Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague · Family: Apiaceae · Dried Fruit
Ajwain is one of the few spices whose character rests on a single compound. Thymol carries nearly all of it, which makes the spice unusually easy to specify analytically — so we assay thymol on the seed, not only on the extract. And unlike clove or nutmeg, the Indian-origin claim here needs no footnote.
One compound, one origin
Ajwain — carom seed, Trachyspermum ammi — is botanically a dried fruit rather than a true seed, and belongs to the Apiaceae alongside cumin, fennel and coriander. What sets it apart from all of them is how completely one compound defines it.
Thymol — the same aromatic phenol that defines thyme — carries nearly all of ajwain's character, supported by p-cymene and γ-terpinene. Where cardamom depends on a ratio between constituents and ginger on the gingerol-to-shogaol split, ajwain's strength tracks a single number. That makes it analytically straightforward and lets a formulator calculate inclusion rather than trial it.
Which is why we assay thymol on the seed. Most whole-spice offers stop at volatile oil, or at appearance and purity; on ajwain that leaves the most useful figure off the certificate. Bold and Sortex-cleaned grades run at minimum 45% thymol on a volatile oil of at least 3.0 ml/100g; FAQ grade at 40% on 2.5 ml/100g.
The other thing to know is that ajwain is easy to overdose. Thymol is potent and penetrating, and because it dominates rather than balancing against other constituents, the spice announces itself at low inclusion. Used correctly it gives breads, namkeen and savoury snacks their characteristic warm, faintly medicinal lift; a small excess pushes the product past that point and it reads medicinal rather than savoury — a shift most consumers notice and few can name.
On origin, ajwain is one of our uncomplicated claims. Across clove, nutmeg and cinnamon we are careful to separate Indian processing from Indian cultivation. Ajwain is grown almost entirely in India, principally Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with only small volumes anywhere else. The supply chain is short and the origin statement is a plain fact.
What is in the seed
The dominant constituent and effectively the whole flavour — a potent aromatic phenol, warm and faintly medicinal. Assayed per lot at minimum 40–45% of volatile oil by grade.
The second major constituent of the volatile oil, contributing a drier, more terpenic edge to the thymol note.
Supporting terpene; part of the GC fingerprint used to confirm authenticity.
Minimum 2.0–3.0 ml/100g by grade — high for a seed spice, and declared per lot.
The non-volatile bulk of the seed; relevant to grinding behaviour and to the powder's shorter aroma life.
Ajwain is easy to overdose. Thymol dominates rather than balances, so a small excess reads medicinal rather than savoury.
Why buyers specify Indian ajwain on thymol
Not only on the extract. The single most predictive number on this spice, on every certificate.
Minimum 3.0 ml/100g on Bold and Sortex grades — high for a seed spice, and declared rather than assumed.
Larger uniform seed and optically sorted material where purity is the binding requirement.
Almost all world ajwain is grown in India. The origin claim is a plain fact, not a shipping-point statement.
One dominant compound means you can calculate a dose from the thymol figure instead of trialling it.
Whole seed for buyers grinding on receipt, or 40–60 mesh powder to a buyer-specified fineness.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Size, cleaning and form
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Grade Premium export | Thymol min 45%; volatile oil min 3.0 ml/100g; extraneous NMT 0.5% | Bold uniform seed | Premium food, pharmaceutical, retail | Whole |
| Sortex Cleaned Optically sorted | Thymol min 45%; volatile oil min 3.0 ml/100g; premium clean | Clean uniform seed | Premium food, extraction | Whole |
| FAQ Grade Standard commercial | Thymol min 40%; volatile oil min 2.5 ml/100g; admixture NMT 2% | Standard grade seed | Food manufacturing, blending | Whole |
| Ground Ajwain Powder Ground | 40–60 mesh; volatile oil min 2.0 ml/100g; total ash NMT 10% | Grey-brown powder | Seasonings, bakery, snack coatings | Ground |
| Extraction Grade Feedstock | Specified on thymol and volatile oil rather than appearance | Whole seed | Oleoresin and essential oil production | Whole |
Grade names on ajwain describe size and cleaning, not strength. Bold denotes larger uniform seed and Sortex describes optical cleaning; both typically carry the higher thymol and volatile oil, but neither guarantees it by name alone — which is why we put the thymol figure on the certificate rather than leaving buyers to infer it. Specify a thymol minimum alongside the grade and the comparison between offers becomes objective. Note that ajwain is often confused in trade listings with ajmod (celery seed), a different Apiaceae species with a quite different profile; we declare the botanical on every certificate. For extracted forms see ajwain oleoresin.
