FAQs: Tongkat Ali Product Forms

Tongkat Ali, or Malaysian Ginseng, is a precious natural medicine extracted from the roots of the Eurycoma Longifolia plant, originating from Southeast Asia, mainly, with the ability to support physiology (improve testosterone levels).

Currently, there are many ways to supplement Tongkat Ali such as functional foods, drinks, ... so many users are confused about which type is good and safe for health. The following article answers related questions to help you make the most suitable and effective choice for yourself.

Traditional Forms of Tongkat Ali (Tea / Root Powder)

1. How Long to Boil Tongkat Ali Root Powder Tea?

You can use 1 - 2 slices of raw or dried Tongkat Ali root in a kettle of water (470 - 710ml of water/time), and boil for at least 30 minutes or longer if possible.

Then, you drink this water similar to normal tea to enjoy the nutrients. This is the traditional method of using Tongkat Ali that many people use. However, using Tongkat Ali in this way can bring some unwanted impurities into the body, so it is best to choose ingredients with clear origins.

2. How to Make Tongkat Ali Tea?

To make Tongkat Ali tea, take 1 - 2 slices of raw or thoroughly dried Tongkat Ali root, put it in a pot of clean water, turn on high heat, and boil. When the Tongkat Ali root has released all its nutrients, you drink this water similar to normal tea or you can add a little honey, sugar or lemon slices to enhance the flavor.

Note that you should only drink it when it has just cooled down, still slightly warm, and throw away the remaining portion for the day, do not use it.

3. What Is Tongkat Ali Root Powder?

Tongkat Ali root powder is a finely ground form of the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a slow-growing shrub native to Southeast Asia, which is completely dried. This is the method used in traditional medicine.

It is still widely used today as a modern herbal supplement. This method preserves the nutrients (such as flavonoids, quassinoids and alkaloids) and has been shown to increase testosterone levels, improve athletic performance, reduce stress, improve mood, and increase fertility [4].

4. What to Expect from 22:1 Tongkat Ali Powder?

The 22:1 ratio of Tongkat Ali powder means that 22kg of raw Tongkat Ali root can produce 1kg of the most concentrated extract.

Although there is a lot of information that 200:1 is the most perfect ratio, when using 22:1, you can expect to receive many potential benefits, not immediately visible but still there, such as balancing hormones, reducing cortisol, reducing problems related to digestive disorders,...(Shawn M Talbott, 2013).

5. How Much Tongkat Ali Powder to Take Daily?

There is no consensus on the amount of Tongkat Ali powder extract that should be used daily. However, based on research, it can be temporarily confirmed that the safe level is 200 - 500mg/day, continuously for up to 8 weeks (Leisegang et al., 2022).

And for more peace of mind, you can rely on the manufacturer's information attached to each product packaging. At the same time, consult your doctor if you are taking any other medications/functional foods to ensure safety.

6. Which Is Better: Tongkat Ali Powder or Extract?

The decision to choose which type depends on each person's needs, preferences, and purposes. Of course, Tongkat Ali powder is more economical, but may contain impurities, has limited effectiveness, and may not be obvious to everyone.

Specialized Tongkat Ali extract is of course more effective than powder, easier to use, but costs more. You can contact your doctor or nutritionist for appropriate advice.

Tongkat Ali Combined with Coffee

7. How to Drink Tongkat Ali Coffee?

You can mix Tongkat Ali and coffee for an effective morning start. This combination brings together the vitality support of Tongkat Ali and the natural stimulation from coffee, helping enhance focus and energy.

Tongkat Ali is known for supporting hormone balance and stress regulation, while coffee provides strong antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative stress.

Although Tongkat Ali may help the body adapt better to daily stress, there is not enough evidence to confirm that it reduces caffeine-related side effects such as restlessness or fatigue.

The recommended Tongkat Ali content is 25 – 50 mg per serving, mixed with one packet of instant coffee or pre-mixed coffee powder.

8. How to Make Tongkat Ali Coffee?

You put 1 teaspoon of Tongkat Ali powder into a cup. Then add a little water and stir well until the powder dissolves.

Wait a few minutes for Tongkat Ali to soak into the water, for better results. While waiting, you make coffee (you can wait for drip or cold-brew).

Next, you mix the powder mixture into the coffee water, mix well. At this point, you can add sugar or honey depending on your preference.

9. Does Tongkat Ali Coffee Work?

Reddit users who tried coffee with gentian extract reported feeling more alert, less stressed, and more calm*.

This may be because caffeine and Tongkat Ali both contain alkaloids, which can enhance benefits related to alertness, focus, and cognitive performance. In particular, the antioxidants in these two ingredients also contribute to improving resistance [1, 2].

