How Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers Process, Clean & Grade Spices Before Packing

Author: companyCategory: SpicesNovember 22, 2025

Spices are a crucial part of kitchens, restaurants, food factories, hotels, and retail stores across the world. But before these spices reach your plate or your brand’s packaging, they go through a long and detailed journey. Most people believe spices arrive from farms ready to use—but that’s far from true. Freshly harvested spices contain dust, stones, leaves, stems, microbes, moisture, and natural impurities. To transform them into safe, aromatic, high-quality spices, Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers follow a strict and well-organized process. This includes cleaning, sorting, grading, color selection, sterilization, and finally bulk packaging.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll explain exactly how spices are processed before packing, why this process matters, what technology is used, and how global buyers benefit from it.
We will also show why ViaTradeMart is the best B2B portal in India to find trusted and verified Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers.

Let’s begin.

 

1. Why Processing Spices Is Important for Buyers

When spices come from the farm, they are in raw and impure form. They may contain:

  • Soil and dust
  • Stones
  • Plant waste (roots, stems, leaves)
  • Broken seeds
  • Insects
  • Microbial contamination
  • High moisture

     

These impurities make spices unsafe and reduce shelf life. That’s why the processing steps used by Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers are extremely important.

Proper processing ensures:

  • Food safety
  • Strong aroma
  • Perfect color
  • Long shelf-life
  • Export-ready quality
  • Consistent taste
  • Customer trust
     

 

2. India’s Position in the Global Spice Market (Statistics)

India leads the spice industry globally.

Latest Spice Market Numbers:

CategoryValue
Total spices produced in India per year~10 million tonnes
India’s global spice export share~50%
Yearly export volume1.4+ million tonnes
Export valueUSD 4.3+ billion
Number of spices exportedMore than 75 types

India’s Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers ship products to over 180+ countries, including:

  • USA
  • UAE
  • UK
  • Germany
  • Malaysia
  • Australia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Canada
  • South Africa
     

The growing demand makes processing even more crucial.

Simple Visual Graph: Growth of Indian Spice Exports

Indian Spice Export Growth (Million Tonnes)

 

2018 | ████████████ 1.2

2019 | █████████████ 1.3

2020 | ██████████████ 1.35

2021 | ███████████████ 1.38

2022 | █████████████████ 1.42

2023 | ██████████████████ 1.45

 

Demand increases every year due to global love for Indian flavors.

 

 

 3. Step-by-Step Process: How Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers Clean, Grade & Pack Spices

Let’s break the entire journey into clear and simple steps.

 Step 1: Sourcing Raw Spices From Farms

Suppliers buy spices from:

  • Farmers
  • Agriculture mandis
  • Contract-farming units
  • Village cooperatives

     

This raw material contains all natural impurities and requires immediate cleaning.

Step 2: Preliminary Quality Inspection

Before cleaning starts, suppliers perform:

  • Visual inspection
  • Aroma test
  • Moisture test
  • Color test
  • Foreign matter percentage
  • Pure grain percentage
     

Technology used:

  • Moisture meters
  • Quality grading counters
  • Microbial test units (for exporters)
     

If the batch fails, it is rejected or downgraded.

 

 Step 3: Primary Cleaning (Removing Big Impurities)

The goal here is to remove large unwanted materials.

Machines used:

1. Sieving Machines

Removes small stones, sand, twigs.

2. Destoner Machines

Separates heavier stones from lighter spices.

3. Magnetic Separators

Attract and remove metallic particles.

4. Air Blowers

Remove dust and husk.

This step removes nearly 60–70% impurities.

 

 Step 4: Advanced Air Cleaning & Density Separation

At this stage, spices are cleaned more deeply using:

• Gravity Separators

Remove low-density impurities like empty seeds.

• Aspirators

Use controlled airflow to remove light particles.

• Air Classifiers

Separate good seeds from bad seeds.

This ensures uniform, clean, high-quality spices.

 

 Step 5: High-Precision Cleaning & Sorting

This is essential for premium-quality spice buyers.

Color Sorter Machines

Uses cameras and sensors to remove discolored seeds.

Laser Sorters

Remove defective or unhealthy grains using laser detection.

Micro-Cleaning Machines

Used for fennel, cumin, coriander, mustard, chili flakes, black pepper, and other spices.

After this step, purity levels reach 99% to 99.8%, depending on the supplier.

 Step 6: Sterilization (Important for Global Export Standards)

This step removes microbes, fungus, bacteria, and contaminants.

Methods:

Steam Sterilization

  • Uses high-pressure steam
  • Kills bacteria
  • Maintains color & aroma
  • Preferred for exports

Irradiation

  • Used for EU & US markets
  • Ensures microbial safety

Heat Treatment

  • Used for whole spices
  • Controls moisture and fungus

Sterilization is a must for exporters because global markets have strict safety rules.

