Our Process: From Farm to Capsule
At almä, every step of our process preserves the key compounds that make aloe vera special. This page gives you a clear overview of the journey, from cultivation in Costa Rica’s volcanic soils to our proprietary ethanol extraction and rigorous lab testing. Each stage impacts the final product, ensuring purity, potency, and sustainability. The sections below provide a high-level overview, with links to detailed pages for those who want more information.
Master Flow Overview
This diagram illustrates the two pathways: our proprietary process versus traditional aloe methods. While most companies use heat, filtration, chemicals, and spray drying (which damage or remove Acemannan), almä uses cold ethanol extraction, centrifugation, and lyophilization to preserve its natural, bioactive properties.
1. The Farm – Cultivation & Harvest
The journey begins with cultivation in Costa Rica volcanic soils. By using beneficial microbes instead of pesticides, we protect both the plant and the planet. Tissue-culture propagation ensures consistent, high-acemannan plants. Hand-harvesting at peak maturity and fast processing ensures potency before degradation can occur.
Why it matters: Every bioactive molecule depends on how the plant is grown and handled. Uninformed farming practices can mean lower Acemannan levels and contaminated end products.
2. Extraction – Proprietary Method
Our proprietary cold ethanolic extraction sets us apart.
- Homogenization: Gel is carefully homogenized to prepare for extraction.
- Cold Ethanol Bath: Chilled ethanol preserves molecular structure while removing unwanted anthraquinones.
- Centrifugation: Separates pure Acemannan from plant residues.
- Lyophilization (Freeze-Drying): Stabilizes the compound without heat damage.
In contrast, traditional aloe undergoes heating, charcoal decolorization, and spray drying, steps that degrade or destroy Acemannan.
Impact on Product: This is where potency is preserved. Instead of ending up with flavored sugar water, you get a product that retains the full molecular profile of Aloe vera.
3. Lab Testing – See Certifications & Results
Every batch is lab-tested for:
- Acemannan Content – ensuring the molecule is intact and active.
- Purity – free from contaminants, aloin, anthraquinones, or synthetic additives.
- Potency & Identity – confirming that what’s on the label is inside the capsule.
Impact on Product: Rigorous testing ensures consistency and trust. Without this, consumers are left with products of unknown quality. See examples of our batch-specific aloe product lab results.
4. Product – Shop Our Supplements
The result of this careful process is almä’s proven Acemannan product, which is:
- Bio-identical to fresh aloe gel
- Heat- and preservative-free
- Farm-to-capsule traceable
Our Broader Impact
- Sustainability: Eco-conscious farming, renewable energy, and zero-waste practices protect natural resources.
- Circularity: Every part of the plant is used or returned to enrich the soil.
- Culture & Care: We invest in our people. 60% of our employees are women heads of household, strengthening both our community and our mission. To support our people, we’ve established both a school and hospital directly on the farm for our worker community.
