Teja chilli stemless is a hot, deep-red chilli variety sold with the stalks removed. Chilli powder ASTA value is a measure of colour, not heat. Turmeric curcumin 3% means the lot contains 3% curcumin by weight, the pigment that gives turmeric its colour and much of its value.
Heat, colour and strength are three separate things, and each has its own test. A supplier who quotes one without the others is leaving gaps for you to fill.
What does teja chilli stemless mean?
Teja is a chilli variety from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, known for strong heat and a deep red. Stemless means the calyx and stalk have been cut off before packing. Stems add weight and little else, so stemless is the cleaner grade.
Heat in chilli is measured in Scoville heat units, normally through a laboratory method such as HPLC for capsaicinoids. Ask the supplier for a range and a test report. Teja is hot, but individual lots vary with crop and storage.
What is the ASTA value of chilli powder?
ASTA colour value is a measure of extractable colour, set by a method published by the American Spice Trade Association. A higher figure means a deeper red. It says nothing about heat, so a mild paprika-type chilli can have a high ASTA and a hot one can have a low one.
Write the target as a minimum and name the method. Colour also fades in storage, so ask for the date of testing and consider a shelf-life clause. Why ASTA colour matters goes further.
Why does turmeric curcumin 3% matter?
Curcumin is the main colouring compound in turmeric. Content varies by variety and region, and buyers who use turmeric for colour or for a curcumin-led product ask for a stated minimum. A figure of 3% is a common specification, and higher values suit extracts and premium buyers.
It is tested by a laboratory, normally by spectrophotometry or HPLC. Because the method gives different figures, name it. Curcumin content: what to ask for in turmeric explains this in more detail.
How should the full chilli and turmeric spec read?
Beyond the headline figure, ask for these items on every lot:
- Moisture, because wet spice moulds and loses colour.
- Aflatoxin and ochratoxin, which are the main mycotoxin concerns in chilli.
- Sudan dyes for chilli and lead chromate for turmeric, which are adulterants that buyers screen for.
- Pesticide residues against your destination rules, confirmed with your importer or regulator.
- Foreign matter and, for whole chilli, the share of broken or discoloured pods.
What drives the cost?
Cost follows crop size, stocks, variety, colour and heat level, testing and packing, so no honest figure exists without a spec. Read the Indian red chilli and turmeric buying guide and reading a lab certificate before comparing offers.
Why do the same figures differ between labs?
ASTA colour, capsaicinoid heat and curcumin are all measured by methods in which the sample preparation, the solvent and the instrument change the result. Two labs can report different figures for the same lot and both be working properly.
To avoid arguments, name the method in the contract, use an accredited lab, and agree in advance how a gap between your result and the supplier's will be settled. A common approach is to send the retained sample to a third lab and accept its result.
Next step
If you want chilli or turmeric sourced to a written spec and tested before loading, book a free sourcing review.