Step 7: Laboratory Testing

Before packaging, every batch goes through lab testing for:

  • Purity percentage
  • Microbial safety
  • Pesticide residue
  • Aflatoxin levels (especially in chili & turmeric)
  • Moisture content
  • Color & aroma standardization

Documents often provided:

  • FSSAI Certificate
  • APEDA Certificate
  • ISO 22000
  • SGS Lab Report
  • Phytosanitary Certificate (for exports)
     

Good Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers provide all these reports.

Step 8: Grading the Spices

Grading helps buyers choose quality according to their budget.

Grades:

GradeDescriptionIdeal For
Premium Grade (A)99.8% purity, best color, aromaRestaurants, exporters, branded companies
Mid Grade (B)Good quality, minor variationsRetailers, small wholesalers
Economy Grade (C)For price-sensitive buyersFood factories, seasoning units

Grading parameters vary by spice:

  • Turmeric: Color & length
  • Chilli: SHU (heat level)
  • Cumin: Purity %
  • Black pepper: Boldness (size)

Step 9: Packaging (Retail & Bulk)

Bulk spices are packed in:

  • 20kg bags
  • 25kg bags
  • 50kg bags
  • HDPE bags
  • PP woven bags
  • Jute sacks

Retail-ready spices are packed in:

  • 100g
  • 250g
  • 500g
  • 1kg laminated pouches

Export shipments include:

  • Moisture-proof liners
  • Vacuum sealing (optional)
  • Fumigated pallets
  • Container desiccants
     

Proper packaging protects aroma, freshness, and color.

Step 10: Final Dispatch & Export

Suppliers prepare documents such as:

  • Invoice
  • Packing list
  • Certificate of origin
  • Phytosanitary certificate
  • Test reports
  • Bill of lading (shipping document)
     

Then spices are shipped via:

  • Sea (most common)
  • Air (urgent orders)
  • Road transport (domestic)
     

4. Why This Entire Process Matters for Buyers

This detailed process ensures:

Pure and safe spices

Longer shelf-life

Same taste every time

Premium color and aroma

Less wastage

 

International safety compliance

Whether you are a:

  • Restaurant
  • Grocery chain
  • Importer
  • Brand owner
  • Wholesaler
  • Spice manufacturer
     

You must source from trusted Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers for consistent quality.

5. Why ViaTradeMart Is the Best B2B Portal to Find Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers

If you want trusted, genuine, verified suppliers with affordable rates, ViaTradeMart is the best platform.

1. 100% Verified Spice Suppliers

Every supplier is:

  • GST verified
  • FSSAI certified
  • Background checked
  • Reliable for bulk trade
     

No fake listings. No hidden middlemen.

2. Direct Factory Prices

ViaTradeMart connects you directly with manufacturers and top bulk suppliers.

You get:

  • Better prices
  • Higher purity
  • Faster supply
  • Fresh inventory
     

3. Huge Variety of Spices Available

You can source:

  • Turmeric
  • Cumin
  • Fenugreek
  • Mustard
  • Coriander
  • Red chilli
  • Black pepper
  • Garam masala
  • Whole spices
  • Blended spices
  • Organic spices

In retail and bulk packaging.

4. Trusted by Global Buyers

Suppliers ship to:

  • USA
  • UAE
  • UK
  • Europe
  • Malaysia
  • Canada
  • Africa
  • Singapore

They offer all export documents and global quality standards.

 

5. Support for Private Label Brands

If you want to launch your own spice brand, ViaTradeMart suppliers offer:

  • Custom packaging
  • Custom blends
  • Branding
  • Logo printing
  • Retail-ready packs

6. Free Buyer Assistance

ViaTradeMart provides:

  • Supplier selection help
  • Price comparison
  • Document verification
  • Sample arrangement
  • Buyer–seller communication support

All free of charge.

Final Summary

Spices go through a long and detailed journey before they reach retail shelves or bulk buyers. The cleaning, sorting, sterilization, grading, and packaging steps ensure purity, safety, and quality.
Good Wholesale Bulk Spices Suppliers follow strict international standards to maintain aroma, taste, and freshness.

And if you're looking for verified, reliable, and affordable suppliers,
 ViaTradeMart is the best B2B portal in India to find certified bulk spices suppliers.

You get:

  • Trusted suppliers
  • Best rates
  • Custom packaging
  • Export support
  • Quality-tested spices

About Via Trade Mart

Via Trade Mart Private Limited is a trusted Indian company dedicated to simplifying international trade. We specialize in export and import services, connecting Indian manufacturers and suppliers with global buyers while helping businesses worldwide find reliable partners in India.

📞 📧 info@viatrademart.com