Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder: Benefits, Uses, and Quality Guide

If you source prebiotic ingredients for supplements, functional foods, or beverages, stachyose tetrahydrate powder deserves serious attention. Extracted from Stachys sieboldii Miq. (Chinese Artichoke), this naturally occurring tetrasaccharide carries CAS No. 10094-58-3 and delivers measurable prebiotic activity at low dosages. Unlike many synthetic fiber additives, stachyose tetrahydrate powder selectively feeds Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus without triggering excessive gas or bloating—a distinction that matters across supplement, food, and beverage categories.

What Is Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder?

Chemical Structure and Natural Origin

Stachyose tetrahydrate powder (C 24 H 42 O 21 ·4H 2 O) is an oligosaccharide consisting of two D-galactose units, one D-glucose unit, and one D-fructose unit. There is a direct path connecting these groupings. Stachys sieboldii Miq. is a plant that grows in the roots, and people all around East Asia cultivate it. It is a tetrahydrate and maintains its crystallinity and low hygroscopicity, which will make it simpler to handle and to create tablets from in the future.

Physical and Technical Properties

The powder has a mild taste and is light yellow to off-white in color. About 22 to 28% of its sweetness comes from sucrose. It breaks down more than 130 g/100 mL in water at 25°C. To keep it stable at high temperatures, it doesn't break down below 120°C when the pH is neutral. This means it can be used in both normal baking and UHT dairy processing. With a pH range of 3.0 to 7.0, it can handle more acidic drinks and foods that have gone bad.

Prebiotic Mechanism

The enzymes in the human stomach can't break down stachyose tetrahydrate, so it goes all the way to the large intestine whole. Some good bacteria, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, get carbon from that spot, which helps them grow. A 2019 study in the Journal of Functional Foods found that stachyose made a lot less hydrogen gas than long-chain inulin, but it still developed the same number of bifidobacteria. This helps with formulas for people who are sensitive.

Benefits and Uses of Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder

Digestive Health and Immune Support

Stachyose tetrahydrate powder increases the amount of good bacteria in the gut. This helps keep the barrier between the gut and the rest of the body strong and changes how the immune system talks to each other. A study found that people should eat 3–10 g of it every day to keep their guts healthy. Because its glycemic index is almost zero, it can be used in diabetic-friendly recipes. Its low caloric value of 8.4 kJ/g also makes it a good choice for low-calorie lists.

Applications Across Product Categories

This prebiotic oligosaccharide can be put together in a number of different ways. As a general rule, it works best when used for the following:

• Infant formula and pediatric supplements: Stachyose tetrahydrate mimics the bifidogenic activity of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), supporting stool softening and early immune development without causing osmotic diarrhea—a common drawback of traditional fibers in neonatal nutrition.
• Functional dairy and beverages: Its heat resistance and neutral flavor make it suitable for UHT-treated milks, yogurt drinks, and acidic juice beverages. It adds dietary fiber enrichment without altering viscosity or taste profile.
• Nutritional supplements (capsules and tablets): Low hygroscopicity supports long shelf life in probiotic co-formulations (synbiotics). Its 80-mesh particle size provides consistent flowability on automated tableting lines.
• Fortified baked goods and snacks: Stachyose does not readily participate in Maillard browning, preserving its prebiotic structure at standard oven temperatures—an advantage for energy bars and fortified breads.

Because of these things, stachyose tetrahydrate powder is one of the best functional foods and nutrition items to buy right now.

Safety and Tolerability Profile

A lot of different types of people, like babies, the elderly, and people with metabolic problems, have been able to handle stachyose tetrahydrate well in the past. Because of the way it is fermented, it produces less gas than FOS or long-chain inulin. This makes it easier to eat more high-fiber foods without getting stomach pain.

Comparing Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder with Alternatives

Stachyose vs. Inulin

A lot of people use long-chain inulin, but it quickly ferments in the proximal gut and gives off a lot of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. It ferments more slowly and selectively, so it makes less gas while still stimulating Bifidobacterium in the same way. Stachyose is a better ingredient for brands to use when they want to reach people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Stachyose vs. FOS and GOS

It is known that both fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics, but stachyose tetrahydrate is the best because it can handle heat up to 120°C, acidity (pH 3.0–7.0), and low gas yield. For companies that use high temperatures to make drinks, stachyose keeps its prebiotic structure, but FOS may break down some.

Purity and Quality Distinctions

Five standards should be used to judge the quality of stachyose powder: it should be pure (≥70% food grade and ≥98% pharma grade) by HPLC; it should have heavy metal limits (Pb <0.5 mg/kg and As <0.3 mg/kg by ICP-MS); it should have a full microbial safety panel (TPC, yeast/mold, E. coli, and salmonella); the moisture level should be kept below 10%; and the particles should be the same size (80-mesh) so that the powder flows evenly. How well the production line works and how long the end product lasts are both affected by these things.

How to Procure High-Quality Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder

Supplier Certification and Compliance Standards

Someone you can trust that offers stachyose tetrahydrate powder should be registered with the FDA and have HACCP, ISO, HALAL, and KOSHER certifications. People in the US who want to buy something must make sure that the seller gives them all the appropriate paperwork, like a Certificate of Analysis (COA), MSDS, TDS, and test reports for pesticide residues. It is less likely that the government will take action against the product while it is being made and after it is sold.

