In recent years, Ejiao has been highly favored by a wide range of consumers for its proven effects in nourishing blood, enhancing beauty, and promoting health. However, due to its scarce raw materials, counterfeit products are often mixed in. So, how can one buy good Ejiao?
A renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner explains that actually, identifying good Ejiao is quite simple. The most important steps are first to smell it for any unusual odors, and then to check its transparency against the light. Because the main component of Ejiao is collagen, a lack of odor and good transparency indicate a high content of small-molecule collagen, low impurity levels, and pure gelatin.
For those looking to buy Ejiao, it's advisable to compare products in pharmacies. Top-grade Ejiao has a surface that is smooth and shiny with a uniform color, appearing brownish. If you gently breathe on the surface, you will smell a faint, pleasant aroma of gelatin. It is hard and brittle, shattering with a light tap. The broken surface is shiny, translucent when held against the light, and appears blood-red. When the Ejiao is ground into powder and a small amount is placed in a cup, it dissolves in water to form a clear solution, which has a faint, sweet gelatinous aroma and taste.