Aftabi salajeet is shilajit that has been dried in the sun by the traditional method. The name comes from "aftab" (آفتاب), the Urdu and Persian word for sun. Chitral House sells shilajit in four grades: semi-sun-dried, Aftabi B, Aftabi A and Aftabi A+. In bulk they cost Rs 40,000, Rs 60,000, Rs 80,000 and Rs 120,000 per kg. Our drops and honey shilajit use Aftabi A+. Our resin jars and gummies use semi-sun-dried shilajit.
This guide covers how Aftabi salajeet differs from semi-sun-dried and machine-dried shilajit, and what each grade costs in Pakistan. It also explains how to check that what you are buying is real Aftabi, and which grade suits you.
Aftabi salajeet kya hai? (What is Aftabi shilajit?)
Aftabi salajeet is also searched as Aftabi shilajit or Aftabi shilajeet, and outside Pakistan shilajit itself is known by names such as mumijo or mineral pitch. The raw resin comes from rocks high in the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains, and ours is collected in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Pakistan. Before it can be used, the raw material is cleaned and the water is removed until it becomes a thick resin. The method used to remove that water is where the grade names come from.
Aftabi means the resin is dried slowly in the sun, the way it has traditionally been done in the northern areas. It is not dried with heaters or drying machines. Semi-sun-dried means the shilajit is only partly dried in the sun.
Purification before drying
Raw shilajit collected from the rocks is mixed with stones and soil. To clean it, the raw material is dissolved in water and filtered to remove the stones and soil, and the cleaned liquid is then dried into resin. The grade names describe only this last step: whether the resin is dried in the sun, partly in the sun, or with heat.
For a general introduction to shilajit itself, see our guide on what salajeet is.
Aftabi vs semi-sun-dried vs machine-dried shilajit
All three types start as the same raw material. What changes is how the water is removed and how long that takes.
- Aftabi (fully sun-dried): the resin dries in sunlight only. This is the slowest method. It can take a long time and depends on the weather, so it needs more labour and patience.
- Semi-sun-dried: the shilajit is partly dried in the sun. It takes less time than full Aftabi drying, which is why it costs less.
- Machine or heat-dried: heaters or drying machines remove the water quickly. It is the fastest and cheapest way to make large amounts of resin.
Why is traditional sun-drying valued?
Many buyers in Pakistan prefer sun-dried shilajit because it is processed the old way, gently and without strong heat. That is the main reason Aftabi salajeet costs more: it takes longer to make, and there is less of it.
The grade tells you how the shilajit was dried and what it costs. It does not mean one grade has a proven, measured amount of extra potency. Be careful of any seller who quotes precise "strength" numbers for Aftabi without a lab report to back them up.
Every grade is still shilajit, and its main active component is fulvic acid, along with minerals and trace elements. You can read more in our guide to fulvic acid and its benefits.
Shilajit grades compared: A+, A, B and semi-sun-dried
Here are all four grades we supply, with bulk prices and the Chitral House products made from each one.
| Grade | Drying method | Bulk price per kg (no packaging) | Chitral House products using it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-sun-dried | Partly sun-dried | Rs 40,000 | Shilajit resin jars (10g, 20g, 30g, 60g); shilajit gummies |
| Aftabi B | Sun-dried (traditional) | Rs 60,000 | Bulk resin only |
| Aftabi A | Sun-dried (traditional) | Rs 80,000 | Bulk resin only |
| Aftabi A+ | Sun-dried (traditional) | Rs 120,000 | Bulk resin; shilajit drops (Rs 60,000 per kg in bulk); honey shilajit |
Aftabi B, A and A+ are all sun-dried. The A+, A and B labels are how we grade our Aftabi resin, and each step up costs more per kg. Aftabi B and Aftabi A are sold in bulk only. You will not find them in our retail jars.
Aftabi salajeet price in Pakistan
Retail: Aftabi A+ products you can order today
Our ready-to-use retail products made from Aftabi A+ are:
- Shilajit drops, 30ml: Rs 2,800. A liquid form of Aftabi A+ that you add to water or milk. Buy Aftabi A+ shilajit drops.
- Honey shilajit, 15 sachets: Rs 2,000.
- Honey shilajit, 30 sachets: Rs 3,000. Aftabi A+ shilajit mixed with organic Beri and Malta honey. See honey shilajit sachets.
If you want solid resin at a lower price, our resin jars are semi-sun-dried. A 10g jar costs Rs 1,400, 20g is Rs 2,400 and 30g is Rs 3,200. The 60g jar comes with 10g free for Rs 4,500. Shop shilajit resin jars.
We deliver all over Pakistan by TCS, usually in 2–7 working days. You can pay cash on delivery, and delivery is free on orders over Rs 3,000.
Bulk: Aftabi salajeet price per kg
- Aftabi A+: Rs 120,000 per kg
- Aftabi A: Rs 80,000 per kg
- Aftabi B: Rs 60,000 per kg
- Semi-sun-dried: Rs 40,000 per kg
- Shilajit drops (Aftabi A+): Rs 60,000 per kg
These bulk prices are for resin without packaging. Wholesale orders start from 30 pieces. Full details are on our shilajit wholesale page.
