.
• Testing method references.
• Extract ratio or marker compound content.
Providing such information constitutes an element of a risk-free sourcing experience.
Proposed Shipment Methods
Chinese suppliers commonly send out samples through express couriers such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, which take anywhere from 3–7 business days. For larger sample shipments, air cargo is an option. Heat-sensitive or bioactive extracts are shipped through cold chain logistics. You can choose the most appropriate method based on your region and how urgently you need it. Most suppliers expect shipping payment; however, some do offer free samples, but only pay for the freight once it’s collected. For plant extracts, China has multiple ways from which to choose.
Sample Acceptance Procedures
This is the systematic approach to follow in sample-to-order conversion:
1. You submit a sample request via email or the supplier dashboard.
2. The sample, along with CoA, is provided by the supplier.
3. Testing and evaluating the product is the user’s responsibility.
4. Placing a bulk order after approving the tested evaluation.
5. Confirming order under mutually agreed payment terms (TT, LC, and so on).
Sample Requests at B-Thriving stem
Sample requests at B-Thriving stem from trust, which in turn commences with transparency. To this end, they prequalify customers before going into a long-term commitment by allowing a single sample request for verification.
- All botanical extracts are available with low MOQ samples, including samples for custom formulations’ phytochemical verification. Our samples are bioactivity, solubility, and compliance-tested, lab-certified, and batch-specific.
- Swift international shipping with tracking is available. All packages are sent with full documentation, CoA, MSDS, and specification sheets so your technical team can assess them.
- The terms and conditions are simple, with no complex processes or extra costs. New customers are offered a complimentary consultation on sample strategies, ingredient selection, and approaches to scaling up from sample orders to full production.
- Our team helps you test before you invest in developing herbal supplements, nutraceuticals, skincare, or any other product, all part of our commitment to long-term partnerships through risk-free sourcing and testing.
What to Avoid When Sampling?
Trusting suppliers who:
• Do not provide CoA
• Have no traceability
• Make vague statements like “100% natural.”
• Encourage you to omit important tests
Listen to your instincts. Good suppliers will welcome scrutiny.
Timelines: How Long Does it Take?
• Sample dispatch: 2–4 working days after request
• Shipping time: 3–7 days express
• Internal testing: 7–10 days
Be prepared to wait 2 weeks before placing an order.
Pro Tip: Ask These Before Sampling
• What is the minimum order quantity?
• Which shipping options do you offer?
• Is the sample representative of the current batch?
Industries We Serve
Concerning clients from:
• Dietary supplements
• Nutritional foods
• Herbal cosmetics
• Medicine
• Beverage innovation
Our phytochemical verification provides global ingredient compliance.
ODM & OEM Capabilities
- At B-Thriving, empower your brand with differentiated botanicals offered through our powerful ODM and OEM capabilities. We can provide custom herbal formulations or private-label herbal products that deliver excellence. These products can be high-purity and regulatory-compliant extracts tailored to your exact needs thanks to our dedicated R&D team, modern production facilities, advanced labs, and strict regulations.
- We not only sell products—we help you develop solutions. Our professionals assist you from ideation to shelf with formulation technology, customization of phytochemicals, and production runs aligned with your vision and business targets. For new product launches or scaling existing formulations, we maintain brand integrity, safety, and innovation throughout the entire process.
Conclusion
Asking Can I get a sample before placing a large order? It is a common risk-mitigating practice while sourcing herbal extracts from China. Samples allow appraisal of quality, compatibility, and documentation verification before a significant investment. At B-Thriving, we simplify this with secure sampling procedures, authenticated ingredients, and complete disclosure so that our customers can trust us to help them source botanicals safely and accurately, from sample through to shipment. Ready to confidently sample? Reach out today.
