What is ashwagandha? The plant, its names, and how it shows up on a food label

Ashwagandha facts

• Latin name: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
• Plant type: evergreen shrub
• Found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East
• Cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe
• Other names: winter cherry, Indian ginseng (not in the ginseng family)
• Plant parts used in products: root, leaf, or root and leaf extracts
• STAT: ashwagandha powder in all three flavors, for flavor; no amount printed

What is ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, an evergreen shrub. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes it as found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) notes it is cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Products that use the plant typically contain its root, its leaf, or extracts of both, according to NCCIH. On a snack wrapper, you will usually see it listed simply as ashwagandha powder.

Where does the name ashwagandha come from?

The name is Sanskrit. ODS explains that the plant's roots are said to smell like a wet horse: "ashwa" means horse and "gandha" means smell. It is one of the more memorable plant names you will find on an ingredient list.

Why is ashwagandha called Indian ginseng?

Indian ginseng is a nickname, not a family tree. ODS notes that ashwagandha is sometimes known as winter cherry or Indian ginseng, although it does not belong to the ginseng family. If you see either name, it points to the same plant, Withania somnifera.

How does ashwagandha appear on a food label?

On a conventional food, ingredients are listed by their common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight (21 CFR 101.4). So ashwagandha shows up in the ingredient list as something like "ashwagandha powder" or "ashwagandha root extract." That order is not a milligram table. If the wrapper does not print an amount, there is no dose to count.

The panel tells you what kind of product you are holding. A Nutrition Facts panel means a food. A dietary supplement carries a Supplement Facts panel, which lists the amount per serving of its dietary ingredients and names the part of the plant a botanical comes from (21 CFR 101.36 and 101.4). NCCIH notes that ashwagandha is often sold as a supplement, but a food that lists it in the ingredients is still a food. Our explainer on adaptogens in food covers how botanical names work on packaged food, and our what is maca guide covers the other botanical in every STAT flavor.

Is ashwagandha an adaptogen?

Ashwagandha is commonly sold under the word "adaptogen," which ODS describes as loosely defined. It is a marketing word, not a food category on a Nutrition Facts panel. For how ashwagandha sits next to maca, cordyceps, and reishi on a bar label, see our protein bar with ashwagandha guide.

Which STAT flavors contain ashwagandha?

All three STAT Energy Bar flavors list ashwagandha powder, for flavor. No amount is printed on the wrapper, and the label does not say which part of the plant is used.

Every bar has 100mg caffeine and 0g added sugars (not a low calorie food). Full ingredient lists are on What's inside and STAT by the numbers, and our caffeine protein bar page breaks down the caffeine by flavor.

Here is why ashwagandha ends up on a wrapper built for long days. We've all been there: it's 3am, there are six hours left on your shift, and the next call could come any second. That's the moment STAT Energy Bar was made for, when seconds count. Each bar has 100mg of caffeine for alertness and energy, about what's in a cup of coffee, plus 16 to 19g of protein and 0g added sugar. Most protein bars have no caffeine at all, but STAT has 100mg, along with maca, ashwagandha, cordyceps and reishi. If you like chocolate, the Chocolate bar uses coffee fruit extract. If you're a coffee person, Peanut Butter Espresso and Salted Caramel Coffee use real coffee plus coffee fruit extract. Tuck a couple in your bag for the days you can't stop for a meal.

Price note (checked October 19, 2026): the Build Your 4-Pack is $134.99 for 48 bars (regularly $159.96), about $2.81 a bar. Variety 3 Boxes is $104.99 for 36 bars (regularly $119.97), about $2.92 a bar. Subscribe and save 10% brings a 12-count box to $35.99 from $39.99. Orders over $50 ship free. Shop all STAT flavors.

Common questions

What is ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub found in parts of India, Africa and the Middle East. Its root and leaf are used in powders and extracts.

Is ashwagandha the same as ginseng?

No. It is sometimes called Indian ginseng, but it doesn't belong to the ginseng family.

Is there a protein bar with ashwagandha?

Yes. All three STAT Energy Bar flavors list ashwagandha powder, for flavor. Our adaptogenic protein bar guide lists every botanical by flavor.

Do STAT bars have both ashwagandha and caffeine?

Yes. Every flavor lists ashwagandha powder and has 100mg caffeine: Chocolate from coffee fruit extract, and Peanut Butter Espresso and Salted Caramel Coffee from real coffee plus coffee fruit extract.

How much ashwagandha is in a STAT bar?

No amount is printed on the wrapper. Ashwagandha is in the recipe for flavor.

This page covers botany, names, and labeling only. If you have a question about ashwagandha and your health or medicines, talk to your clinician.

References

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ashwagandha. nccih.nih.gov
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Ashwagandha fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
• 21 CFR 101.4, Food; designation of ingredients. ecfr.gov
• 21 CFR 101.36, Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements. ecfr.gov