Bought for heat, with colour close behind
Guntur chilli is the workhorse of the Indian chilli trade and it is bought the opposite way round from Kashmiri: heat first, colour second. Both get specified, because a sauce or a masala blend needs a predictable pungency and a predictable shade at the same time.
The practical risk on this line is variation between lots rather than any single number being wrong. Tell us the heat band and the colour minimum you need, and whether you are blending or packing whole, and we will spec the lot to that.
Specification
This is a made-to-order line, so the grade is agreed against your purchase order rather than fixed here. Every parameter below is measured and reported on the NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot.
| Parameter | Basis |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Confirmed on the purchase order |
| Grade | Agreed against your specification |
| Capsaicin / heat | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| ASTA colour value | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Moisture | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Stalk and broken percentage | Measured and reported on the NABL CoA |
| Aflatoxin | Reported against Reg. (EU) 2023/915 |
| Ethylene oxide | Not detected |
Forms and packaging
- Whole dried pods — with or without stalk, specified by you.
- Powder — on request; grind size specified by you.
- Packing — agreed on the PO.
Commercial terms
Made to order against a confirmed purchase order, so lead times are longer than our stocked lines. Price and minimum order quantity are quoted per contract on an FOB or CIF basis — there are too many variables in origin, grade, packing and freight for a list price to mean anything. Ask and we will put a number and a date against your specification.
Compliance
Every lot ships with a NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis, a Spices Board Certificate of Origin and a Phytosanitary Certificate. Ethylene oxide is not used at any stage; residues are reported against the EU sum limit of 0.1 mg/kg for ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol under Reg. (EC) 396/2005, and against the US tolerance of 7 ppm under 40 CFR 180.151. Aflatoxin and ochratoxin A are reported against the maximum levels in Reg. (EU) 2023/915.
Common questions
Can you hold a consistent heat level across shipments?
That is the right question to ask, and the honest answer is that it depends on the crop and the volume you are committing to. Tell us your band and your annual volume and we will tell you what we can commit to in writing.
Has anything changed for Indian chilli at the EU border?
Yes, and in your favour. The EU amended its import-control rules for Indian spices in June 2026. We have written up exactly what moved and what did not on our EU spice import rules 2026 page rather than summarising it loosely here.
What documentation ships with it?
A NABL-accredited Certificate of Analysis, a Spices Board Certificate of Origin, a Phytosanitary Certificate, and a Health Certificate where the destination requires one.