Unjha, Gujarat Sourcing & Export
Indian Saunf | Bulk Export Supply | Gujarat, India
JM Masala supplies export-grade fennel seeds (saunf) from India for international importers, spice distributors, food manufacturers and bulk buyers. Our fennel seeds are sourced through established Indian trade networks and supplied according to agreed requirements for purity, moisture, broken seeds, colour, grade, cleaning and packaging. Buyers can request product specifications, samples, laboratory documentation and export quotations based on their destination and contract requirements.
JM Masala Trading LLP
Unjha, Gujarat, India
0909 61 29 (Whole)
Min. 99% – 99.5% Sortex
Fennel seeds (saunf) supplied by JM Masala from Gujarat, India.
Quick Commercial Summary
Fennel Seeds · Saunf / Variyali (વરિયાળી / सौंफ)
Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
Unjha, Gujarat, India
Minimum 99.0% / 99.5% Sortex
Maximum 8.0% (target 7.0%–8.0%)
Maximum 1.0%
Greenish-brown to light olive green
Bold · Small · Singapore Grade
Sortex cleaned and metal checked
Botanical & Commercial Identity
Yes. Saunf is the common Indian name for fennel seeds. Fennel seeds are the dried aromatic fruits (cremocarps) of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., an aromatic plant belonging to the Apiaceae family (which also encompasses cumin, coriander, and ajwain).
In Gujarat, where India's largest trading hub is situated, the spice is colloquially known as Variyali (વરિયાળી). Across North India, it is referred to as Saunf (सौंफ). In English commerce, it is uniformly traded as Fennel Seeds.
Fennel seeds are oblong and curved, featuring five prominent longitudinal ridges. They possess a sweet, refreshing, anise-like flavor profile dominated by the natural volatile essential oil component trans-anethole, complemented by the camphoraceous bite of fenchone.
Commercial Classification
JM Masala supplies fennel seeds calibrated according to seed sizing, essential oil content, visual coloration, and specific buyer applications:
• Min. 99.5% Purity
• Max 8.0% Moisture
• Max 1.0% Broken
Large, plump, oblong seeds with prominent greenish ribs and high visual luster. Selected for premium retail consumer packs, whole spice displays, European and American culinary blenders, and commercial bakery toppings.
• Min. 99.0% Purity
• Max 8.0% Moisture
• Max 1.0% Broken
Concentrated smaller seed size with intense sweet anethole aroma and high volatile essential oil (2.0%–3.5%). Widely procured for sugar-coated confectionery mukhwas, savory spice seasonings, herbal teas, and ground powder processing.
• Min. 99.0% Purity
• Max 8.5% Moisture
• Max 1.2% Broken
The definitive international trading standard for Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern spice packers. Calibrated for uniform olive-green color, strict destoning with zero sand or clay lumps, and balanced bulk density.
• 99.5% Super Sortex
• Max 7.5% Moisture
• Max 0.8% Broken
Thin, slender, vivid green seeds celebrated for their tender texture, low bitterness, and naturally cooling sweet flavor. The premier choice for fine dining post-meal digestive mukhwas and premium confectionery gifting.
Technical Parameters
JM Masala provides verifiable laboratory specifications for whole Indian fennel seeds. All parameters are verified using standard ISO and ASTA analytical procedures:
| Parameter | JM Masala Commercial Specification | Testing Method / Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Fennel Seeds | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Common Indian Name | Saunf / Variyali (વરિયાળી / सौंफ) | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Botanical Name | Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| ITC-HS Code | 0909 61 29 (Whole Seeds) / 0909 62 29 (Ground Powder) | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Origin | Unjha, Gujarat and Rajasthan, India | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Physical Purity | Minimum 99.0% / 99.5% Sortex Optical Cleaned | Visual & Gravimetric Separation |
| Moisture Content | Maximum 8.0% (standard target 7.0% to 8.0%) | ASTA 2.0 / ISO 939 |
| Broken Seeds | Maximum 1.0% | Physical Separation / ISO Standard |
| Color Profile | Natural greenish-brown to light olive green | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Available Grades | Bold Grade / Small Grade / Singapore Grade | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Foreign Matter (Admixture) | Max 0.5% (Sortex) / Max 1.0% (Machine Cleaned) | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Volatile Essential Oil | 1.5% to 3.0%+ v/w (rich in trans-anethole and fenchone) | ISO 6571 (Hydro-distillation) |
| Total Ash | Maximum 8.0% | ISO 928 / ISO 930 |
| Acid Insoluble Ash | Maximum 1.2% | ISO 928 / ISO 930 |
| Seed Morphology | Oblong, curved cremocarps with 5 prominent longitudinal ridges | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Cleaning Standard | Air Aspiration + Destoning + Sortex Optical Color Sorted | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Metal Control | Inline rare-earth magnetic separation & digital metal detection | Electronic In-line Metal Detector |
| Microbiological Limits | Salmonella: Absent in 25g; E. Coli: <10 CFU/g | ISO / FDA BAM Standard |
| Pesticide & Residue Limits | Controlled to destination MRLs (EU, US FDA, GCC, Codex) | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
| Shelf Life | 18 to 24 months under cool, dry warehouse conditions | Contract / NABL Laboratory Standard |
Geographic Origin
Gujarat is India's preeminent commercial hub for seed spices, and Unjha hosts Asia's largest specialized regulated agricultural market for cumin and fennel seeds. The semi-arid climate, abundant sunshine, and well-drained alluvial soils of Northern Gujarat provide optimal growing conditions for dense, aroma-rich fennel crops during the spring harvest.
