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:
| Category | Value |
| Total spices produced in India per year | ~10 million tonnes |
| India’s global spice export share | ~50% |
| Yearly export volume | 1.4+ million tonnes |
| Export value | USD 4.3+ billion |
| Number of spices exported | More 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:
| Grade | Description | Ideal For |
| Premium Grade (A) | 99.8% purity, best color, aroma | Restaurants, exporters, branded companies |
| Mid Grade (B) | Good quality, minor variations | Retailers, small wholesalers |
| Economy Grade (C) | For price-sensitive buyers | Food 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

