Coriander Seed Grades: Eagle, Scooter and Parrot

Indian coriander seed comes mainly from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. In the trade it is sold under grade names that describe its colour and how well it has been cleaned.

Colour grades

• Eagle: the greenish, brightest seed with the best appearance. Preferred for whole-seed retail packs.
• Scooter: slightly less green, good quality; widely used by grinders and blenders.
• Parrot (single and double): the top-cleaned versions with greener colour, often machine-sorted.
• Badami: brownish seed, cheaper, used for grinding where colour matters less.

Splits

Coriander seed can also be split (dal). Splits are used in mukhwas and some snack recipes, and grind more evenly.

What to specify

Besides the grade, ask for moisture, purity (foreign matter), volatile oil (aroma), split percentage and pesticide test results for your market. For powder, add mesh size and colour.

Season

The new crop arrives around March and April. Prices and colour are usually best soon after harvest, so many buyers plan their larger orders for the second quarter.