Cumin, fennel and coriander are Egypt’s main seed spices. All three are harvested in April–May and sold whole or ground. Price differences between offers are mostly explained by purity, cleaning method and volatile-oil content.
Harvest and availability
All three crops are harvested in April–May. New-crop offers appear from late spring, and stored stock is traded through the year. Contracting one to two months before harvest gives the widest choice of lots (crop calendar).
Purity and cleaning
- Purity is the share of sound seed by weight. Offers commonly range from about 98% to 99%+; state the minimum you need and how it is measured.
- Machine cleaning removes dust, stones and light material. Sortex (optical) cleaning additionally removes discoloured seeds and foreign particles; ONIC offers a Sortex grade for fennel.
- Foreign matter and extraneous matter should be specified separately: other plant parts versus stones, soil and non-plant material.
Volatile oil: the quality number that matters
Aroma comes from the volatile oil. For cumin, the Codex standard sets minimum volatile oil by grade – for whole cumin 2 mL/100 g for Grade I and 1.5 mL/100 g for Grades II and III – with a maximum moisture of 10%. For coriander, the Codex reference recorded in ONIC’s product master is a maximum moisture of 9%, total ash 7% and acid-insoluble ash 1.5%. Check the current text of the Codex standards before using them in a contract.
| Seed | Botanical name | Forms from ONIC | Key checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumin | Cuminum cyminum | Whole; ground | Volatile oil, purity, acid-insoluble ash |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Whole; Sortex; ground | Colour, purity, Sortex grade |
| Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | Whole; ground | Split seeds, moisture, volatile oil |
EU contaminant limits for seed spices
In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets maximum levels that apply to these seeds, including ochratoxin A in spices (15 µg/kg), lead in dried seed spices (0.90 mg/kg) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids in cumin seeds (400 µg/kg). Pesticide residues fall under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Agree before shipment which tests are run on each lot.
Packing and shipment
Seeds are usually packed in 25 kg or 50 kg woven polypropylene or jute bags. Ground seeds lose aroma faster than whole seeds; if you need powder, consider grinding close to use or specify protective packing.
See all Egyptian seeds and spices or request a quotation.
Products in this guide
Cumin
Fennel
CorianderQuick answers
When are Egyptian cumin, fennel and coriander harvested?
All three are harvested in April–May. Stored stock is available through the year.
What is Sortex-cleaned fennel?
Fennel that has passed through an optical sorter after machine cleaning to remove discoloured seeds and foreign particles, giving a more uniform, higher-purity product.
Source from ONIC
Send your specification, quantity and destination port – we reply with a quotation and can send samples.