Teja Chilli: Product and Quality Guide

What is Teja chilli?

Teja is a dry red chilli variety grown primarily in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, known for a relatively high pungency level compared to many other Indian chilli varieties. It is commonly used in chilli powder blends, oleoresin extraction and pungency-focused applications.

Stemmed vs stemless

Teja chilli is traded in both stemmed (with the stalk attached) and stemless (destemmed) forms. Stemless chilli is often preferred by buyers processing directly into powder, as it can reduce processing steps and foreign matter risk associated with stems.

Buyers should specify clearly which form they require, as pricing and processing implications differ between the two.

Pungency (SHU) and colour

Pungency is typically measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), usually via HPLC laboratory analysis. Teja chilli is generally associated with a comparatively high SHU range among Indian varieties, though actual results vary by crop year, region and processing.

Colour value (commonly referenced using the ASTA method) is a separate parameter from pungency — buyers should specify both pungency and colour requirements independently, as one does not determine the other.

Moisture, foreign matter and safety parameters

As with other dried spices, moisture and foreign matter are standard specification parameters. Because chilli is a documented risk crop for aflatoxin contamination, buyers commonly require aflatoxin testing as part of the Certificate of Analysis, alongside pesticide residue and microbiological testing where relevant to the destination market.

Buyer specification checklist

A complete Teja chilli specification typically covers: form (stemmed/stemless), pungency (SHU) range, colour (ASTA) range, moisture limit, foreign matter limit, aflatoxin limit relevant to the destination market, pesticide residue limits if applicable, and packaging requirements.

Because permissible limits for aflatoxin and pesticide residues vary by destination country and are set by regulation, exporters and buyers should confirm the applicable limit with the relevant authority rather than relying on a generic figure.