Seeds ExporterBasil (Tukhm‑e‑Balanga) Seed exporter — Pakistan origin
Food-grade basil seed (Ocimum basilicum, tukhm-e-balanga or sabja) is exported by Kohenoor International at 99% purity in 25 kg bags under HS 120991. It is the soaking seed used in falooda, rooh-afza style drinks and basil-seed beverages across the Gulf, the UK, the US and Malaysia.
Seed is grown in Punjab, harvested October–November, and cleaned on Sortex to remove chaff and immature seed. Swelling ratio and mucilage quality are checked per lot because they determine the texture in drinks.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed, as it appears on the pro forma invoice and the lot report. Custom specifications (higher purity, treated seed, different pack, private label) are quoted on request.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Ocimum basilicum |
| HS code | 120991 |
| Varieties / grades | Food grade |
| Purity | 99% min |
| Germination | Not tested — edible / industrial grade |
| Grade | Food grade, machine clean, Sortex |
| Moisture | 8% max |
| Admixture / foreign matter | 1% max |
| Immature / light seed | 2% max |
| Swelling ratio | approx. 1:20 by volume in water at 15 min |
| Gel formation | Full grey mucilage coat within 5 min |
| Thousand-seed weight | 1.2–1.4 g (approx. 800,000 seeds/kg) |
| Colour / appearance | Uniform matte black, oval |
| Bulk density | approx. 0.55 kg/litre |
| Salmonella (25 g) | Absent (on request) |
| Aflatoxin / pesticides | Tested per lot for EU / UK / US |
| Packing | 25 kg PP bags with PE liner |
| Packing | 25 kg |
| MOQ | 1 x 20ft |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
Food grade. A single export grade: mature, uniform matte-black Ocimum basilicum seed from Punjab, de-stoned, air-screened and Sortex-sorted to 99% purity, with immature seed limited to 2% because it swells poorly. Each lot is tested for swelling ratio (about 1:20 by volume in 15 minutes) and gel formation, which are what beverage makers and dessert manufacturers grade on. Buyers choose it over open-market sabja for consistent swelling batch to batch, low admixture and a COA with microbial and residue results.
A sowing-grade basil seed for herb growers can be supplied separately with an ISTA-format germination report; it is a different lot and is not sold under the food-grade specification. We do not supply chia (Salvia hispanica), which is a different plant.
Uses by industry
Who buys basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Beverage manufacturers. Bottled basil-seed drinks and juices in Malaysia, the Gulf and increasingly the EU and US; consistent swelling is the specification.
- Dessert and falooda makers. Falooda, kulfi and traditional desserts in the UK, US and Gulf South Asian retail and food service.
- Retail packers. 100 g to 1 kg retail packs of tukhm-e-balanga for diaspora and health-food retail.
- Jelly and pudding manufacturers. Gel-forming ingredient in ready desserts and bubble-tea toppings.
- Health-food and fibre products. Soluble-fibre ingredient in smoothies and functional foods.
- Herb growers. Sowing-grade seed supplied separately on request.
Quality control and testing
Basil (Tukhm‑e‑Balanga) Seed is an edible or industrial product, so the release test is a certificate of analysis rather than a germination test. Our laboratory checks moisture, admixture and foreign matter, colour and size uniformity, bulk density and, where the buyer specifies it, oil content; an accredited third-party laboratory in Karachi runs microbiology (Salmonella spp., E. coli, total plate count, yeast and mould), aflatoxin B1 and total, pesticide-residue screens and, for EU and UK lots, ethylene oxide. Every lot passes Buhler Sortex optical sorting after air-screen cleaning and de-stoning, which is what takes admixture below 1% and removes discoloured seed, stems and stones.
Sampling follows the same rule as seed: at least 10% of bags, composite sample, 1 kg sealed reference retained for 12 months. The COA carries the lot number printed on the bags, and an MSDS is issued for the shipment. HACCP procedures cover the cleaning line, storage and bagging.
Basil seed is released on a COA covering moisture, admixture, immature seed, swelling ratio and gel-formation time, colour and, for beverage and EU, UK and US buyers, Salmonella, E. coli, aflatoxin and a pesticide MRL screen at an accredited laboratory. Lots with a low swelling ratio or slow gel formation are rejected for food grade. Seed is de-stoned, air-screened, Sortex-sorted and metal-detected before bagging under HACCP.
