Fennel seed grades from India: bold, medium and Lucknowi
Short answer: Indian fennel is graded by colour and seed size. Bold and medium seed go to cooking, blends and grinding. Fine, bright green Lucknowi fennel goes to mukhwas and confectionery. Export lots are sold as Singapore quality (about 98–99% purity) or sortexed Europe quality (99–99.5%), under HS 0909.61.
Most Indian fennel is grown in Gujarat and Rajasthan and traded at the Unjha market in north Gujarat.
What do the grades mean?
| Grade | Appearance | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Larger seed, green to green-yellow | Cooking, spice blends, grinding |
| Medium | Medium seed, green | Everyday trade, food service |
| Lucknowi | Small, thin, bright green | Mukhwas, after-meal mixes, confectionery |
Greener colour usually commands a higher price because it signals freshness and gives a better look in clear packs.
Singapore or Europe quality?
Singapore quality is machine-cleaned to about 98–99% purity and suits most Middle Eastern and Asian buyers. Europe quality is machine-cleaned and sortexed (colour-sorted) to 99–99.5%, and is usually tested for pesticide residues against EU limits.
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| HS code | 0909.61 (whole) |
| Purity | 98% – 99.5% |
| Moisture | 10% or below |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP bags |
| Container | ~11 MT in a 20′ FCL, ~21 MT in a 40′ |
When to buy
New-crop fennel arrives at Unjha from about February to April. Green colour is best in fresh crop, so retail-pack buyers often book early in the season.
See fennel specifications, compare with the cumin buyer's guide, or request a quote.