Piper nigrum L. · Family: Piperaceae · Dried Berry, Whole & Ground
Pepper grading is refreshingly physical: berries are sorted by size and bulk density, and Tellicherry is simply the largest, heaviest berries of the Malabar crop. We certify bulk density, piperine and volatile oil and state the light-berry percentage — the figure that actually separates a premium lot from an ordinary one.
Grading by density, and what Tellicherry actually means
Indian black pepper carries a quality reputation that survives even in periods when Vietnam leads on volume, and the reason is aroma: Indian pepper is generally richer in volatile oil, which is what a cook or a food manufacturer actually perceives as pepper character rather than simple heat.
Grading is physical rather than chemical. Berries are cleaned, sorted and graded by size and bulk density, and the trade names encode the result. Malabar Garbled (MG1) is the standard export grade — cleaned, stemless, of stated density. Tellicherry (TGSEB) is not a different variety or origin: it is the largest, heaviest berries of the Malabar crop, screened out and graded separately. Bigger berries mean more of the aromatic outer layer relative to the inert core, which is why Tellicherry commands a premium.
The figure that separates a genuinely good lot from an ordinary one is bulk density in grams per litre, together with the light-berry percentage. Light berries are under-developed or hollow, contributing weight in a bag but little flavour, and they are the ordinary route by which a lot is quietly downgraded. We state both.
We also certify piperine and volatile oil, because the first governs pungency and the second governs aroma — and on pepper it is the aroma that justifies the origin premium. EU MRL is tested per lot.
What produces bite and what produces aroma
The pungent alkaloid responsible for pepper's bite. Thermally stable, so pungency survives cooking where aroma does not.
The aromatic fraction — caryophyllene, limonene, the pinenes — that gives pepper its recognisable smell. Indian pepper is generally richer in it, and it is what the origin premium rests on.
A major sesquiterpene contributing warm, woody depth to the aroma.
Lighter monoterpenes giving the fresh top notes, and the first thing lost to grinding and poor storage.
The bulk of the berry's mass. Larger berries carry proportionally more of the aromatic outer layer, which is the basis of density grading.
Under-developed or hollow berries. They add bag weight without flavour, and the light-berry percentage is what distinguishes a premium lot.
Why buyers specify Indian pepper by density and grade
The physical measure that grades pepper. Stated in g/l on the lot you are buying, not as a grade typical.
The figure that separates a premium lot from a padded one — light berries carry weight but not flavour.
The aroma fraction, and the basis of Indian pepper's quality premium over higher-volume origins.
Pungency specified independently of aroma, since the two behave differently under heat.
Per lot rather than per contract, because that is how border sampling works.
Whole berries for buyers who grind on receipt, or cracked and ground to a specified mesh.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Malabar, Tellicherry and ground forms
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malabar Garbled (MG1) Standard export | Bulk density typically 500–550 g/l; cleaned, stemless | Black wrinkled berry | Food manufacturing, retail packing, grinding | Whole |
| Tellicherry TGSEB Premium | Largest berries of the Malabar crop; density typically 550–600 g/l | Large black wrinkled berry | Premium retail, table pepper, foodservice | Whole |
| Black Pepper Ground Ground | Milled to buyer-specified mesh; piperine certified | Dark grey-black powder | Seasoning blends, food manufacturing | Ground |
| Cracked / Coarsely Ground Cracked | Coarse grind to specification | Coarse black particles | Table pepper, meat rubs, visible-pepper applications | Cracked |
| Pepper Light Berries Value grade | Lower density — priced accordingly | Light, under-developed berry | Grinding, oleoresin feedstock, economy blends | Whole |
Tellicherry is a size grade, not an origin or a variety. It is the largest and heaviest berries of the Malabar crop, screened out and graded separately — the premium reflects the higher proportion of aromatic outer layer to inert core, not a different plant or a different region. Specify bulk density in g/l and the maximum light-berry percentage rather than relying on the grade name alone, since those two numbers are what actually determine what arrives. Note that whole berries hold aroma far better than ground pepper: volatile oil is lost rapidly after grinding, so where a buyer can grind on receipt the difference in the finished product is genuine and noticeable. For extracted forms see black pepper oleoresin and piperine 95%.
Export specification for Indian black pepper, whole and ground. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Piper nigrum L. | — |
| Plant Family | Piperaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried mature berry | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole berry, cracked or ground | — |
| Colour | Black to dark brown, wrinkled | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic, pungent and aromatic | Organoleptic |
| Bulk Density (g/l) | 500–600 by grade — certified per lot | Gravimetric |
| Light Berries (%) | Stated per lot — to grade | Manual |
| Piperine (% w/w) | Typically NLT 4 — certified per lot | By HPLC |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Typically NLT 2 — certified per lot | Distillation |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 12 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 7 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 (NMT 0.5 on TGSEB) | Manual |
| Pinheads / Broken (%) | To grade — specified at order | Manual |
| Mesh (ground) | 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 | 0904.11 (Whole); 0904.12 (Ground) | — |
| 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 | — |
Bulk density and light-berry percentage are the two lines that actually grade pepper. Density in grams per litre reflects how well the berries developed, and larger, denser berries carry proportionally more of the aromatic outer layer relative to the inert starchy core — which is precisely what Tellicherry grading selects for. Light berries are under-developed or hollow: they add weight to a bag while contributing little flavour, and an unstated light-berry percentage is the ordinary route by which a lot gets quietly padded. Specify both numbers rather than relying on the grade name. Piperine and volatile oil are certified separately because they do different jobs: piperine is thermally stable and delivers pungency through cooking, while volatile oil carries the aroma and is lost to heat and to grinding. Indian pepper's quality premium over higher-volume origins rests mainly on the volatile fraction, so it is worth specifying if that is why you are buying Indian. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot, not per contract.
From Malabar vine to certified consignment — graded, certified, documented
Sourcing & Grading: Sourced from Indian pepper growing regions, principally Kerala's Malabar coast. Berries are cleaned, garbled and graded by size and bulk density, with Tellicherry lots screened from the largest berries of the crop. Stemless, sortex-cleaned and steam-sterilised options are specified at order.
Testing: Every lot is certified for bulk density, with the light-berry percentage stated, and for piperine by HPLC and volatile oil by distillation. 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 Black Pepper spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Worth stating plainly, because the name carries a mystique the trade sometimes exploits. Tellicherry is a size grade, not a variety, an estate or a protected origin. It designates the largest and heaviest berries screened out of the Malabar crop, and the premium is justified by simple physics: a bigger berry carries proportionally more of the aromatic outer pericarp relative to the inert starchy core, so it delivers more aroma per kilogram. TGSEB — Tellicherry Garbled Special Extra Bold — is the top of that screening ladder. What follows practically is that a buyer should verify the grade with numbers rather than accept the name: bulk density in g/l and light-berry percentage are the measures that distinguish genuine Tellicherry material from Malabar sold under a better name. We certify both per lot.
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 principally from Kerala's Malabar pepper growing regions, with bulk density and light-berry percentage certified 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 pepper grades, piperine and authenticity
Origins, grades and what drives quality in the berry.
QualityHow pepper is adulterated, from light berries to papaya seed, and what catches it.
ComparisonWhere the berry goes once extracted, and which product does which job.
Buyer's GuidePiperine grades and specification for extracted forms.
RegulatoryResidue limits, per-lot testing and what stops consignments at the border.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian spices.
Other pepper products and whole spices from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Malabar Garbled MG1 and Tellicherry TGSEB — whole, cracked or ground — with bulk density, piperine and volatile oil certified and light-berry percentage stated. Tell us your density 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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