Is copperleaf snowberry vegan?

Copperleaf snowberry is a botanical ingredient derived from the fruit or foliage of Gaultheria hispida, an evergreen shrub native to southeastern Australia and Tasmania. In food production, the plant's white berries and aromatic leaves are harvested, cleaned, and processed into dried herbs, fruit purees, juices, or liquid extracts. It most commonly appears on labels for native Australian specialty foods, regional preserves, herbal teas, confectionery, and artisanal beverages seeking a wild-harvested fruit profile.

This ingredient is classified as vegan because it is entirely of plant origin. The harvesting and manufacturing operations rely on standard physical and solvent techniques, such as mechanical pressing, dehydration, or extraction using water and food-grade alcohol, without the use of animal tissues, secretions, or animal-derived processing aids. Because it is completely plant-based and requires no animal inputs during standard processing, copperleaf snowberry is suitable for vegans.