How to Spot Fake Spice Grade Claims
Chilli SHU, ASTA colour, pepper bulk density, cumin purity — which grade claims are verifiable and which are red flags.
How do I spot fake or inflated spice grade claims?
Check grade claims against verifiable specs and demand a lab number. Real anchors: Guntur Sannam S4 chilli 35,000–45,000 SHU and ASTA 100–120; Byadgi ASTA 130–150; cumin 99% (Singapore) or 99.5% (Europe) purity. Unbacked "premium" or round-number SHU is a warning.
Anchor claims to verifiable specs
| Spice / grade | Verifiable spec | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Guntur Sannam S4 chilli | 35,000–45,000 SHU; ASTA 100–120 | Spices Board |
| Byadgi chilli | 8,000–15,000 SHU; ASTA 130–150 | Bought for colour, not heat |
| Black pepper MG1 | ~500–550 g/l bulk density | Malabar Garbled |
| Black pepper TGEB | 550+ g/l bulk density | Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold |
| Cumin purity | 99% (Singapore) / 99.5% (Europe) | Purity grade |
Where fake claims hide
Be sceptical of numbers with no lab behind them. Teja S17 chilli is verifiably ASTA 110–130, but its SHU is widely quoted very high and is not independently verified — a supplier stating a precise Teja SHU is stating something we would not assert as fact. Cardamom is auction-priced with no fixed grade price, so a "fixed premium grade price" quote is a flag.
The defence is simple: for any grade claim that drives price, require a lab report on the actual lot rather than accepting a spec sheet or a marketing word like "premium".
Frequently asked
Is a stated Teja S17 SHU reliable?
Its ASTA colour (110–130) is verifiable, but its SHU is widely quoted and not independently verified. Treat a precise Teja SHU figure with caution and verify by lab if heat drives your price.
Sourcing this? Tell us the spice, grade and destination and we return a documented offer — vetted supply, QC oversight, and the test dossier your market needs.
Start a sourcing enquiry →What this page does not tell you
- Teja S17 SHU value
- We deliberately do not state a Teja S17 Scoville figure; it is widely quoted but not independently verified in our sources.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Spices Board of India — Export statistics· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16