How to verify on arrival. Take a composite sample from at least 10 bags, seal it, and send it to your usual food laboratory within 14 days. Moisture and admixture should be checked first because they are the parameters most likely to drift in transit; microbiology and residues are compared against the COA method and detection limit. If a result differs beyond method uncertainty, send the report and bag labels within 30 days and we re-test the retained reference sample at the same accredited laboratory.
Packing, loading and shipping
Standard packing for basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed is 25 kg, in woven polypropylene bags with an inner polyethylene liner. Each pack is printed or labelled with product, variety or grade, lot number, net weight, origin (Pakistan), exporter and any text the importing country's labelling rules require, and closed with a sewn tear-off tag. Private-label printing is available with artwork two weeks before loading.
A 20ft container carries about 15–17 MT (about 600 x 25 kg per 20ft) loose-stacked on a kraft-paper floor in a brick pattern with a cardboard door wall; a 40ft carries about 24–26 MT (40ft HC). Palletised loads on ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets take roughly 10% less and are used for Europe, East Asia, North America and Australia where the container is unloaded by forklift. Desiccant bags are added for humid destinations on request. Every stuffing is photographed from empty box to applied seal and the photos go to the buyer the same day with the packing list. Full figures for every product are in the container loading guide.
Storage and shelf life. Basil seed keeps 24 months at 8% moisture in sealed lined bags in a cool, dry store; swelling ratio is stable if the seed stays dry. Moisture uptake starts mucilage formation in the bag, so keep bags sealed and away from humidity.
| Container | Net cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 15–17 MT | about 600 x 25 kg per 20ft; loose on kraft-paper floor |
| 40ft / 40ft HC | 24–26 MT (40ft HC) | Weight-limited on dense seed; volume-limited on light seed |
| Palletised (any size) | ≈ 10% less | ISPM 15 pallets, shrink-wrapped and strapped |
| LCL / air | 2 MT LCL | Higher per-kg rate; used for trial lots |
Documents and import compliance
Every container of basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed leaves with the phytosanitary certificate from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Karachi carrying the importer's additional-declaration wording, a certificate of origin from the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, the certificate of analysis and MSDS, commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a fumigation certificate and pre-shipment inspection report where the destination requires them. The table lists what the main destinations for this product ask for; the documents guide explains each certificate and the import guide shows the sequence.
| Country | Authority | Documents required | Transit from Karachi |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | MOCCAE | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; ISTA test report; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 7–10 days sea from Karachi |
| Saudi Arabia | MEWA / SFDA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; SABER registration where applicable; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 8–12 days sea |
| United Kingdom | APHA / DEFRA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; IPAFFS pre-notification; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| United States | USDA APHIS | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; APHIS import permit where required; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 30–40 days sea |
| Malaysia | DOA Malaysia | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 10–14 days sea |
HS classification. Basil seed is classified under HS 1209.91 (vegetable seeds) in most tariffs, though food-grade sabja is sometimes entered under 1207.99 or 1211.90 by importing customs; state the food use on the invoice so the entry matches the COA rather than a germination report. EU and UK food imports enter with a COA and CHED-D; the US importer files FDA prior notice; Malaysia requires an import permit and phytosanitary certificate; the Gulf clears on COA, certificate of origin and phytosanitary certificate. Duty is zero in the EU (GSP+) and the US.
Season, new crop and availability
Harvest October–November in Punjab; new-crop seed ships from December after drying and Sortex cleaning. Stock is available year-round in sealed bags and prior-crop is stated as such with its current swelling ratio.
Beverage manufacturers in Malaysia and the Gulf contract in December–February; retail packers buy through the year. Reserve new-crop volume by September.
The availability calendar shows every product month by month, and prior-crop lots are always described as such on the pro forma.
Price factors and how to get today's rate
Kohenoor does not publish a price for basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed because a price is only meaningful for a specific lot, grade, pack, quantity and date. A firm FOB Karachi or CIF quote in USD per kg or per MT comes back within 24 hours of an enquiry and is held for 7–14 days. What moves the number, in order of size:
- Crop year and timing. Pre-harvest bookings are fixed and usually lowest; spot prices rise in a short crop or when prior-crop stock runs down before new crop. Difference between the two can be 15–20%.
- Grade and purity. A single food grade is offered; price differences come from crop year, swelling ratio and whether microbial and residue panels are requested. Sowing-grade basil is priced separately with its germination test.
- Packing. 25 kg loose bags are the base; 50 kg is slightly cheaper per kg; 10 kg, cartons, private label and palletising add 2–8%.
