Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried
Industry PositionFood ingredient (culinary herb / herbal infusion input)
Market
Dried lemongrass in India is supplied from domestic cultivation of Cymbopogon species and processed through small to mid-scale cutting/drying and packing. It is used as a culinary herb and herbal-infusion ingredient, with a fragmented supply base and buyer focus on cleanliness, moisture control, and food-safety compliance for both domestic channels and export programs.
Market RoleDomestic producer with export participation (scale not quantified in this record)
Domestic RoleIngredient used in culinary applications and herbal infusions; also overlaps with aromatic-crop value chains (e.g., essential-oil feedstock in related Cymbopogon supply chains).
Specification
Physical Attributes- Clean, well-dried leaf pieces with strong citrus aroma
- Low visible foreign matter (dust, stones, stems outside spec)
- Uniform cut size suitable for tea cut / coarse cut as specified
Compositional Metrics- Moisture limit set by buyer to control mold risk (target value varies by contract)
- Microbial limits and extraneous matter limits commonly specified for dried herbs
Grades- Cut size grade (coarse cut / tea cut / powder, where applicable)
- Cleanliness grade (foreign matter tolerance and sieve profile per buyer spec)
Packaging- Moisture-barrier inner liner (food-grade plastic) with corrugated outer cartons or sacks per buyer spec
- Lot/batch coding on master cartons for traceability
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest/collection → sorting/cleaning → cutting → drying (sun or hot-air) → sieving/foreign-matter removal → packing → exporter/importer distribution
Temperature- Primary control is low humidity rather than refrigeration; protect from moisture uptake during storage and transit.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life depends on moisture control and packaging integrity; buyers commonly require dryness and mold-free condition at receipt.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Sps Food Safety HighBorder detention or rejection risk in India if a dried lemongrass consignment fails food safety/quality checks (e.g., contamination, non-conforming residues, or unacceptable foreign matter), which can block clearance and disrupt the trade lane.Implement pre-shipment testing aligned to buyer and FSSAI-relevant parameters, maintain hygienic drying/packing controls, and ensure complete, consistent documentation for customs and food clearance.
Logistics MediumMoisture uptake during humid storage/transit can drive mold, off-odors, and quality claims for dried lemongrass, especially if packaging is not moisture-barrier or containers are not properly dried/ventilated.Use moisture-barrier packaging, verify container dryness, consider desiccants where appropriate, and specify maximum moisture at loading with sealed-lot inspection.
Documentation Gap MediumMisalignment on HS classification and whether plant quarantine/phytosanitary requirements apply can cause clearance delays, additional treatment requests, or unexpected compliance costs.Confirm HS code and import conditions with the importer/broker before shipment and pre-align any phytosanitary or treatment documentation to DPPQS/NPPO guidance when applicable.
Sustainability- Drying method and fuel choice can create quality/safety concerns (e.g., smoke taint or contamination risk) if uncontrolled.
- Good agricultural practice and residue stewardship expectations may be imposed by higher-spec buyers for dried botanicals.
Labor & Social- Smallholder and informal labor contexts can make social compliance auditing and documentation harder for fragmented dried-herb supply chains.
Standards- HACCP-based food safety systems (e.g., ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000) are commonly requested by international buyers for dried herbs and ingredients.
- Organic certification may be requested for premium retail/herbal-infusion channels (scheme depends on destination market).
FAQ
What are the main clearance steps to import dried lemongrass into India?Imports generally require customs filing (Bill of Entry) and may require a food import clearance workflow under India’s food authority. Shipments can be sampled/tested, and release depends on compliance and complete documentation.
Is a phytosanitary certificate required to ship dried lemongrass to India?It can be required depending on how the product is classified and the applicable plant quarantine conditions for dried plant products. Confirm the requirement and any treatment conditions against India’s plant quarantine/NPPO guidance before shipping.
What is the biggest shipment-blocking risk for dried lemongrass entering India?The highest-impact risk is failing food safety or quality checks at entry (for example, contamination or non-conformance to required parameters), which can lead to detention or rejection and disrupt the trade lane.
Sources
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) — Food import clearance and applicable food standards framework (India)
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Government of India — Indian Customs Tariff and import clearance procedures (duty/classification and customs process reference)
Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQS), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India — Plant quarantine and NPPO/phytosanitary guidance relevant to dried plant products (India)
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Government of India — Export promotion references for agricultural processed products including herbs/medicinal plants (India)
CSIR–Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), India — Aromatic plant cultivation and post-harvest guidance relevant to Cymbopogon (lemongrass) value chains
International Trade Centre (ITC) — Trade statistics tools (e.g., Trade Map) for validating India dried plant/herb trade flows by HS code