Trigonella foenum-graecum L. · Family: Fabaceae · Dried Seed
India produces the large majority of the world's fenugreek, so origin here is the market default. Two things are worth stating that most listings do not: fenugreek is a legume with documented cross-reactivity considerations, and fenugreek seed and leaf are different ingredients despite the shared name.
The dominant origin, and two facts worth stating
India produces the large majority of the world's fenugreek, principally from Rajasthan and Gujarat, which makes this an ingredient where Indian origin is simply what the trade does. It is used across curry systems, savoury bases, pickles, traditional preparations and increasingly as a nutraceutical raw material.
The trade grades it on seed size, colour uniformity and purity. Bold grades — single and double — denote larger, uniform seed with tight purity. FAQ is the general commercial grade, and Sortex cleaned material has been optically sorted to remove discoloured seed, stones and foreign matter.
Two things are worth stating that most fenugreek listings do not. First, fenugreek is a legume — a member of the Fabaceae, alongside peanut, soy, lupin and chickpea. It is not one of the 14 allergens requiring mandatory declaration in the EU, but cross-reactivity between fenugreek and other legumes is documented, and formulators serving legume-allergic consumers should have that in front of their safety reviewer rather than discovering it later.
Second, seed and leaf are different ingredients. Fenugreek seed is intensely maple-and-curry in character; kasuri methi — the dried leaf — is milder and hay-like, used as a finishing herb. They are not interchangeable, and we declare the part.
What is in the seed
The compound behind fenugreek's distinctive maple-and-curry aroma, perceptible at extraordinarily low concentrations — which is why fenugreek reads so strongly in a blend.
A major component of the seed and the basis of fenugreek's use as a soluble fibre and viscosity ingredient in nutraceutical applications.
Including diosgenin precursors; the basis of fenugreek's nutraceutical positioning and standardised in supplement-grade extracts.
An amino acid of research interest, relevant to the nutraceutical rather than culinary route.
Substantial, reflecting fenugreek's legume nature and relevant to grinding behaviour.
Fenugreek is in the Fabaceae with peanut, soy and lupin. Cross-reactivity between legumes is documented — a safety-review consideration.
Why buyers specify Indian fenugreek by grade
Certified on the lot you are buying, with Sortex optical sorting available where purity is binding.
Larger, uniform seed with tight purity for premium and export applications.
Fenugreek is a Fabaceae member. We flag the cross-reactivity consideration rather than leaving it for a reviewer to find.
Kasuri methi is a different ingredient with a milder profile. The part declaration keeps them distinct.
India produces the large majority of world fenugreek, giving depth of supply and price stability.
Whole seed for buyers who grind on receipt, or ground to a buyer-specified mesh.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
Size, purity and cleaning grades
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Grade (Single / Double) Premium export | Large uniform seed; purity 99%+ | Bold golden-brown seed | Premium export, retail packing | Whole |
| Sortex Cleaned Optically sorted | Purity 99.5%+; discoloured seed removed | Clean uniform seed | Where purity is the binding requirement | Whole |
| FAQ Grade Standard commercial | Fair average quality; purity 98–99% | Golden-brown seed | General trade, grinding, domestic | Whole |
| Fenugreek Powder Ground | Milled to buyer-specified mesh | Yellow-brown powder | Curry systems, seasoning blends | Ground |
| Kasuri Methi (Leaf) Quoted separately | Dried leaf — milder, different ingredient | Green dried leaf | Finishing herb, traditional cooking | Leaf |
Bold denotes seed size and uniformity rather than a different variety, and Sortex describes the cleaning method rather than the grade. As with other seed spices, specify a purity percentage alongside the grade name, since trade descriptions drift between suppliers. Two further points specific to fenugreek: kasuri methi (leaf) is a separate product, milder and hay-like, and not a substitute for seed in any application; and nutraceutical buyers specify differently — saponin or galactomannan content rather than seed size — so tell us which route you are on and we will quote against the right basis.
