A Label-Jotting Card: Variety and Concentration in Two Lines Before You Compare Tubs

If you run a one-person trade business, you already know how to compare two quotes: put the same fields side by side and ignore the sales language. Supplement labels deserve the same treatment. A small card with two lines on it is enough to make two cherry products comparable.

The card

Take an index card, or a note on your phone, and draw two lines.

Line 1: Variety. Copy the exact words from the label. If it says "Montmorency tart cherry", write that. If it says "cherry extract" and nothing more, write that too, word for word. Don't tidy it up or fill in what you assume it means.

Line 2: Concentration. Write down whatever the label gives you. That might be an extract ratio, an amount per capsule, or both. If it gives neither, write "not stated".

Add a small tick box at the bottom for "where I found it": front, ingredients panel, or product page. It takes seconds and shows you how hard the seller made you look.

Why variety gets its own line

"Cherry" covers several different fruits. Sweet cherries, black cherries and Montmorency tart cherries are different types, and if you want a particular one, the label has to say which. A label that says only "cherry extract" or "cherry powder" hasn't answered that question, however reassuring it sounds.

One UK seller points out that many cherry products use sweet or black cherry, or aren't very concentrated. You needn't treat that as settled fact. It is simply a good reason to write down what the label says instead of assuming. If you want more detail on this side of things, there's a useful page on reading the cherry variety on a supplement label.

Why concentration gets its own line

Variety is half the picture. The other half is how concentrated the product is. Some labels state an extract ratio, written as two numbers with a colon between them. A stated ratio gives you something to compare. A label with no ratio, no amount per capsule and no variety gives you nothing to compare at all.

It's the same as a tub of filler with "high quality" on the front and no figures anywhere. You'd turn it over looking for the numbers. Do the same here, and when the numbers aren't there, the card records that plainly: "not stated".

Vague wording to flag on the card

When you copy a phrase into Line 1, notice if it's one of these:

• "Cherry extract": no variety, and no sign of how concentrated it is.
• "Cherry blend": a blend of what? Check the ingredients list.
• "Natural" or "pure": general reassurance, and no indication of which cherry is inside.
• "Tart cherry" with no variety: closer, but still not a named type.

A specific, checkable statement such as "Montmorency tart cherry" is a different kind of entry. You can see the difference on the card straight away.

What to do when a line is empty

Check the front, then the ingredients panel, then the product page. If the variety or concentration still isn't there, message the seller and ask. Paste their answer onto the card. If they can't or won't answer, that is a result in itself, and you can compare on that basis.

A note on juice

The same card works for juice, with one extra check. One seller notes that many shop-bought cherry juices contain added sugar and may not be made from Montmorency cherries. Both points can be checked on the carton. Add a third line if you like: "Added sugar? Y/N".

Comparing two products

Fill in one card per product and lay them next to each other. Look at three things:

1. Is the variety named on both, or only one?
2. Is a concentration stated on both, and in the same form (ratio, amount per capsule)?
3. How many "not stated" entries does each card have?

If one product states both lines and the other leaves them blank, you've learned something before price even comes into it. If both are blank, you can't compare them honestly, so ask the sellers or look elsewhere.

Keep it in the kit

Print a handful of the cards and keep them in the same drawer as your quote sheets. The habit is the same one you use for specs: record what's stated, flag what's missing, and don't let a pleasant adjective stand in for a figure.

One last point: the card is for comparing labels, not for deciding whether a supplement is right for you. If you have a health condition, take medication, or are unsure whether a product suits you, ask a pharmacist or your GP.