Indian Black Pepper: Piperine, Bulk Density & Export Grades
A practical look at Malabar and Tellicherry black pepper — what piperine and bulk density tell you about quality, and how to specify your order.
With 18+ years in agricultural commodity trading and export compliance, Rajesh leads Kofly's sourcing, quality assurance, and international market development. He specialises in spice supply chain optimisation and regulatory navigation for EU, GCC, and North American markets.
B.Tech (Food Technology), Spices Board Licensed Exporter, FSSAI Auditor
Malabar & Tellicherry
Indian black pepper from the Malabar coast is renowned for its bold aroma and high piperine (source: Spices Board quality standards). Tellicherry Garbled (TGSEB) represents the larger, fully matured berries and commands premium positioning in gourmet and retail channels.
Key Specifications
Buyers specify by bulk density (typically 500–600 g/l), piperine (3.5%+), moisture (max 11%) and defect tolerances. Higher bulk density generally indicates well-matured, dense berries with stronger pungency.
| Quality Parameter | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Piperine Content | 3.5% to 5.0% | Pungency indicator |
| Bulk Density | 500-600 g/l | Berry maturity |
| Moisture | Max 11% | Storage stability |
| Volatile Oil | 2-4% | Aroma strength |
| Light Berries | Max 2% | Grade A standard |
| Extraneous Matter | Max 1% | Cleanliness |
| Aflatoxin | < 5 ppb | EU compliant |
Whole vs Ground
Whole pepper travels and stores best; ground pepper is supplied at agreed mesh with steam sterilisation for sensitive markets. We can blend to a target piperine where extraction or seasoning buyers require consistency.
Packing & MOQ
Packed in 25 kg food-grade bags, container-palletised, MOQ from 3 MT. Each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis and origin documentation.
