Black Cumin Seeds (Kalonji / Nigella sativa)
Black cumin seeds, known in India as kalonji and botanically as Nigella sativa, are small, matt-black, angular seeds with a peppery, onion-like taste. Elysium Agri exports Indian kalonji in machine-cleaned and sortex grades up to 99.5% purity, for spice blends, bakery, pickles and black seed oil pressing.
The name "black cumin" is also used for shahi jeera (Bunium persicum), a different seed. This page is for Nigella sativa (kalonji). Ask us if you need shahi jeera.
Black Cumin (Kalonji) Specification
Botanical Name
Nigella sativa L. (kalonji)
Purity
98 / 99 / 99.5% sortex
Foreign Matter
0.5% max
Moisture
8% max
Volatile Oil
1.0 ml/100 g min
Fixed Oil
About 28–32% (for pressing)
Total Ash / AIA
≤ 8% / ≤ 1.5%
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g
ETO and Pesticides
ETO not detected; EU / US MRLs
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 14 MT · 40 ft ≈ 26 MT
Black Cumin (Kalonji) Seeds: Full Specification
The standard export specification for our Nigella sativa seeds, benchmarked to the FSSAI kalonji standard. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Black cumin / kalonji seeds (Nigella sativa L.), whole, dried | Not shahi jeera (Bunium persicum) |
| Crop / season | Rabi crop, harvested Mar–Apr | — |
| Appearance | Small, angular, matt black seeds | Visual |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 98 / 99 / 99.5% (sortex) | ISO 927 |
| Extraneous / foreign matter | ≤ 0.5% | FSSAI max 1.5% |
| Insect-damaged | ≤ 1% | FSSAI |
| Moisture | ≤ 8% | ISO 939; FSSAI max 10% |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Volatile oil | ≥ 1.0 ml/100 g | ISO 6571; FSSAI min 1.0 |
| Fixed oilOn request | About 28–32% (typical) | For oil-pressing buyers; on request |
| Total ash | ≤ 8% | FSSAI |
| Acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 1.5% | FSSAI |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | B1 ≤ 5 µg/kg; total ≤ 10 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for listed spices, applied by contract |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤ 15 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for spices |
| Ethylene oxide (ETO + 2-chloroethanol) | Not detected (below EU MRL; Spices Board test level 0.02 mg/kg for EU) | GC-MS/MS; no ETO fumigation used |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / US / Japan MRLs (chlorpyrifos below LOQ) | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Lead | ≤ 0.9 mg/kg (EU limit for seed spices) | ICP-MS / AAS |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1 |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 0909 31 19 (cumin, black: other), as most Indian kalonji shipments are declared | — |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP bags · 25 kg paper bags with liner | Buyer's marks on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 14 MT · 40 ft: about 26 MT | See Kalonji Packing and Container Loading |
| Shelf life | Up to 24 months in cool, dry storage | Cool, dry, ventilated storage away from odours |
| Documents | Spices Board clearance / health certificate (mandatory sampling for EU) · Official ETO certificate for EU (Annex II) · Certificate of Analysis (pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin, Salmonella) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Fumigation Certificate (where required) | — |
Black Cumin, Kalonji or Shahi Jeera?
Three different seeds are sold under similar names. Always specify the botanical name on your purchase order.
| Trade name | Botanical name | Looks like | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalonji / nigella / black seed / "black cumin" | Nigella sativa | Small, angular, matt black | This page. Sometimes wrongly called onion seed |
| Shahi jeera / Kashmiri black cumin / kala jeera | Bunium persicum | Thin, curved, dark brown-black, like cumin | — |
| Cumin / jeera | Cuminum cyminum | Greyish-brown, ridged | See Cumin Seeds |
| Black sesame / kala til | Sesamum indicum | Flat, glossy black teardrop | See Black Sesame Seeds |
Choose Your Kalonji Grade
Machine Cleaned 98 / 99%
For spice blends, pickles and oil pressing.
Sortex 99.5%
For bakery toppings, retail packs and EU buyers.
Need cumin? Cumin Seeds →. Need black sesame? Black Sesame Seeds →
Kalonji Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 560 | ≈ 14 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| PP bag | 50 kg | ≈ 280 | ≈ 14 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| Paper bag with liner | 25 kg | ≈ 560 | ≈ 14 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
Where Kalonji Is Used
Bakery
Naan, breads, bagels and crackers.
Pickles and Chutneys
A core seed in Indian achar.
Spice Blends
Panch phoron and Middle Eastern blends.
Black Seed Oil
Cold-pressed oil for food and wellness.
Nutraceutical and Herbal Brands
Capsules, powders and extracts.
Cheese and Snacks
Nigella cheese, crackers and savoury snacks.
Kalonji (Black Cumin) Price: What Sets It
Kalonji is priced per metric tonne FOB. India's crop is small (a few thousand tonnes), so prices can move sharply.
- Crop size: MP and Rajasthan rabi harvest.
- Purity: sortex 99.5% costs more.
- Oil demand: black seed oil demand lifts prices.
- Compliance: tested EU-grade lots carry a premium.
- Currency and freight.:
Prices move with the crop and the market, so we quote on the day. Tell us your grade, quantity and port for a current FOB, CFR or CIF price.
Tested, Certified and Traceable
EU shipments go through the Spices Board's mandatory sampling and carry the official ETO certificate.
- Sourcing from Gujarat and Rajasthan mandis
- Lot sampling (Spices Board / NABL-accredited lab)
- Pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin and Salmonella tests
- Spices Board clearance and export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Black Cumin Quote
Share your grade, quantity and destination, and we will send a price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our spices desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are black cumin and kalonji the same?
In most export trade, yes: "black cumin" is sold as kalonji, Nigella sativa. But the name is also used for shahi jeera (Bunium persicum), a different spice. Always specify the botanical name on your order.
Is kalonji the same as onion seed?
No. Kalonji is sometimes called onion seed because the seeds look alike, but it comes from Nigella sativa, not the onion plant.
What is the specification of kalonji seeds for export?
Export kalonji typically has 99–99.5% purity, ≤ 0.5% foreign matter, ≤ 8% moisture, volatile oil of at least 1.0 ml/100 g, total ash ≤ 8% and acid-insoluble ash ≤ 1.5%, with Salmonella absent and pesticide and ETO residues within buyer limits.
What is the HS code for black cumin (kalonji)?
Most Indian kalonji shipments are declared under HS 0909 31 19 (cumin, black: other). Some exporters use 0910 99 codes, so confirm the code with your customs broker.
Where is kalonji grown in India?
India's kalonji is grown mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, with Neemuch as the main market, and in smaller areas of Bihar, Punjab and other states. It is a rabi crop harvested in March and April.
Who exports black cumin seeds from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports black cumin (kalonji, Nigella sativa) in machine-cleaned and sortex grades, with lot-wise pesticide, ETO and Salmonella testing and Spices Board clearance.
