5 mm Bold Black Pepper

What 5 mm bold black pepper is

Bold pepper is black pepper graded by size. The berries are screened at 5 mm, and at least 80% of the lot stays on the screen. This is called 80% up-screen. Big berries are also heavy berries, so bold pepper has a bulk density of about 570–580 g/l, near the top of the black pepper range.

Moisture is 13% at most. The level of cleaning is your choice. The same bold pepper can be supplied ASTA cleaned, steam sterilised, machine cleaned or FAQ, and the foreign matter limit follows that choice.

Who buys bold pepper

• Retail packers who sell whole pepper in glass jars and grinders, where the customer sees every berry.
• Premium brands who sell on appearance and even size.
• Grinders who want the highest yield of oil and flavour per kilo.
• Importers whose customers ask for a stated berry size, not only a density.

The specification

Product	Whole black pepper, bold, 5 mm screened
Origin	Dak Lak and Dak Nong, Vietnam
Size	5 mm, 80% up-screen
Bulk density	About 570–580 g/l
Moisture	13% max
Foreign matter	0.2% max (ASTA, HTST) · 0.2–0.5% max (machine cleaned) · 0.5–1.5% (FAQ)
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

Choose the cleaning level

Cleaning	Foreign matter	When to choose it
ASTA cleaned	0.2% max	Ready to pack or grind on arrival
Steam sterilised (HTST)	0.2% max	Ready-to-eat food, markets with microbiological limits
Machine cleaned (MC)	0.2–0.5% max	You do a final clean yourself
FAQ	0.5–1.5%	You clean and sort at destination

What “80% up-screen” means in practice

A sample from the lot is shaken over a screen with 5 mm holes. At least 80% of it by weight must stay on top. The rest is smaller berries, which are allowed within the limit. If you need a tighter figure, such as 85% or 90% up-screen, tell us. We will say plainly whether it can be met and at what price.

Where it comes from

The pepper is grown in Dak Lak and Dak Nong in the Central Highlands. It is screened and cleaned by processors we have qualified. We are based in Nha Trang, a few hours away, and we check the lot before loading. You receive the processor’s name after your deposit, or on a visit.

How the lot is checked

Before loading, samples from your lot are checked for up-screen percentage, bulk density, moisture and foreign matter. If your contract names SGS, Control Union or Vinacontrol, they inspect the lot as well. Packing and loading are supervised. You receive photos and the container number before documents are released.

Packing, loading and documents

New PP or kraft bags with 25–50 kg net each. A 20ft container takes 14–17 MT, and a 40ft container takes about 28 MT. The usual documents are a certificate of origin, a phytosanitary certificate, a certificate of quality and quantity, a packing list, a commercial invoice and the bill of lading. A fumigation certificate is added where your country requires one.

Optional, priced separately: SGS laboratory verification, pesticide residue testing, organic certification and Rainforest Alliance certification.

How to order

1. Send the cleaning level, up-screen figure, volume, destination port and Incoterm. WhatsApp is fastest. We reply within one working day, Vietnam time (UTC+7).
2. Approve a sealed sample. It becomes the reference sample in the contract.
3. Sign: CIF or CFR (CNF), FOB on request. L/C at sight, or a T/T deposit with the balance against documents.
4. The lot is inspected and loaded. You receive photos, the container number and the documents.

Questions buyers ask

Is bold pepper a different variety?

No. It is the same black pepper, sorted by size. The biggest berries are separated out.

Why is bold pepper more expensive?

Screening at 5 mm removes the smaller berries, so fewer tonnes of bold pepper come out of each tonne of raw pepper.

Can I get 5.5 mm?

Ask. We will say plainly whether the current crop can supply it, and in what volume.

HS code

HS 0904.11 (pepper, neither crushed nor ground). Your customs broker confirms the national line.