To buy Indian red chilli for export, choose the variety for the job you need it to do, which is either colour or heat, then specify the colour value, pungency and stem condition. To buy turmeric from India, choose the finger variety and the curcumin level. Both are sold on laboratory numbers, not on appearance.
The two spices share a risk profile as well: both have been targets of illegal colouring, and both need testing for contaminants. This guide sets out the decisions in the order you will meet them.
Chilli: colour or heat?
Indian chillies fall into two broad groups. Some are grown for deep colour and mild heat, others for high pungency. Teja, Sannam S4, Byadgi and Kashmiri chilli sit at different points on that scale, as explained in the difference between Teja, Sannam S4, Byadgi and Kashmiri chilli.
Colour is measured as an ASTA value and pungency in Scoville heat units. Ask for both figures on a lot sample, and say whether you want the chilli with stems or stemless, since stems change the weight and the appearance of the powder you grind.
Chilli: the risks to test for
Dry chilli is prone to mould during drying and storage, which can bring aflatoxin. It has also been the subject of illegal dye findings in the past. Ask for aflatoxin and Sudan dye tests, and check the limits that apply in your market with your regulator or customs broker.
Check the stem condition and the share of broken or pale pods as well. Pods that were dried on bare ground, or rained on during drying, carry more mould and less colour. Ask the supplier how the crop was dried and how long it has been in cold or ordinary storage, and ask for the crop year in writing.
The trade moves through market yards such as Gondal in Gujarat alongside the large chilli markets elsewhere in India, so ask each supplier where the chilli was bought and how it was stored.
Turmeric: choose the finger and the curcumin
Turmeric is sold as whole dried fingers or as ground powder. Varieties differ in colour, aroma and curcumin, the pigment that gives turmeric its colour. Read the main turmeric finger varieties in India before you name one in a contract.
Specify the curcumin level as a laboratory result, with the method named, and say whether you want polished or unpolished fingers. Polishing makes the surface smooth and bright but can be a route for added colour if it is done badly.
Turmeric: the colour risk
Turmeric has a history of adulteration with lead chromate and other illegal colours, used to brighten dull lots. This is not a minor concern: lead is toxic. Ask for heavy-metal and lead tests on every lot, and have a laboratory you trust do them. Heavy metal limits differ by market, so check the current ones for your destination.
Ground turmeric adds another question: what mesh, and was it steam sterilised? Whole fingers can be sterilised too, but check what your market and your own customers require. Read our guide to spice powders and microbiological limits before you set limits for total plate count and yeast and mould.
A supplier that grinds its own turmeric and polishes in a controlled plant is easier to audit than a trader buying mixed lots from several yards.
Costs and next steps
Chilli and turmeric costs follow the crop and the grade, so we do not publish figures. A real quote needs your variety, colour or curcumin target, and quantity. To start, book a free sourcing review, and we will shortlist suppliers, test the lots and supervise loading.