Export specification for Indian ajwain seed. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague | — |
| Plant Family | Apiaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried fruit ('seed') | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole seed or ground | — |
| Colour | Greyish-green to greyish-brown | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic — warm, sharp, thyme-like | Organoleptic |
| Thymol (% of volatile oil) | Min 40–45 by grade — assayed per lot | By GC |
| Volatile Oil (ml/100g) | Min 2.0–3.0 by grade — declared per lot | Distillation |
| Botanical Verification | Trachyspermum ammi confirmed — not celery seed (ajmod) | GC profile / botanical |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 9 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 10 | Gravimetric |
| Acid Insoluble Ash (% w/w) | NMT 2.5 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 (NMT 0.5 on Bold) | Manual |
| Admixture (%) | NMT 2.0 (FAQ grade) | Manual |
| Mesh (ground) | 40–60 or buyer-specified | Sieve |
| Pesticide Residues | EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 MRL compliant — tested per lot | GC-MS / LC-MS/MS |
| Aflatoxin | Total NMT 10 ppb; B1 NMT 5 ppb — EU compliant | HPLC-FLD |
| Ochratoxin A | NMT 10 ppb | HPLC-FLD |
| Heavy Metals | Lead NMT 3 ppm, Cadmium NMT 0.2 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Microbial | Salmonella absent/25g; TPC NMT 100,000 cfu/g | USP <2021> / <2022> |
| Ethylene Oxide (ETO) | Not treated — declaration provided | LC-MS/MS (on request) |
| Irradiation | Non-irradiated grade available on request | Declaration |
| Organic | USDA NOP / EU Organic available | Certification |
| Kosher / Halal | Certified (on request) | Certification |
| HS Code | 0910.99 (Other spices) | — |
| Documentation | Phytosanitary Certificate, CoA, MSDS, Allergen Declaration, Non-GMO | — |
| Packaging | Buyer-specified — jute, PP, multi-wall paper or vacuum | — |
| Storage | Cool, dry, well-ventilated; away from direct sunlight and strong odours | — |
The thymol line is the reason this specification is worth reading. Most whole-spice certificates stop at appearance, purity and moisture; on ajwain that omits the single most predictive number on the product. Thymol carries nearly all of ajwain's flavour, so a thymol figure tells a formulator how the material will behave and lets them calculate an inclusion rate rather than trial one — which matters here more than on most spices, because ajwain is easy to overdose. A small excess pushes a savoury product into reading medicinal. We assay thymol by GC on the seed itself and declare volatile oil alongside it. The botanical verification row is there for a related reason: ajwain is regularly confused in trade listings with ajmod, celery seed, a different Apiaceae species with a quite different profile, and the two are not substitutes. We name the species. On origin, ajwain is one of the few items in our spice range where the Indian claim needs no qualification — almost all world production is Indian, principally Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot.
From Rajasthan field to certified consignment — graded, assayed, documented
Sourcing & Grading: Sourced from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — the regions behind effectively all world ajwain production. Material is graded on seed size, purity and admixture into Bold and FAQ grades, with Sortex optical cleaning available where purity is binding.
Testing: Every lot carries a thymol assay by GC and a volatile oil figure, with the botanical confirmed as Trachyspermum ammi rather than celery seed. Pesticide residues are tested per lot against EU MRL limits, alongside aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, heavy metals by ICP-MS and a full microbiological panel. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard.
Documentation: Every shipment is supplied against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate, MSDS, allergen and non-GMO declarations. Non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations are standard; organic, Halal and Kosher certification are available on request. See our guides on EU pesticide MRL compliance and EU import requirements.
What backs every batch of Ajwain spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Across our spice range we are deliberately careful to separate Indian cultivation from Indian processing — on clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and star anise, India frequently handles material grown elsewhere, and we say so on those pages rather than let an impression stand. Ajwain is one of the exceptions. It is grown almost entirely in India, principally in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with only small volumes produced anywhere else in the world. The supply chain from field to exporter is short, origin documentation is simple, and the Indian-origin statement on ajwain is a plain fact rather than a claim requiring a footnote. Buyers who need genuine single-origin Indian material with clean certificate-of-origin documentation will find this one of the more straightforward items to source.
Worth stating because the confusion is common in trade listings and the two are not substitutes. Ajwain is Trachyspermum ammi, thymol-dominant, sharp and thyme-like. Ajmod is celery seed, a different Apiaceae species with a quite different constituent profile and a milder, more vegetal character. The names are similar, the seeds are superficially comparable in size, and listings sometimes use them loosely. We declare the botanical on every certificate and confirm it against the GC profile, so what you specify is what arrives. Where you genuinely want celery seed, we supply that separately.
Whole spices from India face closer residue scrutiny than most agricultural imports, and pesticide MRL is where consignments are most often stopped. We test per lot rather than per contract against EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 limits, because a certificate covering an earlier lot does not help when the current one is sampled at the border. Buyers should also confirm whether their commodity and origin currently sit on any increased-controls listing, since those are revised periodically and determine sampling frequency on arrival. Ethylene oxide remains one of the most common reasons Indian spice consignments are refused in the EU: we supply a non-treatment declaration as standard and can test by LC-MS/MS on request.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder, Spices Board and APEDA registered exporter. Sourced from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, with thymol assayed and the botanical verified per lot. Shipped against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with Phytosanitary Certificate and full export documentation. Packing is buyer-specified, and container stuffing photographs are provided on request.
Guides on ajwain, thymol and sourcing
Why thymol is the whole specification, and how to calculate inclusion from it.
RegulatoryResidue limits, per-lot testing and what stops consignments at the border.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian spices.
Other seed spices from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Bold, Sortex cleaned and FAQ grades — whole or ground — with thymol assayed by GC, volatile oil declared and the botanical verified per lot. Tell us your thymol minimum and inclusion target.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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