Why Malabar pepper is the benchmark
The Malabar Coast of Kerala is where Piper nigrum has been cultivated for more than two thousand years. The monsoon-fed Western Ghats' elevation, laterite soil, and shade-grown vines on traditional climbers produce peppercorns with a piperine concentration and aromatic volatile oil profile that other origins measure themselves against. Malabar Garbled Grade 1 (MG1) is the highest standard commercial grade: uniform size, cleaned of light berries and extraneous matter, 550+ g/L bulk density.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Piper nigrum |
| Origin | Idukki / Wayanad, Kerala, India |
| Grade | MG1 (Malabar Garbled Grade 1) |
| Bulk density | Minimum 550 g/L |
| Piperine | Minimum 4.5% |
| Volatile oil | Minimum 2.0% |
| Moisture | Maximum 11% |
| Light berries | Maximum 2% |
| Extraneous matter | Maximum 0.5% |
| Ethylene oxide | Not detected |
Malabar and Tellicherry grades, compared
Indian whole black pepper is graded by berry size and cleaning. Tellicherry grades are the larger, sieve-selected berries; Malabar Garbled is the cleaned standard grade, and MG1 is the top of it. Minimum berry diameters by grade (NIFTEM black pepper processing manual):
| Grade | Minimum berry diameter |
|---|---|
| Tellicherry Garbled Special Extra Bold (TGSEB) | 4.8 mm |
| Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold (TGEB) | 4.2 mm |
| Tellicherry Garbled (TG) | 4.0 mm |
| Malabar Garbled (MG 1 and 2) | 3.75 mm |
| Malabar Ungarbled (MUG 1 and 2) | 3.75 mm |
Size is not strength. A bold Tellicherry berry costs more for its look; for grinding, extraction or seasoning, what you pay for is piperine and volatile oil, which is why our MG1 is specified on chemistry. Against the Indian food-safety minimums for whole black pepper, our MG1 specification meets or beats every limit:
| Parameter | FSSAI limit | SpiceModo MG1 |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk density | Not less than 490 g/L | Minimum 550 g/L |
| Piperine | Not less than 4.0% | Minimum 4.5% |
| Volatile oil | Not less than 2.0% | Minimum 2.0% |
| Moisture | Not more than 13.0% | Maximum 11% |
| Light berries | Not more than 5.0% | Maximum 2% |
Bulk density matters because it measures how many light, hollow or immature berries a lot carries: the heavier the litre, the more of each berry is pepper. It is the first number to agree on the purchase order.
Forms and packaging
- Whole peppercorns — MG1 Garbled.
- Ground pepper — table grind, coarse grind, or custom mesh.
- Retail packs — 50g, 100g, 200g quick-commerce SKUs.
- Bulk — 25kg, 50kg food-grade lined PP bags; custom export cartons.
Ideal for
Food manufacturers requiring consistent piperine content, premium retail brands, seasoning blend formulators, HORECA and foodservice distributors, and nutraceutical buyers formulating bioavailability enhancers (piperine is the active compound in BioPerine-style ingredients).
Commercial terms
MOQ: 500 kg. FOB Cochin or Chennai; CIF any major destination port. Payment: 30% advance T/T / 70% against BL, or LC at sight. Lead time: 10-21 days. Documentation pack includes NABL-accredited CoA, Certificate of Origin, Phytosanitary Certificate.