- Quantity. Each additional container in one contract is priced 2–5% lower; LCL lots cost 20–40% more per kg because inspection, documents and handling are the same for 2 MT as for 20 MT.
- Incoterm. FOB Karachi is the base; CIF adds freight and insurance at the current line rate for your port; road delivery to Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia is priced per truck.
- Tests and treatment. Third-party COA, residue or aflatoxin panels, SGS inspection, fumigation and seed treatment are itemised at cost.
Samples. 200 g to 1 kg from the offered lot is free against courier charges (typically USD 40–90) and goes out with the current report. Larger trial lots are invoiced at the container rate. The full logic, MOQ table and sample policy are on seed prices and MOQ.
How this compares
Beverage and dessert makers compare basil seed with chia (not supplied) and, within our catalogue, with cress and nigella, two other small black seeds that are often confused with it.
| Criterion | Basil (Tukhm‑e‑Balanga) Seed | <a href="/products/cress/">Cress (Garden Cress / Halim) Seed</a> | <a href="/products/nigella/">Nigella (Kalonji) Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Ocimum basilicum | Lepidium sativum | Nigella sativa |
| Use | Soaking seed for drinks, desserts | Sprouting, microgreens, halim | Spice, oil |
| Swells in water | Yes, 1:20 gel in 15 min | Yes, mucilage coat | No |
| Purity | 99% | 99% | 99% |
| Germination tested | No (food grade) | Yes, 90% | No |
| Harvest | Oct–Nov | Mar–Apr | Mar–Apr |
| HS | 120991 | 120991 | 120799 |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia. Demand comes from basil-seed beverage manufacturers in Malaysia and the Gulf, falooda and dessert makers serving South Asian retail in the UK and US, and retail packers of tukhm-e-balanga. Each destination has its own permit and phytosanitary wording; the country pages under markets summarise them and we prepare the certificate to match before DPP inspection.
Specialist site and further reading
Detailed agronomy, variety trials and technical downloads for basil (tukhm‑e‑balanga) seed are published on our specialist site herbnseed.com. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: basil tukhm balanga. For pricing, MOQ and shipping use the quote form on this page; the lab and sorting line are described on the quality page, and all 28 lines are listed under products.
Frequently asked questions
Is basil seed the same as chia seed?
No. Basil seed (Ocimum basilicum) is smaller, jet black, and swells faster with a grey mucilage coat; chia (Salvia hispanica) is a different plant. Basil seed is the traditional South Asian drink seed and we do not supply chia.
What swelling ratio should I expect?
About 1:20 by volume within 15 minutes in room-temperature water for fresh, mature seed, with a full gel coat in 5 minutes. We test each lot and reject lots with a low swelling ratio or slow gel formation.
Is your basil seed tested for microbiology?
Salmonella and E. coli testing is available per lot for beverage manufacturers and is standard for EU and UK buyers, along with aflatoxin and a pesticide screen at an accredited laboratory.
What is the MOQ for basil seed?
One 20ft container (15–17 MT). LCL lots of 2–5 MT are possible for beverage makers starting a new line; ask on the quote form.
How much basil seed fits in a 20ft container?
15–17 MT in 25 kg lined bags loose-stacked; basil seed is lighter than round seed. A 40ft high-cube takes 24–26 MT.
Which HS code applies to food-grade basil seed?
1209.91 (vegetable seeds) in most tariffs, though some customs administrations enter food-grade sabja under 1207.99 or 1211.90. State the food use on the invoice so that the entry matches the COA; we can show both codes on request.
When is new-crop basil seed available?
From December after the October–November harvest, drying and Sortex cleaning. Stock is available year-round in sealed bags with the current swelling ratio on the COA.
How should basil seed be stored?
Sealed lined bags in a cool, dry store at 8% moisture; 24 months shelf life. Moisture uptake starts mucilage formation inside the bag, so keep bags closed and off the floor.
Do you supply sowing-grade basil seed?
Yes, separately, with an ISTA-format germination report for herb growers. It is a different lot from the food grade and is priced with its germination test.
Can basil seed be steam-sterilised?
Not for food grade, because heat starts mucilage formation and damages swelling. Buyers with microbial specifications rely on the Salmonella and E. coli test results and their own pasteurisation step after soaking.
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Tell us the product, quantity and destination port. The export desk replies within 24 hours with price, MOQ, documents and transit time.
export@kohenoorint.com · +92 310 4929292 · Reply within 24 hours