Tongkat Ali vs Longjack vs Pasak Bumi: Names Explained

Is Longjack the same as Tongkat Ali? Yes. Tongkat Ali (Malaysia), Pasak Bumi (Indonesia) and Longjack (English trade name) are all common names for one plant: Eurycoma longifolia, a Southeast Asian tree whose root is brewed as a bitter tonic. "Malaysian ginseng" is a nickname for the same root, although it is not a true ginseng.

The Names, Country by Country

Name	Where it is used	Meaning
Tongkat Ali	Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei	“Ali’s walking stick”
Pasak Bumi	Indonesia	“Earth peg” / “stake of the earth”
Longjack	English-language supplement trade	Trade name
Malaysian ginseng	Marketing nickname	Not a true ginseng
Cây bá bệnh	Vietnam	Often rendered “cures a hundred ailments” (a folk name, not a medical claim)
Pla lai phueak	Thailand	Thai common name
Eurycoma longifolia	Science and regulation	Botanical name

Both the Malay and Indonesian names describe the same feature: a long, straight taproot that grows deep into the forest soil — the part that is harvested, sliced and brewed.

The Plant Behind the Names

Eurycoma longifolia is a slender understorey tree of the quassia family that grows in the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and neighbouring countries. Its root contains bitter compounds called quassinoids, which is why every traditional preparation — whatever it is called — tastes bitter. More background: What is Tongkat Ali?

Colour Names: Red, Yellow, Black

On top of the country names, Malaysian trade uses colours:

Yellow Tongkat Ali — the common commercial form.
Red Tongkat Ali (Tongkat Ali Merah, 红东革阿里) — a traditional trade name for reddish-barked root, locally regarded as more prestigious and often described as milder in the cup.
Black Tongkat Ali — frequently a different plant story altogether.

These are market labels, not laboratory categories. A colour name does not prove species, purity or strength; see Red vs Yellow vs Black and Is Red Tongkat Ali the same as Eurycoma longifolia?

Why the Name on the Label Matters

Search and research. Scientific papers use Eurycoma longifolia; searching that name finds the actual studies.
Avoiding mix-ups. “Malaysian ginseng” on a label should still list Eurycoma longifolia as the ingredient.
Format. “Longjack” on a US label almost always means an extract capsule, while “Tongkat Ali root” may mean whole slices. They are different products — see root slices vs extract.

What We Sell, in Plain Words

Dried Red Tongkat Ali root slices from Pahang, Malaysia, for simmering as tea. We describe the botanical category as Eurycoma longifolia and do not currently publish batch DNA identification or a lab report (what we test).

Educational information only, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Frequently asked questions

Is Longjack the same as Tongkat Ali?

Yes. Longjack is an English trade name for Eurycoma longifolia, the same plant called Tongkat Ali in Malaysia and Pasak Bumi in Indonesia.

What does Tongkat Ali mean?

In Malay, Tongkat Ali means “Ali’s walking stick” — a reference to the plant’s long, straight taproot.

What is Pasak Bumi?

Pasak Bumi is the Indonesian name for Eurycoma longifolia. It is usually translated as “earth peg” or “stake of the earth,” again describing the deep taproot.

Is Tongkat Ali the same as Malaysian ginseng?

“Malaysian ginseng” is a nickname for Tongkat Ali. It is not a true ginseng: Eurycoma longifolia is unrelated to Panax ginseng.

What is the scientific name of Tongkat Ali?

Eurycoma longifolia Jack, a slender tree in the Simaroubaceae (quassia) family, native to Southeast Asia.

Are Red, Yellow and Black Tongkat Ali different plants?

They are trade and traditional colour names, not botanical classifications. Yellow is the common commercial form associated with Eurycoma longifolia; Red is a Malaysian trade name for reddish-barked root; Black is often a different plant story. Colour names do not replace botanical identification.

Is Red Tongkat Ali sold as capsules or extract?

Not on this site. We sell dried Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) root that is cleaned, sliced and air-dried — a single-ingredient herbal tea. It is not a capsule, powder or standardized extract.

Tongkat Ali, Longjack, Pasak Bumi: Every Name for Eurycoma longifolia