If someone sells "pure Aftabi A+" far below these prices, ask questions. Sun-drying is slow, and real Aftabi cannot be made cheaply.
How to identify real Aftabi salajeet
Your senses cannot prove which grade a piece of shilajit is. A few simple checks can still help you avoid obvious fakes, and the most reliable proof is the seller's lab reports.
- Texture: good resin feels firm or sticky when it is cool. It softens with the warmth of your fingers and hardens again in the cold. It should not be rubbery, gritty or runny like syrup.
- Smell: real shilajit has a strong, earthy and slightly smoky smell. A sweet, perfumed or chemical smell is a warning sign.
- Dissolves in warm water: a small piece should dissolve slowly in warm water or milk and turn it a golden-brown to dark-brown colour. It should not leave a pile of sand or plastic-like lumps behind.
- Lab reports and a known seller: buy from a seller who shows independent lab reports, including tests for heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, and has a real company name and address.
Ignore viral "tests" such as burning the resin with a lighter. A flame test cannot confirm that shilajit is pure, and it certainly cannot tell Aftabi from semi-sun-dried. The grade also does not change the need for lab testing: raw shilajit can contain heavy metals, so Aftabi A+ needs a lab report just as much as semi-sun-dried resin. For a full checklist, read how to identify original vs fake shilajit in Pakistan.
Chitral House shilajit is lab tested by Eurofins, PCSIR (Pakistan) and an accredited US laboratory. You can read the results on our lab reports page. We are also certified under ISO 9001, ISO 22000, GMP and Halal.
Which shilajit grade should you choose?
If you are buying for yourself
- You want Aftabi salajeet: choose the Aftabi A+ drops (Rs 2,800 for 30ml) or honey shilajit sachets. Both are made from our top grade.
- You want solid resin at a lower price: choose a semi-sun-dried resin jar. The 10g jar costs Rs 1,400 and is a good way to start.
- You do not like the taste: gummies (semi-sun-dried, 150 mg shilajit per gummy) or honey shilajit sachets are easier options.
Most people take 300–500 mg of resin a day, about the size of a pea or a grain of rice, dissolved in warm water or milk. Start with the lower amount. For more on daily use, see how to use shilajit with milk. For what salajeet is traditionally used for, read our complete guide to salajeet benefits and uses.
Talk to your doctor before taking shilajit if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if it is for a child. The same applies if you have kidney disease, gout or high uric acid, a heart condition or iron overload (haemochromatosis), or if you take medicine for diabetes or blood pressure. Our guide to shilajit side effects and precautions explains these in more detail.
If you are buying in bulk or for resale
Choose the grade by what you are making and the price you plan to sell at.
- Semi-sun-dried (Rs 40,000/kg) is the grade we use for our own resin jars and gummies.
- Aftabi A+ (Rs 120,000/kg) is the grade we use for drops and honey shilajit.
- Aftabi B and A sit in between, for sellers who want a sun-dried product at a mid-range price.
Get in touch through our wholesale page for minimum orders and current terms.
Frequently asked questions
Aftabi salajeet kya hai?
Aftabi salajeet is shilajit dried in the sun by the traditional method, not with heaters or machines. "Aftab" means sun in Urdu and Persian. At Chitral House it comes in three grades: Aftabi B, A and A+.
Aftabi salajeet ki price kya hai?
In bulk without packaging, Aftabi B is Rs 60,000, Aftabi A is Rs 80,000 and Aftabi A+ is Rs 120,000 per kg. Our retail Aftabi A+ products are drops at Rs 2,800 for 30ml and honey shilajit at Rs 2,000 (15 sachets) or Rs 3,000 (30 sachets).
Aftabi A+ aur A mein kya farq hai?
Both are traditionally sun-dried. A+ is our top grade and costs Rs 120,000 per kg, while A costs Rs 80,000 per kg. Aftabi A+ is the grade used in our drops and honey shilajit, and Aftabi A is sold in bulk only.
Is Aftabi better than semi-sun-dried shilajit?
Aftabi is fully sun-dried by the traditional, slower method, so it costs more and many buyers prefer it. Semi-sun-dried is only partly sun-dried and costs less. The grade reflects the drying method and price. We do not claim a measured potency difference between them.
Which Chitral House products are Aftabi?
Our shilajit drops (30ml) and honey shilajit sachets are made from Aftabi A+. Our resin jars (10g to 60g) and gummies are made from semi-sun-dried shilajit.
Kya Aftabi salajeet asli hota hai? (How do I know Aftabi salajeet is real?)
Real Aftabi salajeet is firm when cool and softens with the warmth of your fingers. It has an earthy, smoky smell, and a small piece dissolves slowly in warm water or milk, turning it golden-brown to dark brown without leaving sand or lumps. These checks help spot obvious fakes, but only independent lab reports, including heavy metal tests, confirm purity. Flame or burn tests cannot prove purity or grade.