10. Where Can I Buy Tongkat Ali Coffee in Singapore?

You can buy Tongkat Ali coffee at supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce platforms, etc. In general, it is quite convenient, you can comfortably buy quickly when needed.

However, you should carefully research reputable brands, with clear origin of raw materials, expiry date and full safety proof, and third-party inspection.

11. Where to Buy Tongkat Ali Coffee?

There are many places for you to buy Tongkat Ali coffee such as supermarkets, convenience stores, the official website of the brand you want to buy, e-commerce platforms, etc.

Take the time to carefully read the ingredient list and comments from people who have bought it to make an informed choice.

12. Does Tongkat Ali Have Caffeine?

Tongkat Ali does not contain caffeine. The reason many people are confused is because Tongkat Ali can help you feel alert and mentally alert after use.

This is due to the decrease in cortisol hormone levels and the increase in testosterone levels, which helps create a feeling of excitement and comfort.

Through this, users can also regulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which are essential for mental concentration and mood regulation [3].

13. Does Tongkat Ali Interact with Caffeine?

There are no studies that have shown any interactions between Tongkat Ali and caffeine. Therefore, many brands combine the two to achieve better cognitive effects. However, to be on the safe side, users should consider consulting a doctor before using.

Tongkat Ali Extract Forms

14. How to Extract Tongkat Ali Root?

There are three methods of extracting nutrients from Tongkat Ali roots.

These are hot water extraction (boil the dried roots, grind them with water), ethanol extraction (use ethanol as a solvent, concentrate the extract, remove excess alcohol) and microwave-assisted extraction (use microwave energy to quickly extract the necessary substances, with methanol or other suitable solvent as the carrier).

In general, the most important thing is to choose a quality source of Tongkat Ali roots, completely dry, carefully prepare (cut into small pieces or grind finely), choose the right ratio of solvent and raw materials, filter and extract carefully [7, 8].

15. How to Make a Tongkat Ali Alcohol Extract?

First, clean the Tongkat Ali root, then dry it thoroughly and grind it to increase the contact surface, ensuring more effective extraction.

Next, use a suitable solvent (ethanol or methanol), apply the corresponding extraction method to heat the solvent and raw materials (common temperature is 60 - 80 degrees Celsius).

At a certain point, the vapor evaporates, the remaining crude extract can be processed, further concentrated and extracted as pure as possible [7, 8].

16. How to Make a Tongkat Ali Extract?

The Tongkat Ali extraction process begins with taking the raw root, washing it, drying it, and then grinding it to increase the contact area. Then extracting it with a solvent (water, ethanol or a mixture), then concentrating it to obtain a more concentrated extract.

Next, it is further processed to separate the desired compounds, and then further refined to remove impurities. Once clean, the solution is spray-dried into a powder form, making it convenient for storage and use.

The finished product then undergoes a quality testing step, is then irradiated to sterilize it, and is finally packaged and stored in a warehouse awaiting distribution.

17. How to Take Tongkat Ali Extract?

You can use Tongkat Ali extract in the form of capsules, tablets, powder, solution, tea, etc.

Each type has its own advantages such as capsules/tablets are easy to use, highly concentrated extract, but expensive; powder is also easy to use, but each time you mix it, the content may be different if you are not careful; tea is easy to use, like a normal drink, but the effect may not be fast and unclear.

You should consider contacting your doctor or nutritionist for detailed advice. At the same time, when using, read the instructions on the product label carefully to limit side effects.

18. Is Tongkat Ali Extract Safe?

In general, Tongkat Ali extract is considered safe if used in the recommended dosage and duration.

However, there is currently a lack of research to prove the results if used for a long time, such as many years, and whether it has any impact on health.

In addition, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the fact that Tongkat Ali is sometimes found to be contaminated with metals, possibly due to irrigation water sources, so there is a high possibility that the extracted product is not of the expected quality [10].

19. How Effective Is Alcohol for Extracting Tongkat Ali?

Alcohol (usually ethanol or methanol) is an effective solvent for extracting the lipophilic (fat-soluble) compounds present in Tongkat Ali.

Additionally, alcohol can increase the bioavailability of some of the active ingredients and allow for higher concentrations in the extract, resulting in greater efficacy for the user (Nur et al., 2021).

20. Does Tongkat Ali Extract Work?

Many studies have shown that Tongkat Ali extract has the ability to increase testosterone levels and reduce cortisol levels.

Thereby, users can improve their sex life and effectively reduce stress. However, the benefits will not be consistent for each person but also depend on the body, usage, absorption capacity of each person,... [5]

21. Where Can I Buy Tongkat Ali Extract?

High-quality Tongkat Ali extract is not commonly available in regular supermarkets or convenience stores. It is more often sold at pharmacies, licensed supplement stores, or through trusted e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.

