Curcuma longa L. · Family: Zingiberaceae · Dried Rhizome, Whole & Ground
India produces the large majority of the world's turmeric, and the grade names — Alleppey and Madras — encode curcumin content and colour. We certify curcumin per lot and screen for lead chromate, an adulterant that a curcumin assay will never detect and that turns a food ingredient into a public-health problem.
The world's principal origin, and the adulterant every buyer should test for
India produces the large majority of the world's turmeric, which makes this one of the few ingredients where Indian origin is the market's default rather than a differentiator. The trade grades it by growing region and curcumin content: Alleppey from Kerala carries higher curcumin and a deeper orange colour; Madras from Tamil Nadu is lighter and typically lower in curcumin, and is often preferred where a brighter yellow rather than a deep orange is wanted.
Curcumin content is the commercial variable. Alleppey typically runs 3–5% and Madras 2–3%, and buyers extracting curcumin or dosing for colour intensity care about the number rather than the name. We certify it per lot.
The other thing every turmeric buyer should insist on has nothing to do with curcumin. Lead chromate adulteration is a documented problem in turmeric — a bright yellow industrial pigment added to enhance the colour of poor-quality or pale rhizome. It has been found in turmeric in several markets and is associated with elevated blood lead levels; it is a genuine public-health issue rather than a commercial one.
Critically, a curcumin assay will not detect it. Lead chromate makes turmeric look better without adding curcumin, so a material can pass a colour inspection and a curcumin specification while carrying it. Only a lead test finds it. We screen every lot, alongside Sudan dye testing and per-lot EU MRL verification.
What is in the rhizome
The principal curcuminoid, responsible for turmeric's colour and the compound the nutraceutical market is built on. Certified per lot.
The companion curcuminoids; together with curcumin they form the total curcuminoid content.
The aromatic fraction giving turmeric its characteristic earthy aroma, typically higher in Alleppey material.
The bulk of the rhizome's dry matter, relevant to grinding behaviour and to bulk density in packing.
Not naturally present. An industrial pigment added illegally to brighten poor material. Invisible to a curcumin assay — only a lead test detects it.
Also not naturally present; illegal azo colourants tested and reported negative.
Why buyers specify Indian turmeric by grade and test
The commercial variable, certified on the lot you are buying rather than quoted as a grade typical.
The adulterant a curcumin assay cannot see. We screen for lead on every lot as standard.
Tested and reported negative, as on all colour-carrying spice commodities.
Genuine grade choice from the world's principal turmeric origin — deeper orange or brighter yellow.
Per lot rather than per contract, because that is how border sampling works.
Whole fingers 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.
Alleppey and Madras, finger and powder
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleppey Finger (AF) High curcumin | Curcumin typically 3–5%; deep orange | Whole dried finger | Curcumin extraction, colour-led food use | Whole |
| Madras Finger (MF) Standard | Curcumin typically 2–3%; brighter yellow | Whole dried finger | General culinary, retail packing | Whole |
| Alleppey Powder (APE) High curcumin ground | Curcumin typically 3–5%; deep orange | Fine ground powder | Food manufacturing, seasoning blends | Ground |
| Madras Powder (MPE) Standard ground | Curcumin typically 2–3%; bright yellow | Fine ground powder | Retail and foodservice packing | Ground |
| Turmeric Bulbs Value grade | Lower curcumin than finger; economical | Whole dried bulb | Grinding, industrial use | Whole |
Alleppey and Madras are curcumin and colour grades, not merely origins. Alleppey material from Kerala carries higher curcumin and a deeper orange cast, which makes it the usual choice for curcumin extraction and for colour-led applications. Madras material from Tamil Nadu is lighter and brighter, often preferred in culinary and retail contexts where a vivid yellow rather than a deep orange is wanted. Specify the curcumin target rather than the grade name alone if the number matters to you — grade typicals vary by season, and we certify the actual figure per lot. Fingers hold colour and aroma better than ground material; where you can grind on receipt that is the higher-integrity route. For extracted forms see turmeric oleoresin and curcumin 95%.
