Seed Spices Buyer's Guide: Cumin, Coriander, Fennel and Fenugreek
How to buy seed spices — cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek and mustard — purity grades, sortexing, origins, quality checks and EU compliance.
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India is a leading producer of seed spices, mostly from Gujarat and Rajasthan. They're traded in large volumes for food manufacturing, blends and retail.
Trade guidance only. Specifications, limits and regulations change, so confirm the current requirements and agree the exact specification in your contract.
The main seed spices
| Spice | Common grades |
|---|---|
| Cumin | By purity, e.g. 99% and 99.5%, "Singapore" and "Europe" qualities |
| Coriander | Eagle, Badami, split; by colour and purity |
| Fennel | By purity and colour, sortexed for premium |
| Fenugreek | Machine-cleaned, sortexed |
| Mustard | Black, brown and yellow; bold and small |
Purity and sortexing
Purity refers to the share of clean seeds versus foreign matter, broken seeds and other seeds. Sortexing (optical colour sorting) removes discoloured seeds and foreign material for premium and EU markets.
Quality checks
- Purity and foreign matter
- Moisture
- Volatile oil
- Ash and acid-insoluble ash (sand)
- Pesticide residues, critical for EU buyers
- Microbiology, often requiring steam sterilisation
Adulteration risk
Cumin and other seed spices have a history of adulteration with foreign seeds or dyes. Buy from traceable suppliers and test.
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Source spices, coffee and pulses from Pyalm
We trade from Calicut (Kozhikode), India on the Malabar spice coast and Dubai, UAE, exporting to buyers across Europe and worldwide. Wholesale, private label and dropshipping. See products & grades, export & shipping and quality.
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