1. General Requirements
Organic spices must be cultivated, processed, and packaged in compliance with organic farming standards such as USDA Organic, EU Organic, or other recognized organic certifications. These spices should be free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
2. Product Characteristics
Appearance: Clean, uniform, and free from foreign matter
Color: Natural color characteristic of the spice variety
Aroma & Flavor: Fresh, strong, and typical of the spice, without off-odors
Texture: Whole, crushed, ground, or powdered as per specification
Purity: Minimum 99% purity, depending on the spice type
3. Chemical Parameters
Moisture Content: Typically 10% (varies by spice type)
Essential Oil Content: As per standard specifications for each spice
Ash Content: Within permissible limits
Pesticide Residue: Below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) set by organic certification bodies
Heavy Metals (Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury): Within permissible limits
4. Microbiological Requirements
Total Plate Count (TPC): Within allowable limits
Yeast & Mold Count: Within permissible limits
Salmonella: Absent in 25g sample
E. coli & Coliforms: Within allowable limits
5. Packaging & Labeling
Packaging Material: Food-grade, eco-friendly, and moisture-proof
Labeling: Must indicate Certified Organic, spice name, batch number, net weight, expiry date, country of origin, and organic certification logo
6. Storage & Shelf Life
Storage Conditions: Cool, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight
Shelf Life: Typically 12-36 months, depending on spice type
Hand Picked Selected Cloves is the superior grade of cloves with no stem or headless clove. this grade contains full bud cloves with beautiful color with good size.
Sri Lankan cloves has higher oil content than those from other clove growing countries.