Export specification for Indian turmeric, finger and powder. Values are specification limits and typical grade ranges; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Curcuma longa L. | — |
| Plant Family | Zingiberaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried rhizome (finger and bulb) | — |
| Country of Origin | India | — |
| Form | Whole finger, bulb or ground | — |
| Colour | Deep orange (Alleppey) to bright yellow (Madras) | Organoleptic |
| Odour & Taste | Characteristic, earthy and slightly bitter | Organoleptic |
| Curcumin Content (%) | Alleppey 3–5; Madras 2–3 — certified per lot | By HPLC |
| Volatile Oil (% v/w) | Reported on request | Distillation |
| Moisture (% w/w) | NMT 10 | Gravimetric |
| Total Ash (% w/w) | NMT 7 | Gravimetric |
| Acid Insoluble Ash (% w/w) | NMT 1.5 | Gravimetric |
| Extraneous / Foreign Matter (%) | NMT 1.0 | Manual |
| Lead / Lead Chromate | Lead NMT 3 ppm — screened every lot | ICP-MS |
| 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 |
| Heavy Metals | Lead NMT 3 ppm, Cadmium NMT 0.2 ppm | ICP-MS |
| Sudan Dye | Negative — tested per EU requirements | By HPLC / LC-MS-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 | 0910.30 (Whole and Powder) | — |
| 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 lead line on this specification is doing more work than the curcumin line. Lead chromate adulteration of turmeric is documented across several markets — a bright yellow industrial pigment added to improve the appearance of pale or poor-quality rhizome, and associated with elevated blood lead levels in consumers. It is a public-health matter rather than a commercial one. The critical point for a buyer is that a curcumin assay will not detect it: lead chromate makes turmeric look richer without contributing curcumin, so adulterated material can satisfy both a visual inspection and a curcumin specification. Only a lead test finds it, which is why we screen every lot by ICP-MS as standard rather than on request. Curcumin is certified per lot rather than quoted as a grade typical, since seasonal variation is real and buyers extracting curcumin or dosing for colour need the actual number. Pesticide MRL is tested per lot, not per contract.
From rhizome to certified consignment — graded, screened, documented
Sourcing & Grading: Sourced from Indian turmeric growing regions, with Alleppey material from Kerala where higher curcumin and deeper colour are required and Madras material from Tamil Nadu where a brighter yellow suits the application. Fingers are graded and cleaned, with polished and sortex-cleaned options specified at order.
Testing: Every lot is certified for curcumin content by HPLC and screened for lead by ICP-MS — the control that detects lead chromate adulteration, which no curcumin assay can see. Sudan dyes are tested and reported negative, and pesticide residues are tested per lot against EU MRL limits. Aflatoxin, full heavy-metal panel and microbiology are run on every consignment, with non-irradiation and non-ETO declarations as 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 Turmeric spice
Key information for global product registration and labelling
This is the single most important thing to know about buying turmeric, and it is a safety issue rather than a quality one. Lead chromate is a bright yellow industrial pigment that has been added illegally to turmeric to improve the appearance of pale, poor-quality or under-dried rhizome. It has been documented in turmeric across several markets and is associated with elevated blood lead levels in consumers — lead being a cumulative toxicant of particular concern for children. What makes it dangerous commercially is that it is invisible to the tests buyers usually run: it improves colour without contributing curcumin, so adulterated material can pass a visual assessment and meet a curcumin specification simultaneously. Only a lead determination detects it. We screen every lot by ICP-MS as standard. Buyers should ensure lead is on their own incoming specification for turmeric specifically — not merely as part of a general heavy-metals clause — and should be sceptical of unusually vivid material offered below market.
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. Alleppey material is sourced from Kerala and Madras material from Tamil Nadu, with curcumin content 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 turmeric grades, curcumin and authenticity
Growing regions, grade differences and curcumin variability in the rhizome.
QualitySynthetic curcumin, colour adulterants and the tests that detect each.
Buyer's GuideHow curcumin grades are specified once the rhizome is extracted.
ComparisonThe volatile and curcuminoid fractions, and which product carries which.
RegulatoryResidue limits, per-lot testing and what stops consignments at the border.
RegulatoryDocumentation, controls and border expectations for Indian spices.
Other turmeric products and whole spices from our range
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Alleppey and Madras fingers and powder with curcumin certified per lot, lead chromate screened, Sudan dyes tested and EU MRL verified per lot. Tell us your curcumin 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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