Export specification for Indian fenugreek seed. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Trigonella foenum-graecum L. | — |
| Plant Family | Fabaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried seed | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole seed or ground | — |
| Colour | Golden brown to yellow-brown | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic — maple, curry, with bitterness | Organoleptic |
| Purity (%) | 98–99.5 by grade — certified per lot | Manual / Sortex |
| Part Used | Seed only — leaf (kasuri methi) excluded | Declaration |
| Legume Status | Fabaceae — cross-reactivity noted for safety review | Declaration |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 10 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 5 | Gravimetric |
| Acid Insoluble Ash (% w/w) | NMT 1.5 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 (NMT 0.5 on Bold grade) | Manual |
| Damaged / Discoloured Seed (%) | To grade — specified at order | Manual |
| Saponins / Galactomannan | Reported on request (nutraceutical route) | By HPLC / gravimetric |
| 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 | 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 | — |
Two declarations on this specification are there because most fenugreek listings omit them. The first is the legume status. Fenugreek is a member of the Fabaceae alongside peanut, soy, lupin and chickpea. It is not one of the 14 allergens requiring mandatory declaration in the EU, and we are not suggesting it should be treated as though it were — but cross-reactivity between fenugreek and other legumes is documented, and a formulator serving legume-allergic consumers, or producing on lines shared with legume ingredients, should have that in front of their safety reviewer rather than meeting it in a complaint. We state it so the question is visible. The second is the part declaration: fenugreek seed is intensely maple-and-curry in character, while kasuri methi — dried fenugreek leaf — is milder and hay-like and used as a finishing herb. They share a name and are not interchangeable. Note also that nutraceutical buyers specify on saponins or galactomannan rather than seed grade; tell us which route applies. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot.
From Rajasthan field to certified consignment — graded, cleaned, documented
Sourcing & Grading: Sourced from Rajasthan and Gujarat, the regions behind the majority of world fenugreek production. Material is graded on seed size, colour uniformity and purity into Bold and FAQ grades, with Sortex optical sorting available where purity is binding.
Testing: Every lot is certified for purity with the seed-only part declaration stated, and saponin or galactomannan content reported on request for nutraceutical buyers. 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 Fenugreek spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Worth stating plainly, and worth stating proportionately. Fenugreek is a member of the Fabaceae, the legume family, alongside peanut, soy, lupin and chickpea. It is not among the 14 allergens requiring mandatory declaration in the EU and UK, and we are not suggesting it be treated as though it were. What is documented, however, is cross-reactivity between fenugreek and other legumes in sensitised individuals. The practical implication is narrow but real: formulators producing for legume-allergic consumers, or running fenugreek on lines shared with peanut, soy or lupin ingredients, should have this in front of their safety reviewer at formulation rather than encountering it through a consumer complaint. We declare the legume status on the certificate so the question is visible at specification stage. The determination for your product and market belongs with your own safety and regulatory review.
Fenugreek seed is intensely aromatic — maple, burnt sugar and curry, driven by sotolone — and carries a characteristic bitterness. Kasuri methi, the dried leaf, is milder and hay-like, used as a finishing herb in Indian cooking. They share a name and are not substitutes in either direction. There is also a third commercial route: nutraceutical fenugreek standardised on steroidal saponins or galactomannan fibre, which is specified quite differently from culinary seed. We declare the part and, where relevant, the nutraceutical basis, so the three routes stay distinct.
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 and Gujarat, the regions behind the majority of world fenugreek production. 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 fenugreek grades, standardisation and sourcing
Rajasthan and Gujarat growing regions, grades and quality drivers.
TechnicalHow the nutraceutical route is standardised, and why it differs from culinary seed.
QualitySubstitution routes on fenugreek and the controls that catch them.
Buyer's GuideThe product routes, grades and what to require on each certificate.
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 purity certified per lot, seed-only declaration and legume status noted. Tell us whether your route is culinary or nutraceutical.
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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