Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)
Elysium Agri exports fenugreek seeds (methi) from India, the world's largest producer, sourced mainly from Rajasthan and Gujarat. We ship machine-cleaned and sortex grades from 98% to 99.5% purity, golden-yellow and uniform, with every lot tested for pesticides, ethylene oxide and Salmonella.
Fenugreek goes into curry powders, pickles and spice blends, and into nutraceuticals and fenugreek gum. India exported about 47,000 tonnes worth US$ 40.5 million in 2025-26 (Spices Board), mainly to the UAE, Bangladesh and Sudan.
Fenugreek Seeds Specification
Purity
98 / 99 / 99.5% (sortex)
Extraneous Matter
≤ 0.5%
Other Edible Seeds
≤ 0.5%
Moisture
8% max (FSSAI 10%)
Total Ash
≤ 5% (dry basis)
Acid-Insoluble Ash
≤ 1.15%
Cold-Water Extract
≥ 30%
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g
ETO and Pesticides
ETO not detected; EU / US MRLs
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 22–24 MT · 40 ft ≈ 27–28 MT
Fenugreek Seeds: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our fenugreek seeds, benchmarked to FSSAI 2.9.10 and ISO 6575. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Whole fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), dried | Methi |
| Origin | Rajasthan (Kota, Jhalawar), Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, India | Rajasthan grows over 80% |
| Crop / season | Rabi crop, sown Oct–Nov; arrivals Feb–Apr | — |
| Colour | Golden yellow to yellowish-brown | Visual |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 98 / 99 / 99.5% | ISO 927 |
| Extraneous matter | ≤ 0.5% | FSSAI max 2%; ISO 6575 max 4% |
| Other edible seeds | ≤ 0.5% | FSSAI max 2% |
| Damaged / shrivelled seeds | ≤ 1% | — |
| Insect-damaged | ≤ 1% | FSSAI |
| Moisture | ≤ 8% | ISO 939; FSSAI max 10%, ISO 6575 11% |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Total ash (dry basis) | ≤ 5% | FSSAI and ISO 6575 |
| Acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 1.15% | ISO 6575 (FSSAI 1.5%) |
| Cold-water-soluble extract | ≥ 30% | FSSAI and ISO 6575 |
| 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 | 0910 99 12 (fenugreek) | Some sites show 0910 99 90, which is wrong |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper bags · jute on request | Buyer's marks on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 22–24 MT · 40 ft: about 27–28 MT | See Fenugreek 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) | — |
Fenugreek Standards and Grades
Fenugreek has clear Indian and ISO standards. There is no Codex standard for fenugreek.
| Parameter | FSSAI 2.9.10 | ISO 6575:1982 |
|---|---|---|
| Extraneous matter (% max) | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| Moisture (% max) | 10.0 | 11.0 |
| Total ash (% max, dry) | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Acid-insoluble ash (% max) | 1.5 | 1.15 |
| Cold-water-soluble extract (% min) | 30.0 | 30 |
| Other edible seeds (% max) | 2.0 | — |
| Grade | Purity | Cleaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine cleaned | 98–99% | Destoned and graded | Grinders, curry powder, feed |
| Sortex | 99.5% | Colour-sorted | Retail packs, EU / US food makers |
| Steam sterilised | 99%+ | Heat-treated, no ETO | — |
| Sprouting grade | 99.5%+ | Selected, EU Reg 211/2013 certified | — |
Whole, Split or Powder
Whole Fenugreek
Machine-cleaned or sortex.
Also see: Coriander Seeds →Cumin Seeds →
Fenugreek Packing and Container Loading
Fenugreek seed is dense, so containers load close to their weight limit.
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 880–960 | ≈ 22–24 MT | ≈ 27–28 MT |
| PP bag | 50 kg | ≈ 440–480 | ≈ 22–24 MT | ≈ 27–28 MT |
| Paper bag | 25 kg | ≈ 880–960 | ≈ 22–24 MT | ≈ 27–28 MT |
Where Fenugreek Seeds Are Used
Curry Powder and Blends
A core seed in curry powders and masalas.
Pickles
Whole and split seed in Indian pickles.
Nutraceuticals
Extracts and supplements.
Fenugreek Gum
Galactomannan gum for food and industry.
Imitation Maple Flavour
Fenugreek extract flavourings.
Animal Feed
Feed and veterinary use.
Fenugreek Seeds Price: What Sets It
Fenugreek is priced per metric tonne FOB. Prices are usually lowest after the Feb–Apr harvest.
- Crop: the Rajasthan rabi crop.
- Purity: sortex 99.5% costs more.
- Treatment: steam sterilisation adds cost.
- Compliance: EU-grade tested lots cost more.
- 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 Fenugreek Quote
Share your grade and quantity, 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 methi seeds and fenugreek seeds the same?
Yes. Methi is the Hindi name for fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Kasuri methi is the dried fenugreek leaf, a different product.
What is the specification of fenugreek seeds for export?
Export fenugreek typically has 98–99.5% purity, ≤ 0.5% extraneous matter, ≤ 8% moisture, total ash ≤ 5%, acid-insoluble ash ≤ 1.15% and cold-water-soluble extract of at least 30%, with Salmonella absent and pesticide and ETO residues within limits, in line with FSSAI and ISO 6575.
What is the HS code for fenugreek seeds?
Fenugreek seeds are exported from India under HS 0910 99 12.
Which state produces the most fenugreek in India?
Rajasthan grows more than 80% of India's fenugreek, around Kota and Jhalawar, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. India is the world's largest fenugreek producer.
Can you supply fenugreek for sprouting in the EU?
Seeds for sprouting need a certificate under EU Regulation 211/2013.
Who exports fenugreek seeds from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports fenugreek (methi) seeds in machine-cleaned and sortex grades, with lot-wise pesticide, ETO and Salmonella testing and Spices Board clearance.
