ASTA Cleaned Black Pepper, 500–570 g/l

What ASTA cleaned black pepper is

ASTA cleaned black pepper is whole black pepper that has been cleaned to the cleanliness specifications of the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA). Those specifications set limits for things a buyer does not want in the bag: stems, stones, dust, other seeds, mould and insect damage. Our lot is cleaned to 0.2% foreign matter at most, dried to 12.5% moisture at most, and graded at 500–570 g/l bulk density with a 5 mm berry size.

ASTA is a cleanliness standard, not a certificate. Your contract names the exact limits, and the lot is checked against them before it is loaded. If you need a third-party laboratory to confirm them, that is written into the contract too.

This is our main pepper grade. For most importers it is the point where price and cleanliness meet: clean enough to pack or grind without a second cleaning, and heavy enough to give good weight per bag.

Who buys this grade

• Importers and wholesalers who resell whole pepper and need a lot that passes inspection at the destination port.
• Grinders and spice mills who want clean raw material, so less of what they pay for is lost as waste.
• Retail packers who fill jars and grinders and need berries that look even.
• Food makers who use whole pepper in blends, brines and sauces.

If your market also needs a lower microbial load, look at our steam sterilised (HTST) black pepper. If you sell on berry size, see 5 mm bold black pepper.

The specification, line by line

Product	Whole black pepper, ASTA cleaned
Origin	Dak Lak and Dak Nong, Vietnam
Moisture	12.5% max
Foreign matter	0.2% max
Bulk density	500–570 g/l
Berry size	5 mm
Packing	PP or kraft bags, 25–50 kg net
Container load	14–17 MT per 20ft · 28 MT per 40ft
Port of loading	Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

What the numbers mean for you:

• Moisture, 12.5% max. Dry pepper keeps. Wet pepper can grow mould during a long sea voyage. 12.5% is a safe level for shipping in a closed container.
• Foreign matter, 0.2% max. In a 25 kg bag, that is no more than 50 g of anything that is not pepper. That is why ASTA cleaned pepper can usually go straight to packing or grinding.
• Bulk density, 500–570 g/l. This is the weight of one litre of berries. Heavier berries are more mature and have fewer hollow “light berries”. Tell us the exact density you need inside this range. 550 g/l and 570 g/l are common contract points.
• Berry size, 5 mm. Most berries sit on a 5 mm screen. If you need a stated up-screen percentage, we add it to your specification.

Where the pepper comes from

The pepper is grown in Dak Lak and Dak Nong, two provinces of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. We are based in Nha Trang, a few hours’ drive away, so we can be at a warehouse to see a lot while it is being prepared.

The pepper is dried, cleaned and graded by processors we have qualified. For every enquiry we compare more than one of them, so one poor lot or one fully booked plant does not stop your shipment. We share the processor’s name after your deposit is received, or when you visit us in Vietnam. Until then, everything that matters to quality is fixed in writing: the specification, the reference sample and the inspection body.

How the lot is checked before loading

1. Sampling. Samples are drawn from the lot that will ship.
2. Testing against your specification. Moisture, foreign matter, bulk density and berry size are checked against the figures in your contract.
3. Third-party inspection, if your contract names it. SGS, Control Union or Vinacontrol can inspect the lot and issue their own certificate.
4. Loading supervision. Packing and loading are supervised. You receive photos of your cargo and the container number before documents are released.

If a lot does not meet the specification, you hear about it before loading, not after the container arrives.

Packing and container loading

Standard packing is new PP or kraft bags with 25–50 kg net each. Tell us the bag size, the marks and any inner liner you need. A 20ft container takes 14–17 MT, depending on bag size and density. A 40ft container takes about 28 MT.

Documents that travel with the cargo

The set agreed in your contract. Usually that is a certificate of origin, a phytosanitary certificate, a fumigation certificate where your country requires one, a certificate of quality and quantity, a packing list, a commercial invoice and the bill of lading.

Optional tests and certificates

These are priced separately, so the base price stays competitive. You pay only for what your market needs.

• SGS third-party laboratory verification
• Pesticide residue testing
• Organic certification
• Rainforest Alliance certification

How to order, in four steps

1. Send your specification. Tell us the density, packing, volume, destination port and Incoterm. The fastest way is WhatsApp. We reply within one working day, Vietnam time (UTC+7), with a written specification and an indicative price.
2. Approve a sealed sample. Sealed samples are couriered against your account. The sample you approve becomes the reference sample in the contract.
3. Sign the contract. We quote CIF or CFR (CNF) to your port, or FOB on request. Payment is by L/C at sight, or a T/T deposit with the balance against documents.
4. Inspection and loading. The lot is checked before loading. You receive loading photos and the container number, then the documents.

Questions buyers ask about this grade

Is ASTA cleaned pepper the same as steam sterilised pepper?

No. ASTA cleaning removes foreign matter. Steam sterilisation lowers the number of bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Many buyers need both. See steam sterilised black pepper.

Can I have a density other than 500–570 g/l?

Yes. Our FAQ grades come at 500, 550 and 570 g/l, and 5 mm bold pepper is about 570–580 g/l. Tell us your figure and we will say plainly whether it can be met.

What is your minimum order?

[XX] MT per product line. Send your volume, and we will tell you plainly whether it works.

Can I visit before I buy?

Yes. We will take you to the warehouse that handles your cargo and arrange sampling on site.

HS code

Whole black pepper is classified under HS 0904.11 (pepper of the genus Piper, neither crushed nor ground). The full national tariff line depends on your country. Your customs broker confirms it.