Operating directly from the APMC Market Yard in Unjha gives JM Masala unparalleled access to daily fresh-crop arrivals from Northern Gujarat (Mehsana, Visnagar, Patan, Kheralu) and contiguous producing districts. Our procurement specialists conduct in-person physical lot evaluations on arrival, inspecting seed color uniformity, moisture stability (<8%), and sweetness before purchase.
Direct mandi sourcing eliminates speculative intermediaries, ensuring consistent lot-to-lot quality, competitive price structures, and complete traceability back to origin.
Processing Operations
Raw fennel seeds arrive with delicate seed stalks, chaff, field dust, and stones. Reaching minimum 99%–99.5% export cleanliness requires calibrated mechanical and optical processing:
JM Masala procures fresh-crop fennel directly through APMC market yards across North Gujarat (Unjha, Mehsana, Visnagar, Patan) and Saurashtra during the peak February–April harvest.
Arrival bags are sampled at our Unjha facility to test moisture (<8%), green tint retention, seed firmness, anethole fragrance, and admixture percentage before warehousing.
Raw seeds pass through high-volume air aspirators to remove dust, chaff, and light hollow grains, followed by multi-deck vibratory screens to separate straw, stems, and seed pods.
Vibratory gravity destoners separate mud lumps, gravel, and field stones of matching size and density, followed by inline rare-earth magnets to catch any metallic debris.
High-resolution digital optical sorters inspect each seed individually, using high-speed compressed air jets to eject dark, black, discolored, or defective grains for uniform export appearance.
Cleaned lots pass through high-sensitivity industrial metal detectors to ensure zero ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel particles in the export packaging line.
Every production lot is analyzed by accredited testing laboratories for physical purity, moisture, volatile oil content, microbiological safety, and destination-specific pesticide MRLs.
Seeds are packed into food-grade woven PP bags with heat-sealed PE inner liners, multi-wall Kraft sacks, or carton boxes, and dispatched via express highway to Mundra Port or Pipavav Port.
Quality Assurance
Export compliance for international food processors, tea blenders, and spice distributors hinges on six essential quality parameters:
Tested across 99.0% (Machine/Sortex Cleaned) and 99.5% (Super Sortex). Gravimetric separation confirms strict freedom from weed seeds, stones, and foreign matter.
Strictly controlled at or below 8.0%. Maintaining low moisture prevents mold growth, preserves crisp seed texture, and prevents volatile anethole loss during maritime shipment.
Controlled to maximum 1.0% on export grades. Gentle pneumatic handling and smooth screeners prevent crushing of delicate seed ribs, locking in natural essential oils.
Every batch passes through high-intensity inline rare-earth magnets and digital metal detectors to ensure total absence of ferrous and non-ferrous metal fragments.
Tests between 1.5% and 3.0%+ v/w essential oil via ISO 6571 hydro-distillation, delivering the hallmark sweet aroma required for confectionery and beverage applications.
Certified Salmonella-negative in 25g, E. Coli < 10 CFU/g, and compliant with international pathogen and aflatoxin regulations for food and herbal ingredients.
Logistics & Stowage
Fennel seeds are volumetric seed spices with a bulk density of approximately 400 to 450 g/L. Container stowage is calibrated to maximize payload while preventing bag compaction:
1. Food-Grade Woven PP Bags (25 kg / 50 kg)
Heavy-duty polypropylene woven bags with heat-sealed polyethylene inner liners, protecting seeds from ambient moisture and maritime humidity.
2. Multi-Wall Kraft Paper Sacks (25 kg / 50 kg)
3-ply food-grade Kraft paper with inner barrier lining, the preferred option for automated handling in European and American food factories.
3. Carton Boxes for Green Fennel Varieties
Corrugated carton boxes with inner moisture-barrier liners for premium green fennel grades, preventing color fading and physical crush during long journeys.
4. Custom Branded Private Label Pouches (100g to 1kg)
Pre-printed stand-up barrier pouches with zip locks, barcodes, and multi-language nutrition labeling for supermarket retail distribution.
Industrial Uses
Supplied across key global culinary, confectionery, herbal beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors:
The premier seed for traditional Indian sugar-coated and roasted digestive mouth fresheners (mukhwas), renowned for its naturally sweet taste and breath-freshening properties.
High natural anethole makes fennel seeds a vital botanical ingredient in calming herbal tea blends, digestive wellness infusions, and organic detox tisanes.
Used as whole seeds and ground powder in Italian breads, biscotti, rye crackers, European sweet pastries, and traditional savory meat seasonings like Italian sausage.
