What is the maximum moisture content for export-grade Guatemalan cardamom?

International contracts cap moisture at 12% by weight, measured on a wet basis (oven method, ISO 939). Royal Spices ships at 8–11% to give buyers headroom for transit humidity and to preserve volatile oil during storage.

What essential oil content should Guatemalan cardamom meet?

ISO 882-1 sets a minimum of 4% v/w volatile oil; commercial export contracts typically require ≥5%. Guatemalan whole pods commonly test 6–8%, with decorticated seeds reaching 7–9% (steam distillation, ISO 6571).

What are the main export size grades for Guatemalan cardamom?

By sieve size: Jumbo XL (≥8 mm), AGEB / Bold (7–8 mm), Superior / SMG — Superior Medium Green (6–7 mm), Mixed Green (unsized), Open Mixed Bold (OMB), Decorticated Seeds, and Husks. Sizing is done on calibrated mesh per AGEXPORT and ISO 882-1 conventions.

What documentation ships with a Guatemalan cardamom export lot?

Each lot ships with a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (DR-CAFTA or generic), MAGA phytosanitary certificate, moisture and mesh-size analysis, and — on request — third-party essential oil, pesticide residue (EU MRL), and aflatoxin reports.

⸺ Export Quality Standards

Guatemalan Cardamom Export Standards

Moisture, essential oil, ISO 882-1 sizing, defect tolerances, packaging and documentation — the technical baseline international procurement officers use to evaluate Guatemalan cardamom suppliers.

Guatemala produces roughly 70% of the world's green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), almost all of it bound for export. International buyers — Middle East spice houses, European flavor and bakery groups, Indian retail packers, North American distillers — anchor their contracts on a shared set of measurable specifications: moisture, essential oil content, sieve-graded pod size, defect tolerances and food-safety thresholds. This guide is the technical reference Royal Spices Guatemala uses on every shipment.

⸺ Core specifications

Export specification sheet

Parameter	Test method	Contract limit	Typical Guatemalan result
Moisture content	ISO 939 (oven)	≤ 12% (export max)	8–11% at shipment
Volatile (essential) oil	ISO 6571 (steam distillation)	≥ 5% v/w (contract)	6–8% whole pod · 7–9% seed
1,8-Cineole	GC-FID / GC-MS	≥ 30% of oil profile	30–45%
α-Terpinyl acetate	GC-FID / GC-MS	≥ 30% of oil profile	32–48%
Total ash	ISO 928	≤ 8% (whole) · ≤ 6% (seed)	5–7%
Acid-insoluble ash	ISO 930	≤ 3%	1–2%
Extraneous matter	Visual / sieve	≤ 1%	<0.5%
Empty / immature pods	Visual sort	≤ 5%	1–3%
Split pods	Visual sort	≤ 5% (Jumbo) · ≤ 10% (Bold)	2–6%
Aflatoxin B1 / Total	HPLC (EC 1881/2006)	≤ 5 / 10 µg/kg (EU)	Non-detect
Pesticide residues	GC-MS / LC-MS	EU MRL (Reg. 396/2005)	Compliant
Pathogens (Salmonella)	ISO 6579	Absent / 25 g	Absent

Reference standards: ISO 882-1 (whole cardamom), ISO 882-2 (ground), ISO 6571 (volatile oil), ISO 939 (moisture), Codex Alimentarius CXS 326-2017 spice hygiene, EU Reg. 1881/2006 (aflatoxins), EU Reg. 396/2005 (pesticide MRLs).

⸺ Size grading

Sieve-graded export classes

Trade name	Sieve / size	Color	Volatile oil	Typical buyer
Jumbo XL / AAA	≥ 8.0 mm	Deep uniform green	7–8%	Middle East premium whole-pod
AGEB / Bold	7.0–8.0 mm	Bright green	6.5–7.5%	Gulf & South Asian retail packers
SMG — Superior Medium Green	6.0–7.0 mm	Green, light variation	6–7%	EU industrial bakery, sauces, blends
Mixed Green / OMB	Unsized, screen-cleaned	Mostly green	6–7%	Distillers, oleoresin extractors
Decorticated Seeds	Seed only	Brown / dark brown	7–9%	Spice blenders, flavor & extract houses
Husks	Pod shell	Pale green / straw	1–2%	Low-cost infusions, biomass

⸺ Packaging & freight

Packaging and container loading

Jute bags with food-grade liner

Net weight

25 / 50 kg net

Used for

Default for whole pods, FOB Puerto Quetzal

Multi-wall kraft bags

Net weight

10 / 25 kg net

Used for

Decorticated seeds, ground spice buyers

Vacuum-sealed foil pouches

Net weight

1 / 5 kg net

Used for

Premium retail packers, sample lots

Cartons on heat-treated pallets (ISPM-15)

Net weight

20 ft container ≈ 12 MT · 40 ft HC ≈ 18 MT

Used for

Sea freight, FCL or LCL

⸺ Documentation

Export documents shipped with every lot

· Commercial invoice & packing list (HS 0908.31 whole · 0908.32 ground)
· Certificate of origin — DR-CAFTA Form, GSP+, or generic chamber
· MAGA phytosanitary certificate (Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture)
· Internal lab COA — moisture (ISO 939), mesh size, visual defects
· Third-party COA — essential oil (ISO 6571), aflatoxin, pesticide MRL (on request)
· Bill of lading (FOB Puerto Quetzal / Santo Tomás · CIF or DDP on request)
· Fumigation / ISPM-15 pallet certificate where required by destination

⸺ Procurement notes

What to specify in your purchase contract

· Moisture clause — state the maximum (typically 12%) and the test method (ISO 939). Specify whether transit moisture gain is for buyer or seller account.
· Volatile oil floor — name the minimum (≥ 5% v/w) and reference ISO 6571. Add a price adjustment formula if oil falls between 4–5%.
· Size tolerance — for Jumbo XL, allow up to 10% of pods one sieve below; this matches realistic mill output.
· Defect ceilings — split pods, empties, foreign matter and discolored pods — each with its own percent maximum.
· Food-safety annex — aflatoxin (EU 5/10 µg/kg), pesticide MRL list, and pathogen absence. Name the lab and the sampling plan (ISO 948).
· Incoterms — FOB Puerto Quetzal is standard from Guatemala; CIF and DDP available on request. Always specify Incoterms 2020.
· Inspection rights — pre-shipment inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek at buyer's option and cost.

⸺ Source from Guatemala

Request a spec-matched offer

Send your target moisture, volatile oil, sieve grade and destination port — we return a FOB Puerto Quetzal offer with COA references, packaging options and earliest sailing within two business days. Sample lots (250 g, sealed and declared) ship in five.

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