Commercial grade
Fennel Seed Whole — product sheet
Whole fennel seed for seasoning blends, bakery, meat seasonings and culinary infusions, with size, colour and the sweet or bitter type confirmed by sample.
Public reference specification
Public reference specification | Parameter | Published reference | How to verify |
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| Volatile oil, dry basis | ≥ 1.5 mL/100 g | Request a laboratory test tied to the identified sample or lot |
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| Moisture | ≤ 12.0 % | Request a laboratory test tied to the identified sample or lot |
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| Total ash, dry basis | ≤ 10.0 % | Request a laboratory test tied to the identified sample or lot |
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| Acid-insoluble ash, dry basis | ≤ 2.0 % | Request a laboratory test tied to the identified sample or lot |
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| Botanical type | Sweet or bitter, confirmed by sample | Check and record against the agreed specification |
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| Microbiology | Salmonella absent in 25 g proposed; the full sampling plan, treatment and lot certificate of analysis are agreed with the buyer | Request a laboratory test tied to the identified sample or lot |
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| Origin | China or Egypt, declared per lot | Check the supplier record and lot identity |
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| Form | Whole dried ripe fruits | Match the identified sample to the written order |
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| Packaging | Food-grade lined export bags; unit weight and case configuration confirmed in the quotation. | Match the packing specification to the packing check |
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Reference values, not results for a specific lot; the agreed specification and your lot’s test decide.
Commercial details
- Botanical name
- Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
- Origin
- China or Egypt, declared per lot
- Form
- Whole dried ripe fruits
- Typical uses
- Seasoning blends · Bakery · Meat seasonings · Sauces · Culinary infusions
- Minimum order
- 500 kg
- Packaging
- Food-grade lined export bags; unit weight and case configuration confirmed in the quotation.
- Shelf life
- Confirmed for the offered product, treatment and packing
- Storage
- Store cool, dry and clean; protect from moisture and strong odours.
Buying adviceSpecify Chinese or Egyptian origin and the grade for your use, the sweet or bitter type, colour, size, purity, foreign-seed limits, volatile oil if required, and any treatment.
AssessmentRecord purity, foreign-seed content, size and colour against the identified sample, with volatile oil measured when required.
Sample recordSample reference and date, product photographs, inspection checklist and packing photographs.
Technical referencesISO 7927-1 — Fennel seed, whole or ground: specification
How we grade this
Kun and Chuangui screen whole fennel seed to assess foreign matter, empty husks and broken material before checking seed fullness, colour and overall uniformity. A representative sample is rubbed by hand to assess its characteristic aroma and general condition, while signs of dampness, mustiness, excessive empty seed or abnormal colour can cause the lot to be rejected.
Where volatile oil content forms part of the buyer's specification, it is confirmed against the corresponding laboratory report rather than estimated from aroma alone. The declared origin of Chinese or imported lots is checked separately against the supplier and trade documentation for that lot.
Frequently asked questions about Fennel Seed Whole
Is fennel the same as cumin?
No. Fennel seed is Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and is kept distinct from cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) in sampling, storage and documents.
Which origin will my lot come from?
China or Egypt, in different grades for different uses. The producing country is declared for the offered lot with its import and batch records; sorting or packing in China does not by itself establish Chinese origin.
Is fennel the same as star anise or aniseed?
No. Chinese traders call star anise “big fennel” (大茴香) and fennel “small fennel” (小茴香), but they are unrelated plants. Fennel is a small, ridged seed (Foeniculum vulgare) with a gentle, sweet, liquorice-like aroma; star anise is the star-shaped fruit of a tree; aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) is a third spice.
When is new-crop fennel available?
Northern China harvests fennel from late July to early September; Egypt harvests in April and May.
