Quality guide
How to choose premium quality
The same product name can hide very different qualities. Use this guide to know what premium looks like, which tests prove it, and what to write in your enquiry. Ask us for Premium and we quote and sample only that grade.
★ Top grade
Premium / Export Select
Aged 12+ months, average grain length at the top of the variety's range, broken grains ≤1%, double-polished and double-sortexed, residue-tested for the destination market.
Middle grade
Standard
Aged 6–12 months, broken grains ≤2%, sortexed. Good for wholesale and food-service.
Entry grade
Commercial
New-crop or shorter-aged rice with a higher broken allowance. Priced for volume buyers who repack or blend.
Ask for these before you buy
- Average grain length (AGL) of the raw grain in mm, measured on a sample
- Ageing period and crop year
- Broken, damaged, discoloured and chalky grains as % of weight
- Moisture (≤12–13%)
- Basmati purity (DNA test) for the EU and UK
- Pesticide residue report against the destination's limits (EU MRLs are the strictest)
- Export Inspection Council certificate for the EU, UK and EFTA countries
- Cooking test: elongation, aroma and non-stickiness
| Product | What premium looks like |
|---|---|
| 1121 Sella Basmati Rice (Golden & White) | Uniform colour, no mixed shades · Broken ≤1% · Aged paddy before parboiling · Double-sortexed |
| 1121 Basmati Rice (Steam & Raw) | Aged 12–18 months · Average raw grain length at the top of the 1121 range · Broken ≤1%, double-sortexed · EU-compliant residue report on request |
| 1509 Basmati Rice | Aged 12 months · Broken ≤1% · Single variety, no admixture |
| 1718 Basmati Rice | Aged 12+ months · Residue-tested to EU MRLs · Broken ≤1% |
| Pusa Basmati 1401 Rice | Aged 12+ months for full aroma · Broken ≤1% · Sortexed and polished |
| Traditional Basmati Rice | Aged 18–24 months · Single variety, no blending with evolved basmati · DNA purity test |
| IR 64 Long-Grain Rice (Parboiled & White) | 5% broken, sortexed · Uniform parboiling colour · No chalky or yellow grains |
| Swarna Parboiled Rice | 5% broken, sortexed · Uniform colour |
| Sona Masoori Rice | Aged 12 months · Broken ≤2% · Double polished, sortexed |
| Ponni Rice (Boiled & Raw) | Aged · Broken ≤3% · Even boiling colour |
Spices
Request premium samples★ Top grade
Premium (USA / Europe quality)
Machine-cleaned and sortexed, steam-sterilised, low microbial count, and lab-tested for pesticides, aflatoxin, ethylene oxide and heavy metals (including lead) to US and EU limits.
Middle grade
Standard (Gulf / Asia quality)
Machine-cleaned to 98–99% purity, natural (not sterilised). The workhorse grade for the Gulf and Asia.
Entry grade
Commercial (FAQ)
Fair Average Quality straight from the market yard. For grinders and processors who clean it again.
Ask for these before you buy
- Curcumin % for turmeric; ASTA colour and pungency (SHU) for chilli
- Moisture, purity and extraneous matter
- Lead and other heavy metals, with a test showing no added colour (lead chromate in turmeric, Sudan dyes in chilli)
- Steam-sterilisation certificate and microbial report (Salmonella absent)
- Pesticide residue, aflatoxin and ethylene-oxide test report
- Spices Board health certificate for EU shipments
| Product | What premium looks like |
|---|---|
| Turmeric Powder | Curcumin 3–5%+ with a lab report · Lead and heavy metals within US / EU limits; no added colour · Steam-sterilised, Salmonella absent |
| Whole Turmeric (Fingers) | Double polished, uniform bold fingers · Curcumin % reported per lot · Moisture below 10%, aflatoxin-tested |
| Dried Red Chilli (Whole) | Measured colour (ASTA) and pungency (SHU) · Aflatoxin-tested · Stemless, sorted pods, no broken or discoloured pieces |
| Red Chilli Powder | Measured ASTA colour and SHU · Aflatoxin and Sudan-dye-free test report · Steam-sterilised, Salmonella absent |
Marble & Granite
Request premium samples★ Top grade
Premium (Extra / First selection)
Marble: even white background, minimal veining, no cracks, pinholes or resin repairs. Granite: clean background, consistent pattern, no visible lines. Both: high polish, and all slabs from one block for a matched floor or kitchen.
Middle grade
Standard
The stone's normal natural variation in shade, veining and pattern, consistent within an agreed reference sample.
Entry grade
Commercial
More visible veins, spots, lines or shade variation; good value for large flooring, cladding and utility areas.
Ask for these before you buy
- Slab-by-slab photos and a packing (slab) list before dispatch
- Pre-dispatch inspection: background colour, veining or pattern, lines, cracks, resin, polish and edges
- Thickness and dimension tolerance (e.g. ±1 mm on calibrated tiles)
- Test report for water absorption, density and compressive / flexural strength for the lot
- All slabs from the same lot (ideally one block) for the whole order, matched to a reference sample
- CE marking data (EN 1469 slabs / EN 12058 tiles) for EU construction projects
| Product | What premium looks like |
|---|---|
| Makrana White Marble | Pure white without grey veins · Same-block slabs for matched floors |
| Agariya White Marble | Even white base, minimal grey · Slabs from one block |
| Nizarna White Marble | Clean white base, even vein pattern across the lot · Calibrated thickness |
| Ambaji White Marble | Bright white, minimal veining · Crack-free slabs, no resin repairs |
| Katni White Marble | Even off-white tone across the lot · Calibrated tiles |
| Black Galaxy Granite | Extra-premium: clean black, dense even specks, no lines · Slabs from one block |
| Black Pearl Granite | Consistent tone across the lot · No visible lines or resin |
| Markino Black Granite (Merino Black) | Jet-black base with crisp white veins · Book-matched slabs |
| Steel Grey Granite | Even tone, no patches · Mirror polish |
| Tan Brown Granite | Even crystal distribution · Mirror polish, no resin cracks |
| Himalayan Blue Granite | Strong blue tone, consistent movement · Book-matched slabs |
| Colonial White Granite | Bright white base, few dark patches · Consistent lot |
| Alaska Pink Granite | Even pink tone · No rust spots |
| Alaska Gold Granite | Rich gold tone across the lot · No rust or resin |