Brand review · Hawaii, USA
Cyanotech — Spirulina Pacifica
Cyanotech has grown spirulina on the Kona coast of Hawaii since 1983, making them the longest-running large-scale spirulina operation in the United States. Their Spirulina Pacifica brand is the reference standard most quality-focused buyers compare against. The company is publicly traded (NASDAQ: CYAN), which brings a level of financial disclosure unusual in the supplement industry.
Strengths
- ✓Oldest and most documented US spirulina producer — 40+ years of continuous operation
- ✓Proprietary Ocean-Chill Drying process runs at low temperature, protecting heat-sensitive phycocyanin
- ✓Consistently high phycocyanin content, typically above 14% — one of the highest available commercially
- ✓Publishes batch-specific Certificates of Analysis; NSF Certified for Sport (selected products)
- ✓Open-pond cultivation in clean Pacific trade-wind air, naturally low in heavy metals
- ✓Public company — financial filings provide unusual supply-chain transparency
Weaknesses
- –Premium pricing — significantly more expensive per gram than Asian producers
- –Not always available outside the United States; international shipping can be costly
- –Open-pond system means weather events (rare in Hawaii) can interrupt production
Our verdict
The benchmark. If you want the most thoroughly documented spirulina on the market, Spirulina Pacifica is the answer — assuming you can absorb the cost. The combination of long production history, published testing, and NSF certification makes it particularly suitable for athletes or anyone who needs to verify what they're taking.
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