Bulk Spice Sourcing: Grades and Quality Standards Explained
2026-01-20 · 8 min read
ASTA, FAQ, mesh sizes, and lab specs — how wholesale buyers should read spice quality standards before placing a bulk order.
Bulk spice buyers often see acronyms like ASTA, FAQ, and GL on offers. Understanding these terms reduces quality disputes after arrival.
Black pepper is commonly quoted with berry size and density (e.g. 550–600 GL). Ground spice specs should include mesh size and foreign-matter limits.
Saffron buyers should request crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal values aligned with ISO 3632 grading — Super Negin, Negin, and Sargol are commercial grade names, not substitutes for lab results.
A clear purchase specification — grade, packing, MOQ, and test methods — is the fastest way to align supplier and buyer expectations on every shipment.