How Indian coriander seed is graded by colour and cleaning pass, what Eagle and Parrot actually mean, and the specs to lock on contract.
Most of the coriander seed (dhania) we ship moves out of Rajasthan — Kota and Ramganj, the latter being Asia's largest dhania mandi — with backup arrivals from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Indian dhania is milder than the East European stuff: low pungency, a clean citrusy note, and that bright green colour buyers pay up for.
Eagle, Parrot, Single, Double — what the names mean
Two things get muddled here, so let us separate them. Eagle and Parrot are colour/quality calls — Parrot being the brightest green, Eagle a notch behind, both prized for retained colour. Single and Double refer to how many cleaning (sortex) passes the lot has had, not the colour. A Double-cleaned Eagle is a different beast from a single-pass field-run, and the price gap is real.
- Parrot / Eagle: bright-green, colour-retained, premium
- Single vs Double: number of cleaning passes (admixture removal)
- Forms: whole, split, and powder at the mesh you specify
- Bold vs ordinary bold affects seed size and look
Volatile oil and why colour fades
Volatile oil in Indian coriander typically runs around 0.3–1%, which is on the gentler side and exactly why it suits blends and grinding houses that do not want it to dominate. Green colour fades with heat and time, so old-crop sitting in a hot godown will dull. Buyers often ask us to confirm crop year — fair question, and we put it on paper.
Specs to fix on the contract
These figures are indicative of typical Indian dhania; the exact numbers are agreed on the contract and confirmed on the CoA for each lot before shipment from Mundra or Nhava Sheva.
- Green colour grade (Parrot / Eagle) and cleaning pass
- Admixture / foreign matter %
- Moisture %
- Volatile oil %
- Pesticide MRL to your destination standard
- Form and mesh for powder
Tip: If colour matters for your retail pack, ask for a sealed pre-shipment sample against the contract grade and approve it before the lot ships — colour is the one spec a photo never settles.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pack coriander or coriander powder under our retail brand?
Yes. Alongside bulk PP, jute or vacuum packing, our single-window private-label service designs your pack and label, fills supermarket-ready retail packs — jars, stand-up or pillow pouches and cartons — and delivers on DAP terms to your warehouse. Packing is at our audited partner facility under our oversight; import duties and taxes remain your account.
What colour and cleaning grades are available?
From Kota and Ramganj in Rajasthan, plus MP and Gujarat, we offer Eagle and Parrot green colour in single and double cleaned grades. Colour and admixture are confirmed on the CoA per lot.
What volatile oil content can I expect?
Volatile oil typically runs 0.3 to 1%, which is indicative and confirmed by lab. If oil content drives your use, set a minimum on the contract.
Do you supply whole, split or powder?
All three. Split and powder are processed at the partner facility under our oversight and tested before despatch.
Can we trial a small quantity first?
Yes, trial quantities on LCL are available for new buyers ahead of full FCL orders.
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