A key component in Chinese five-spice powder, Bengali panch phoron, pickling spice formulations, and premium curry masalas throughout international food manufacturing.
Trade Compliance
Every fennel consignment shipped by JM Masala includes a verified regulatory and commercial documentation package:
Phytosanitary certificate
Official verified documentation
Fumigation certificate
Official verified documentation
NABL lab COA
Official verified documentation
Certificate of Origin
Official verified documentation
APEDA certificate
Official verified documentation
Commercial invoice
Official verified documentation
Packing list
Official verified documentation
Bill of Lading
Official verified documentation
Buyer Guide
JM Masala provides a streamlined, transparent procurement procedure for international B2B buyers:
Submit your required grade (Bold, Small, or Singapore), target purity, packaging format, and port of destination.
We provide a formal proforma quotation (FOB Mundra or CIF) and dispatch representative 250g–500g physical samples.
Upon order confirmation, seeds undergo mechanical cleaning, destoning, Sortex optical grading, metal checking, and NABL COA testing.
Containers are inspected, stuffed, sealed, and dispatched to Mundra Port with full export clearance documents.
Buyer Inquiries
Direct, factual answers to common questions about Indian fennel seed export, commercial grades, specifications, and procurement:
In India, fennel seeds are commonly known as 'Saunf' in Hindi and Marathi, 'Variyali' or 'Suva' in Gujarati, 'Sombu' in Tamil, 'Perumjeerakam' in Malayalam, and 'Sompu' in Telugu.
Yes. Saunf is the authentic Indian regional name for fennel seeds. Fennel seeds are the dried aromatic fruits (cremocarps) of the botanical plant Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
The botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (syn. Foeniculum officinale), an aromatic annual or biennial herb belonging to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae).
JM Masala operates directly from Unjha, Gujarat, and sources fennel seeds from prime growing tracts in Northern Gujarat (Unjha, Mehsana, Visnagar, Patan) and contiguous regional mandis during the fresh spring harvest.
Yes. Gujarat is India's preeminent commercial hub for seed spices, and JM Masala's headquarters in Unjha allows direct daily spot procurement and processing of Gujarat-grown fennel seeds.
JM Masala's standard export specification provides a minimum purity of 99.0% for machine-cleaned and Sortex-cleaned lots, with premium grades reaching 99.5% optical purity.
Our standard export specification is calibrated at maximum 8.0% moisture (typically 7.0% to 8.0%), ensuring seed freshness, mold prevention, and volatile essential oil preservation during ocean transit.
Broken seeds are strictly controlled to maximum 1.0%, preserving intact seed morphology and minimizing essential oil loss during handling and transport.
JM Masala supplies Bold Grade, Small Grade, Singapore Quality Grade, and specialty Lucknow / Abu Road sweet chewing grades according to buyer specifications.
Yes. Our Bold fennel seeds are selected for large seed size, uniform greenish-brown appearance, and high essential oil content, ideal for whole culinary spices and retail brand packaging.
Yes. Small fennel seeds possess a concentrated sweet anethole profile and high oil content, making them ideal for confectionery sugar-coating, savory seasoning blends, and powder milling.
Singapore quality fennel seeds represent an established commercial export grade calibrated for optical Sortex cleanliness (min. 99% purity), green color uniformity, and low admixture, widely imported across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Seeds pass through air aspirators for dust and chaff separation, multi-deck vibratory sieves for pod and stem removal, and high-density gravity destoners for field stone extraction.
Yes. All premium export grades are processed through high-resolution digital optical Sortex color sorters that eject dark, black, discolored, or damaged seeds.
Yes. Cleaned lots pass through high-intensity inline rare-earth magnets and digital metal detectors before packing to guarantee complete absence of metallic contaminants.
We supply fennel in 25kg and 50kg food-grade woven polypropylene (PP) bags with heat-sealed PE inner liners, multi-wall Kraft paper sacks, carton boxes for green varieties, and custom private-label retail pouches.
Yes. JM Masala supplies fennel seeds in 20ft FCL (~11.0 to 12.5 Metric Tons) and 40ft FCL (~23.0 to 24.5 Metric Tons) container loads, as well as mixed container consignments with cumin, coriander, fenugreek, and sesame.
Yes. International importers and commercial buyers can contact JM Masala to request representative physical samples (250g to 500g) along with laboratory specification sheets prior to confirming contracts.
Yes. Every export shipment includes an accredited NABL laboratory Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirming purity, moisture, broken seeds, volatile oil, microbiological parameters, and destination-specific pesticide residue MRLs.
Buyers can submit an export quotation request via our website contact form or directly via WhatsApp (+91 91067 66041) stating required grade (Bold, Small, or Singapore), packaging format, destination port, and delivery terms (FOB Mundra or CIF).
HACCP Certified
ISO 22000
APEDA Registered
Spice Board RCMC
FSSAI Licensed
IEC Registered
Contact JM Masala's trade desk in Unjha, Gujarat for representative samples, technical specification sheets, laboratory test reports, and competitive FOB Mundra or CIF ocean freight quotations.