In some countries like Malaysia and Singapore, Tongkat Ali is also widely included in instant coffee products, which are more accessible to the general public.

When purchasing, always check that the product packaging is clear, provides full information, and lists authentic ingredients to ensure safety and quality.

22. Where Can I Buy Tongkat Ali Extract from Indonesia?

If you are in Indonesia, you can easily order Tongkat Ali extract products from other places through the Amazon e-commerce platform.

Or you can go directly to drug/health food stores or hospitals, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Liquid Forms of Tongkat Ali (Liquid / Drops / Tincture)

23. How Should I Take Liquid Tongkat Ali?

If you are using liquid Tongkat Ali, read the product instructions carefully before use to see if you should take it straight or mix it with water.

Then, shake well before use, making sure to use the correct number of drops as instructed on the package. If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any other medications, consult your doctor before use.

24. How to Take Tongkat Ali Extract Liquid?

Depending on the manufacturer's instructions, you can either drop the Tongkat Ali extract directly into your mouth or drop it into water, mix it well, and then drink it.

In addition, depending on the brand, you can take it before, during, or after meals. In general, you should read the instructions carefully before using it to avoid harming your health.

25. How to Make a Tongkat Ali Tincture?

To make Tongkat Ali tincture, take the dried roots, wash them, dry them, chop them up, put them in a glass jar (about ⅓ of the jar), then pour in strong alcohol to cover all the roots, and cover tightly.

Leave in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks (4-8 weeks is best), shaking gently once a day to let it soak evenly.

When finished, filter, take only the alcohol, not the residue, pour into a dark bottle with a dropper, label with the date. Also, note that the mixing ratio is 1:3 or 1:5 (roots: alcohol) to ensure the best taste.

26. How to Use a Tongkat Ali Tincture?

Drink usually 10-20 drops mixed with water or tea, 1-2 times a day. This helps avoid fatigue and drunkenness.

27. How Many Tongkat Ali Drops Should I Take?

This information will be clearly displayed on the product packaging. Typically, products show 1 - 3 drops/time (equivalent to 200 - 500mg/day - safe daily dose).

28. How to Take Tongkat Ali Drops?

Depending on the design of each manufacturer, you can drop the solution directly into your mouth, or add it to water or food. You can find this information on the product packaging or go to the official website to read the product information.

Capsule and Pill Forms of Tongkat Ali

29. How Many Tongkat Ali Capsules per Day?

How many capsules per day is determined by the manufacturer. The recommended dosage of Tongkat Ali extract is 200 - 500mg/day [8]. This dosage can be in 1 capsule or 2 capsules/day. You can read this information on the product packaging.

30. How to Take Tongkat Ali Capsules?

You can take Tongkat Ali capsules with warm water or fruit juice according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Please read the product packaging carefully to see if you should take it before or after meals to ensure your health and avoid stomach upset or indigestion.

31. How Many Capsules or Milligrams of Tongkat Ali Should I Take Daily?

Dosage depends on the manufacturer, if combined with other ingredients to bring more benefits, the Tongkat Ali content can be less than the average of 200 - 500 mg/day [8].

In addition, this amount can be contained in 1 capsule or divided into 2 - 3 capsules/day depending on the manufacturer's choice.

32. How to Take Tongkat Ali Pills?

The steps to use Tongkat Ali pills are to read the instructions, open the lid and take out the pills (the number of pills depends on the instructions).

Take the pills with warm water, which can be taken before, during or after meals depending on the instructions of each manufacturer. Similar to the product in capsule or tablet form, the good dose that can be used daily is 200 - 500mg [8].

Extraction Ratios & Combination Formulas

33. Is Tongkat Ali 100:1 vs 200:1?

The formula X:1 means using X kg of raw materials to make 1 kg of extract. Here, 100:1 vs 200:1 means 100kg of raw materials produce 1 kg of extract or 200kg of raw materials produce 1 kg of extract.

Many people mistakenly think that 200:1 is the perfect ratio, but through research, Dr. Annie George, Chief Scientist of Biotropics said: "Standardized hot water extract brings more benefits than 200:1 ethanol-based Tongkat Ali extract".

Therefore, instead of sticking to this extraction ratio, users should pay attention to the purity factor, the purer the better, absolutely no additives or unnecessary fillers to bring the highest efficiency.

34. What Is a Tongkat Ali Complex?

A Tongkat Ali complex is a dietary supplement that combines Eurycoma longifolia root extract (also known as Longjack) with one or more other complementary ingredients in a balanced ratio to provide enhanced health benefits, such as male enhancement, hormone support, and stress management, all at once, instead of the user having to purchase multiple products together.