How American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) ratings affect pricing, sauce colour, and the grade you should put on a Request for Quote (RFQ).
Buyers who import Indian red chilli usually specify American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) colour alongside heat. American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) colour is a laboratory measure of extractable red pigment. It is not the same as Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Byadgi lots are typically bought for colour. Teja and Sannam are bought for heat, with colour as a second number. A powder Request for Quote (RFQ) that only says “hot chilli” will get a mixed quote.
On our red chilli page we publish an American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) band of 80–120 for powder, variety dependent. If your plant needs a floor (for example American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) 100 minimum), write that on the enquiry with mesh size and stemless versus with-stem.
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) for each container should repeat the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) method and the moisture cap. That is what customs and your quality team will check, not a marketing adjective.
