India grows more spices than any other country, so it can seem odd that it also buys so many. But some spices India simply does not grow in the volumes it uses, and a few of them come naturally from Indonesia. If you import into India, or are thinking about it, this is our view of where Indonesian spices fit and what to sort out before a first order.
Where Indonesia fits
Cloves. India uses cloves in garam masala, biryani, chai and a long list of household remedies, and its own harvest does not cover that demand. Indonesia is the world’s largest clove grower. Most of its crop goes into kretek cigarettes at home, but there is a steady export surplus. Our clove buying guide explains how lots are graded and what to put in the contract.
Nutmeg and mace. Kerala grows good nutmeg, but Indian buyers have long topped up with Indonesian supply, especially for grinding grades and for mace. Indonesian nutmeg is sold in grades like AB, ABCD, SS and BWP, which our nutmeg grades guide explains in plain terms. Mace is covered in our mace guide.
Java long pepper. Ayurvedic makers know long pepper as pippali. Traditionally that name refers to Indian long pepper, Piper longum. Indonesia grows a close relative, Piper retrofractum, known at home as cabe jamu. The two are used in similar ways, but they are different species, and your formulation or your regulator may care which one you use. Please check before you order, and write the botanical name into the specification. Our Java long pepper guide goes into more detail.
A note on cardamom. India is home to green cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum, and grows plenty of it. What Indonesia exports is Java cardamom, Amomum compactum: round, creamy white, cooler and more camphor-like. It is not a replacement for green cardamom in sweets or chai. It can make sense for blends, extraction or products where a cardamom note matters more than the exact flavour. Our Java vs green cardamom guide sets out the differences honestly.
Duty and the certificate of origin
India and the ASEAN countries, Indonesia included, have a free trade agreement, usually called AIFTA. Under it, goods that meet the rules of origin can enter India at a lower duty when they come with the right certificate of origin, often referred to as Form AI.
Whether a particular spice qualifies, and what rate applies, depends on the tariff line and the current schedule. We cannot promise a duty rate. Please ask your customs broker to check the HS code and the AIFTA rate for your product, and tell us at the inquiry stage if you need the certificate, so it can be applied for in Indonesia with the shipping documents.
Food safety clearance is on your side
Food imports into India are cleared by FSSAI at the port, and the registration and import licence for that sit with the importer. Spices can be sampled and tested on arrival. Labelling for the Indian market is also normally handled by the importer or packer.
The rules change from time to time, so we would not try to summarise them here. The safest approach is to confirm the current FSSAI requirements, and any limits for moisture, contaminants or pesticide residues on your product, with your customs broker before the first shipment. Once you know the numbers, we can agree them in the contract and test the lot against them before it leaves Surabaya.
Practical points for a first order
- Ask for a sample. Especially for long pepper and cardamom, so your team can judge whether the Indonesian product fits.
- Agree the specification in writing. Moisture, foreign matter, and the product-specific figures such as oil for cloves or piperine for long pepper.
- Plan the freight. We sell FOB Surabaya. Your forwarder books the sea freight from Tanjung Perak to Chennai, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Kochi or your port of choice. Our FOB vs CIF guide explains how responsibility is split.
- Agree the document list in the contract, including the AIFTA certificate of origin if you need it.
We are a young company, so we will not pretend to have a long list of Indian customers. What we can offer is clear specifications, honest answers and a sample before you commit. See our products, our wholesale supply page, or send us your requirements.
