Theacrine
Theacrine (CAS 2309-49-1) is a purine alkaloid structurally related to caffeine, distinguished by additional methylation at the N-9 position and a carbonyl at C-8.
The compound is formally 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid, formula C₉H₁₂N₄O₃, molar mass 224.22 g/mol. It is a white to off-white crystalline powder, slightly soluble in cold water and more soluble in hot water, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide.
We source bulk Theacrine from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Shandong. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
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- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Off-white to pale tan crystalline powder |
| Assay (dry basis) | ≥ 98.0% |
| Caffeine content | ≤ 0.5% |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 1.0% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Residual solvents | Meets ICH Q3C limits |
| Total plate count | ≤ 1000 cfu/g |
| Particle size | 80 mesh standard, or per customer specification |
Common Markets Grades
Theacrine is graded by HPLC purity of the alkaloid.
Standard supplement grade ranges from 95 to 98 percent assay, sold as the free base. Higher-purity material at 99 percent or greater is produced for clinical research and analytical standardisation.
The proprietary branded form TeaCrine, marketed by Compound Solutions, carries 40 percent theacrine on a maltodextrin matrix. Generic 98 percent material is also widely available from Chinese manufacturers, generally produced by total synthesis or semi-synthesis from caffeine.
Liquid premixes for ready-to-drink beverages and shots come as solubilised concentrates, typically buffered to slightly acidic pH for stability.
Applications
- Pre-workout powders positioned as a smoother alternative to caffeine
- Energy and focus supplements combined with caffeine, L-theanine, or tyrosine
- Nootropic stacks for sustained cognitive performance
- Ready-to-drink energy beverages and shots
- Mood and motivation formulas drawing on dopaminergic positioning
- Endurance support products for cyclists and runners
- Esports and gaming-oriented focus supplements
- Functional teas blending theacrine-rich Kucha tea leaves
- Weight-management blends combined with thermogenic ingredients
- Adaptogen formulas paired with rhodiola or ashwagandha
- Research material for adenosine and dopamine receptor studies
- Reference standard for tea cultivar alkaloid profiling
Brands Using Theacrine
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Theacrine on the ingredient label.
- CellucorC4 Ultimate Pre-Workout (with TeaCrine) ↗Cellucor C4 Ultimate features a tri-stim energy blend of 300 mg caffeine, TeaCrine (theacrine), and Dynamine; TeaCrine is the branded form of theacrine licensed from Compound Solutions.Label verified 2026-05-24
- The Genius BrandGenius Burn Caffeine-Free Thermogenic ↗Genius Burn is a caffeine-free thermogenic + nootropic capsule formulated with TeaCrine (theacrine, the patented Compound Solutions form) alongside Capsimax, Cognizin, and KSM-66 Ashwagandha.Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Theacrine
Top Theacrine manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Theacrine
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Theacrine out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Theacrine together with other ingredients such as Arachidonic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 and Chondroitin Sulphate Sodium into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Theacrine is a natural constituent of Kucha tea and several other Camellia species, and intake from these traditional foods is small but documented.
In the United States, the branded theacrine ingredient TeaCrine holds a New Dietary Ingredient notification on file with the FDA and self-affirmed GRAS status for use in beverages and supplements at defined levels. Generic theacrine is produced under the same NDI framework by other suppliers.
In the European Union, isolated theacrine has not received novel-food authorisation, which restricts its use in food and food-supplement applications. Sale of Kucha tea leaf at traditional intake levels is treated under general food law.
No authorised health claim references theacrine in any jurisdiction. Pharmacopoeial monographs do not yet exist.
The World Anti-Doping Agency does not currently list theacrine as a prohibited substance, although athletes are advised to verify the status of any specific formulation that combines theacrine with other actives.
Manufacturing Process
Two principal routes supply commercial theacrine.
The botanical route extracts theacrine from Kucha tea (Camellia assamica var. kucha), a rare cultivar native to Yunnan and Guangdong in southern China. Kucha leaves can contain two to three percent theacrine on a dry basis, several times the level seen in any other natural source. Aqueous or aqueous-ethanol extraction is followed by resin separation from caffeine, then crystallisation. The botanical route accounts for a small share of supply because of limited raw material availability.
The dominant industrial route is semi-synthesis from caffeine. Caffeine is selectively oxidised at C-8 and methylated at N-9 in a sequence of well-controlled reactions. The product is crystallised from water-ethanol mixtures to deliver high-purity material with full impurity profiling.
Total synthesis from uric acid building blocks is also possible and is used where stable-isotope-labelled theacrine is required for pharmacokinetic research.
