A glucosamine base having a pure level of at least about 99.0 wt. % and a maximum halide content of 0.01 wt. %. The pure glucosamine base is prepared by reacting a glucosamine halide, e.g., glucosamine hydrochloride, with a lithium base in the presence of a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol to thereby generate a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol solution of a lithium halide and an insoluble halide-free glucosamine base and thereafter separating the insoluble halide-free glucosamine base from the C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol solution of the lithium halide. Preferably, the lithium base comprises anhydrous lithium hydroxide and the preferable alcohol comprises methanol.