Turmeric looks simple to buy, but the powder in a drum can differ a great deal from batch to batch. This guide explains what a buyer can reasonably ask a supplier to show before ordering, using published sources, and lists what our own product page states.
What turmeric powder is
Turmeric is the dried, ground rhizome of Curcuma longa, a perennial herb of the ginger family native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. According to a general reference summary, rhizomes are harvested each year, often boiled, dried and ground into a shelf-stable powder. It is a principal ingredient in curry powder and is used to colour foods. See turmeric.
Curcumin content varies
The same reference gives curcuminoids as 1 to 6 percent of turmeric powder, and reports an average of 3.14 percent curcumin by weight in assayed commercial turmeric powder. A buyer who needs a particular curcumin level, for example for a supplement or extract, should specify it in the order and ask for an assay on the batch. Do not assume a figure from a table.
Adulteration is the main quality risk
Turmeric powder can be adulterated with cheaper, similarly coloured substances. The reference reports lead chromate in turmeric in Bangladesh at levels up to 500 times the national limit, and says the US FDA issued import alerts on turmeric from India and Bangladesh from 2013 to 2019. Metanil yellow, an illegal dye, is another known adulterant. These are historical reports from other supply chains, not statements about any one supplier, but they explain why serious buyers test.
A buyer's checklist
- Assay. Ask for the curcumin assay and the method used, for the batch you will receive.
- Contaminants. Ask for heavy-metal results (including lead) and a check for illegal colours, and for microbiological results your market requires.
- Moisture and mesh. Specify the moisture limit and particle size.
- Origin and batch. Ask for the harvest year and the origin of the batch.
- A sample first. Test it independently before committing to a larger order.
- Claims. Do not put health claims on a pack. The reference notes there is no high-quality clinical evidence that turmeric or curcumin treats any disease, and that rare but serious liver injury has been linked to turmeric supplements, especially high-bioavailability forms. Your regulator decides what you may say.
What we list
High-Curcumin Turmeric (SKU HR-SP-T01) is listed as powder of food, spice and wellness ingredient grade from the Himalayan foothills, cleaned, cured and milled, with assay and mesh confirmed per batch. The listing gives moisture as typically 10 percent maximum, a minimum order of 100 kg, and pack sizes of 5 kg, 25 kg and 100 g. Shelf life is confirmed against batch and pack format. Typical lead times are 1 to 2 weeks for ready stock, 2 to 4 weeks packed to order and 4 to 6 weeks for private label, counted from order confirmation and before sea freight. The quotation is what binds. Batch documentation is available on request, and customs classification is confirmed per shipment.
For a quotation, send your target market, application, pack size and estimated volume through the quotation form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much curcumin does turmeric powder contain?
A general reference gives 1 to 6 percent curcuminoids, with an average of 3.14 percent curcumin in assayed commercial powder. Our batch assay is confirmed per batch.
Why do buyers test for lead?
Turmeric powder has been adulterated with lead-based pigments in some supply chains. Testing a sample is a sensible precaution.
What is the minimum order?
Our listing gives 100 kg. Confirm in the quotation.
Can I get a sample?
Our catalogue lists free samples. Confirm availability and freight terms for your product in the quotation.
Last updated: 18 October 2026.
Sources: general reference summary, Turmeric; specifications from the Himalayan Region product page. This article gives general information and is not medical or regulatory advice.