How to Evaluate a Spice Sample Before You Order
A sample is your best protection against surprises. Taking twenty minutes to check it properly, and keeping it for comparison, can save a lot of trouble later.
1. Look
Spread a portion on white paper in good daylight. Check colour, size consistency, broken pieces, stems, stones, insects and any dust. For seeds, compare against the purity you were promised.
2. Smell and taste
Crush a few seeds or rub some powder between your fingers. The aroma should be strong and typical of the spice, with no musty, damp or smoky smell. Taste a little to check for bitterness or off-flavours.
3. Simple tests
- Moisture: seeds should feel dry and snap rather than bend. A moisture meter gives a quick figure.
- Water test for powders: stir a spoonful in a glass of water. Sand or sawdust may sink or float; colour that bleeds very fast can suggest added dye.
- Sieve: shake through a kitchen sieve to see how much dust and fine matter there is.
4. Lab tests
For larger orders, send the sample to a lab for moisture, ash, volatile oil, microbiology, aflatoxins and pesticide residues against your market's limits.
5. Keep a reference
Seal and label part of the approved sample. Write in your contract that the shipment must match it. When the container arrives, compare the goods with your reference before you accept them.
