A wholesale ambunu leaves supplier should provide whole, shade-dried leaves traceable to a named region in Chad, with a per-batch certificate of analysis and a phytosanitary certificate on every shipment. This guide shows formulators and hair care brands how to source authentic ambunu (Ceratotheca sesamoides) in bulk for slip and detangling formulas, and what to confirm before ordering.
Last updated: 2026.
What a wholesale ambunu leaves supplier should provide
A reliable ambunu supplier gives you whole, shade-dried leaves with a verifiable Chadian origin and documentation on every shipment. Ambunu is far less commoditized than shea or moringa, which makes traceability and a clean certificate of analysis even more important when you source it in bulk.
- Whole or lightly broken leaves. Sold as leaves, not powdered, so the mucilage performs the way formulators expect.
- Named origin. The Guéra region of Chad and the cooperative that harvests it.
- Per-batch COA and phytosanitary certificate. Identity and quality, plus the plant-health document customs requires.
- Grade clarity. Cosmetic-grade specification for topical hair use.
- Clear MOQ and lead time. A published minimum and an honest delivery window.
What ambunu is
Ambunu is the dried leaf of Ceratotheca sesamoides, a wild Sahelian herb in the sesame family (Pedaliaceae), sometimes called false sesame. When the leaves are soaked in warm water, they release a thick mucilage with natural slip, which is what makes ambunu a cleansing and detangling ingredient rather than a simple botanical extract.
Two properties drive its use in formulas: slip-giving mucilage polysaccharides that coat the strand and reduce combing friction, and mild saponins that give a gentle, soap-like cleansing action. You can read the full botanical and use profile on our ambunu ingredient page.
Where authentic ambunu comes from
Authentic ambunu comes from the Guéra region of central Chad, harvested and shade-dried by the same women’s cooperative that supplies our chebe. The leaves are gathered after the short rainy season, then shade-cured to protect the mucilage compounds that degrade under direct sun.
This shared origin is the point. Ambunu and chebe are two halves of one traditional Chadian routine, where ambunu cleanses and detangles before chebe protects and seals. Sourcing both from one verified supply chain keeps your story and your documentation consistent.
How brands use ambunu
For detanglers and cleansing conditioners. Ambunu’s mucilage delivers slip without surfactants, which suits sulfate-free and minimalist lines.
For slip in masks and leave-ins. The soaked-leaf gel can be built into rinse-off or leave-in formats for tightly coiled hair.
As the wash-day partner to chebe. Brands building a complete Chadian-routine range use ambunu as the cleansing step and chebe as the protective step.
Forms, MOQ, and documentation
Ambunu ships as whole or lightly broken shade-dried leaves, with a 10 kg minimum order and tier pricing that improves with volume. Every export carries a per-batch certificate of analysis, a phytosanitary certificate issued on export from Cotonou, and country-of-origin documentation naming the region and cooperative.
Because ambunu is sold as leaves rather than powder, request a sample first to confirm the leaf quality and the mucilage yield in your own process before committing to a production volume.
Frequently asked questions
What is the botanical name for ambunu?
Ambunu is Ceratotheca sesamoides, a wild herb in the sesame family (Pedaliaceae), sometimes called false sesame. It is unrelated to true sesame and is used for hair, not for seed oil.
Is ambunu sold as a powder or as leaves?
We supply ambunu as whole or lightly broken shade-dried leaves, not powder. The leaves are soaked to release the mucilage, which is what gives ambunu its slip and cleansing action.
What is the minimum order, and what documents come with it?
The minimum is 10 kg, with tier pricing above that. Every shipment includes a per-batch certificate of analysis, a phytosanitary certificate, and country-of-origin documentation.
Ambunu is a differentiator precisely because it is hard to source well. Buy it as whole shade-dried leaves from a verified Chadian supply chain, with documentation on every shipment, and it becomes a story few competitors can tell. See specifications and request a quote on our wholesale ambunu leaves page, or see how we source it on our Chad sourcing page.