Sourcing Chilli from Guntur: variety and grade guide

The world price benchmark

Guntur in Andhra Pradesh hosts Asia's largest chilli market and effectively sets the world red-chilli price each session. It is the home of the Sannam S4 variety and the reference point for hot Indian chilli. Buying Guntur chilli means buying against this benchmark and specifying the exact variety, grade and form you need.

Sannam S4 and Teja

How to write a chilli spec

• —Variety (Sannam S4, Teja S17)
• —Heat band in SHU where verified
• —ASTA colour band
• —Form: whole with stem, stemless, flakes or powder
• —Moisture, and mesh size for ground material
• —Sudan-dye-free and residue-clean declaration

Compliance and logistics

Sudan dye is the zero-tolerance adulteration risk for chilli; every lot must be screened. Whole chilli also needs steam treatment plus pathogen testing. On logistics, remember that whole dried chilli cubes out: it fills a container by volume before it reaches weight, so a chilli container ships lighter than a dense seed spice. Plan freight accordingly.

How YouPals helps

YouPals is a sourcing desk with no facility of its own. In Guntur we shortlist CRES-registered exporters, translate your use case into a precise chilli spec (variety, SHU, ASTA, form), and keep you aligned to the Guntur price benchmark. We coordinate Sudan-dye, pesticide and pathogen testing at accredited third parties and plan freight around chilli's cube-out behaviour.

Frequently asked

What is the difference between Sannam S4 and Teja chilli?

Sannam S4 is the pungent workhorse at 35,000 to 45,000 SHU with ASTA 100 to 120. Teja S17 is prized for high heat and extraction with ASTA 110 to 130; its SHU is widely quoted very high but not verified.

Why does a Guntur chilli container ship light?

Whole dried chilli cubes out, filling the box by volume before it reaches the weight limit. A chilli container therefore carries less tonnage than a dense seed-spice container, which matters for freight planning.