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Indian Raw Turmeric

Raw whole turmeric fingers — Erode & Salem, polished or unpolished, 3.5–5% curcumin. Premium Indian raw turmeric (whole rhizomes / fingers) — Erode polished, Salem standard, and unpolished varieties. 3.5–5% curcumin. Hand-graded by length and thickness. Better shelf life and adulteration-resistance than powder.

Erode Polished · Salem Standard & UnpolishedYear-RoundHS 09103010
Download Spec Sheet ↓
Indian Raw Turmeric
The category

Why Indian raw turmeric for export

India produces over 80% of the world's turmeric, with Tamil Nadu and Telangana the two dominant export regions. Erode (Tamil Nadu) is widely recognised as producing the highest-curcumin turmeric globally — 3.5% to 5% in commercial grades, with specialty cultivars reaching 6%+.

Buyer-relevant differences between Indian turmeric origins: Erode is famous for polished finger appearance and higher curcumin; Salem produces deeper-coloured powder with strong dyeing properties; Nizamabad (Telangana) is bulk-grade, lower curcumin, used for industrial processing.

ZoeM works with FPOs across Erode and Salem, with traceability to the source farm. Every shipment includes a NABL-accredited lab report covering curcumin %, moisture (<10%), lead (<2 ppm), and pesticide residues against EU/USA MRL lists. ASTA cleanliness specifications met for international markets.

Variety guide

Compare varieties & grades

We supply the variety and grade most appropriate to your target market and end use. Below is a side-by-side comparison.

Highest curcumin

Erode Polished (Premium)

Hand-polished whole fingers from Erode district, Tamil Nadu. Curcumin 4–5%, golden-orange interior, premium appearance — the global benchmark for premium turmeric.

  • Curcumin 4–5% typical (premium 5%+)
  • Appearance Polished fingers, golden-orange
  • Length 2–4 cm fingers, 8–10 mm thick
  • Moisture <10%
  • Best for Premium retail, supplement processors, Ayurvedic
Volume choice

Salem Standard & Unpolished

Standard polished or unpolished whole fingers from Salem and Erode. Lower price point than premium polished; buyers preferring raw natural appearance choose unpolished.

  • Curcumin 3.5–4% standard
  • Appearance Polished or raw natural
  • Length 2–4 cm fingers
  • Best for Mass-market retail, processors who grind at destination
Origin

Where ZoeM sources from

Primary regions: Tamil Nadu (Erode, Salem) · Telangana (Nizamabad). Full sourcing footprint: Tamil Nadu (Erode, Salem), Telangana (Nizamabad, Duggirala), Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra (Sangli).

Season: Harvest Jan–Mar; year-round supply from storage and overlapping regions.

We work with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and direct grower networks in each region. Pre-shipment grading and quality control happens at FSSAI-licensed packhouses and processing facilities close to the source farms, minimising post-harvest delay.

Specifications

Trade specifications

Standard export specifications. Custom grading available on confirmed orders.

HS Code09103010 (Turmeric Whole / Finger)
Botanical NameCurcuma longa L.
Origin StatesTamil Nadu (Erode, Salem), Telangana (Nizamabad)
Forms AvailablePolished whole finger, unpolished whole finger
Curcumin Content3.5% standard · 4–5% Erode premium
Finger Size2–4 cm length · 8–10 mm thickness
Moisture<10%
Lead<2 ppm (NABL tested)
Foreign matter<1%
Packaging25kg PP bags (bulk); 50kg jute (bulk); custom retail packs available
Container loadingApprox. 22–24 MT per 40' container (palletised dry)
Shelf life24 months from packing in cool dry storage
Shipping portsChennai, Tuticorin, JNPT
Quality assurance

Certifications & quality control

Every shipment is certified, lab-tested, and traceable to its source. This is non-negotiable for our buyers and forms the spine of our supplier relationships.

APEDAAgricultural & Processed Food Export Authority — Government of India
FSSAIFood Safety & Standards Authority of India license
GAPGood Agricultural Practices — farm-level certification
MSME / UdyamIndian Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
IECImporter-Exporter Code — DGFT
NABL Lab TestingPre-shipment testing at NABL-accredited Indian labs

Pre-shipment lab testing — every shipment ships with a NABL-accredited lab report covering relevant quality and safety parameters for the product type (moisture, residues, microbiological, density, colour, etc.). The report travels with the shipment documentation.

Phytosanitary & fumigation — we arrange Indian Plant Quarantine Department phytosanitary certificates and any required pre-shipment fumigation per the importing country’s regulations.

Traceability — we record source farm, packhouse, processing date and container number for every shipment.

Buyer questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the curcumin content of your turmeric fingers?
Standard export grade is 3.5%+ curcumin. Erode polished premium typically tests 4–5%, with specialty cultivars reaching 5%+. Each shipment includes a NABL-accredited lab report.
Why import whole finger instead of powder?
Whole finger ships better (longer shelf life), is much harder to adulterate than powder, and many buyers prefer to grind at destination for freshness. For ground product see our Turmeric Powder listing.
Polished or unpolished?
Both. Erode premium is hand-polished (smooth, golden appearance) and commands a price premium. Unpolished is available for buyers who prefer the raw, natural appearance or who will grind/process at destination.
Do you test for pesticide residues?
Yes. Every shipment is tested at NABL-accredited Indian labs for curcumin, moisture, lead, foreign matter, and pesticide residues against EU and USA MRL lists. Reports travel with shipment documents.
Can you supply organic turmeric?
Yes, organic-certified turmeric is available on dedicated orders. Requires USDA Organic / EU Organic certification documentation; additional cost premium ~30–40%.
What is the typical finger size?
2–4 cm length and 8–10 mm thickness for premium polished. Custom calibration possible on bulk orders.
What payment terms?
Standard 30% T/T advance + 70% against B/L, or 100% LC at sight from a first-class bank. D/P possible for established buyers.