Indian dried red chilli varieties: Teja, 334 and Byadgi compared
Short answer: buy Teja for heat, Byadgi for deep red colour with mild heat, and 334 (Sannam) as the all-round middle choice. Whole dried chilli exports under HS 0904.21; crushed or ground chilli under 0904.22. Specify heat in Scoville heat units (SHU) and colour in ASTA units, and ask for an aflatoxin test.
Chilli is India's largest spice export by value: $1.34 billion in FY25, on 7.15 lakh tonnes shipped (India Seatrade News). Guntur in Andhra Pradesh is the main trading market.
How do the varieties compare?
| Variety | Main origin | Heat | Colour | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teja | Guntur and Khammam, Andhra Pradesh / Telangana | High | Bright red | Hot sauces, chilli powder for heat, oleoresin |
| 334 / Sannam | Guntur, Andhra Pradesh | Medium | Red | General-purpose chilli powder and blends |
| Byadgi | Byadgi, Karnataka | Low | Deep red | Colour in curries, masalas and paprika-style uses |
Heat and colour vary by season and lot, so confirm SHU and ASTA values on the lot COA.
Stem or stemless?
Stemless chilli costs more but saves processing for grinders and gives cleaner powder. With-stem chilli is cheaper per kilo and common in bulk trade. Say which you need in the enquiry.
What should importers test for?
- Aflatoxin: chilli is prone to mould if stored damp. The EU and many other markets set limits, so ask for a lab result for your lot.
- Pesticide residues (MRL): essential for EU and UK buyers.
- Moisture: usually 11% or below for dried chilli.
How much fits in a container?
Dried chilli is very bulky. Expect only about 6.5 MT in a 20′ container and about 13 MT in a 40′, bagged. Many buyers ship chilli in 40′ containers for that reason.
See dried red chilli specifications, read the import documents guide, or request a quote.