Ground spice · Capsicum annuum L.
Specification and grades
Chilli is the one line where two independent numbers drive the price: ASTA colour value and Scoville heat. Guntur Teja delivers heat, Byadgi delivers colour, and most industrial buyers actually want a blend that lands on a specific point between them. We buy at Guntur, Byadgi and Warangal, blend to a target colour and heat, and confirm both on a pre-shipment certificate of analysis. Sudan dye screening is mandatory on every lot, without exception.
- Botanical name
- Capsicum annuum L.
- HS code (ground)
- 09042200
- Colour value
- 30 – 90 ASTA, to specification
- Pungency
- 5,000 – 100,000 SHU, to specification
Grades offered
- Byadgi Kaddi / Dabbi
- Guntur Sannam S4
- Teja S17
- Custom blend
| Grade | Character & typical use | Key value |
|---|---|---|
| Byadgi Kaddi / Dabbi | Wrinkled, deep red, very low heat. The colour grade — 60–90 ASTA. Used to lift colour without adding pungency. | ≈ 8,000–15,000 SHU |
| Guntur Sannam S4 | The global commercial standard. Balanced colour and moderate heat. | ≈ 25,000–40,000 SHU |
| Teja S17 | High-pungency Guntur variety, the reference for hot blends and oleoresin capsaicin. | ≈ 75,000–100,000 SHU |
| Custom blend | Blended to your stated ASTA colour and SHU, confirmed on COA before shipment. | To specification |
Technical
Typical export specification
These are the parameters we contract against. Every consignment ships with a pre-shipment certificate of analysis from an NABL-accredited laboratory, and we will work to a tighter buyer specification where your process demands it.
Read this as indicative. Figures reflect standard Indian export practice and
common buyer specifications for this line. The binding specification is the one written into
your contract and confirmed on the pre-shipment COA.
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture | ≤ 10.0% | IS 2820 / AOAC |
| Colour value | 30 – 90 ASTA (per grade) | ASTA 20.1 |
| Pungency (capsaicin) | Per grade, declared in SHU | HPLC / ASTA 21.3 |
| Total ash (dry basis) | ≤ 8.0% | AOAC 941.12 |
| Acid insoluble ash | ≤ 1.3% | AOAC 941.12 |
| Seed content | ≤ 25% (stemless, per grade) | Visual |
| Standard mesh | 40 / 60 mesh | — |
| Sudan dyes I, II, III, IV & Para Red | Not detected | LC-MS/MS |
| Aflatoxin B1 / total | ≤ 5 / ≤ 10 µg/kg | HPLC-FLD |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤ 15 µg/kg | HPLC-FLD |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579 |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU MRLs (Reg. 396/2005) | LC-MS/MS & GC-MS/MS |