Packaging, MOQ, and Logistics

When people buy something, they should make sure that the forms inside meet the needs of their business. Standard choices for R&D samples are 1 kg foil bags, and for mass production, 25 kg drums with two PE bags inside and a paper drum outside. When making a product quickly, delivery times of 4–8 days work. If the seller lets you buy things online (like Alibaba Trade Assurance), and if they accept more than one payment method (like T/T and L/C), choose that seller.

Evaluating Production Capacity

A year's worth of production is important for planning for increased output. A company that makes more than 200 MT of stachyose a year on specialized lines can handle demand jumps without having to stop making the product. Ask for information on how consistent each batch is with the last and proof that you can track the product from where the raw materials come from to where they are tested.

Practical Guide to Using Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder in Your Business

Dosage and Formulation Integration

According to studies from the industry, people should take between 3 and 10 grams of dietary supplements every day. Formulas for babies usually only have small amounts (1–3 g per serve). When making synbiotic pills with probiotics, make sure to test to see if they work well together so that the live organisms don't die when the tablets are pressed together.

Compliance and Regional Regulations

The DSHEA says that the labels on US types of stachyose tetrahydrate should say the same things about what nutritional fiber means. The FDA's new rules on nutrition labels (21 CFR Part 101) say that the nutrient is dietary fiber since it can't be broken down. Keep in mind that if you want to sell your stachyose tetrahydrate powder in HALAL or KOSHER markets, you need to get the right licenses from your seller before you open for business.

Partnership and Long-Term Supply Strategy

You can speed up the development process if you work with a manufacturer that lets you try their products for free, has an open MOQ that starts at 1 kg, and offers direct technical support. By making a long-term deal with a certified stachyose tetrahydrate powder maker, you can keep prices stable and be sure that the raw materials are always of the same high quality.

Conclusion

For those creating supplements, beverages, and food, stachyose tetrahydrate powder is a reliable prebiotic. Some oligosaccharides don't work as well as this one because they don't react badly with acids, make a lot of gas, or don't stay stable at high temperatures. This one almost has a GI value of zero. It's easy to find a good stachyose tetrahydrate powder source if you know what to look for. Each particle in the powder must be the same size and between 70% and 80% pure. It must also be approved by ISO, HALAL, KOSHER, FDA, and HACCP. This buying guide has steps that will help you source with confidence. These include looking at certifications, finding out about skills, asking for samples, and making sure paperwork is in order.

FAQ

Is stachyose tetrahydrate powder safe for infants?

Yes. For babies, it works a lot like the oligosaccharides in breast milk, which help good bacteria grow. For babies, 1 to 3 grams of it per meal can be used because it makes less gas than other fibers. To make sure the product is safe for babies, you should always check it against national rules before putting it on the market.

How does stachyose compare to other prebiotics in terms of gas production?

Most of the hydrogen and CO₂ that are produced during colonic fermentation are made by long-chain inulin. This means less stomach pain, which is very important for groups that are easily upset.

What purity level do I need for pharmaceutical applications?

At least 70% clarity in HPLC is needed for stachyose that is safe for food. For medicine purposes, you usually need at least 98%. Be sure of what you're going to use it for before you place a big order.

What storage conditions prevent caking?

The temperature should be below 25°C, and the humidity should be less than 60%. It should be stored in double-layered PE bags inside fiber drums. These conditions keep the structure of the tetrahydrate crystals and stop them from sticking together, which happens when there is water.

Does stachyose tetrahydrate affect blood glucose?

Not at all. There is almost no glycemic index for it because it doesn't get absorbed in the small intestine. This means it can be used in foods that are low in sugar or for people with diabetes.

Request a Free Sample of Hisy Stachyose Tetrahydrate Powder Today

These are plant-based nutritional ingredients that Hisy has been making in Xi'an since 2008. They have four specialized production lines that can make more than 200 MT of product every year. We have ISO, HALAL, KOSHER, FDA, and HACCP approvals for our source of stachyose tetrahydrate powder. The powder needs to be in stock within 4 to 8 days and be between 70% and 80% pure. The particles can't be bigger than 80 mesh. To get a free taste and prices for your next recipe, email us at sales@hisybio.com or visit hisybio.com.

References

1. Roberfroid, M. et al. "Prebiotic effects: Metabolic and health benefits." British Journal of Nutrition, 2010.

2. Gibson, G.R. et al. "Expert consensus document: The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics." Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2017.

3. Hu, Y. et al. "Functional properties and prebiotic activity of stachyose extracted from Stachys sieboldii Miq." Journal of Functional Foods, 2019.

4. Niness, K.R. "Inulin and oligofructose: What are they?" Journal of Nutrition, 1999.

5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Dietary Fiber: Final Rule for Nutrition Facts Labeling." 21 CFR Part 101, 2020.

6. Slavin, J. "Fiber and prebiotics: Mechanisms and health benefits." Nutrients, 2013.