Packing Pepper: Preserving Flavor and Aroma

Packing pepper for export requires meticulousness and compliance with strict standards to ensure product quality. Also, it can ensure the products meet the requirements of the international market. In this post, we want to introduce a common packing process for pepper from Vietnam.

1. Pre-processing and cleaning of Pepper

Before packing peppercorns, pre-processing and cleaning are some of the most important steps. Due to being dried naturally, pepper can contain some impurities. Therefore, people screen the pepper to remove impurities such as rocks, branches, broken seeds, etc… 

After the screening step, they move to the cleaning step. They use a blower or vibrator to remove dust on the pepper. Both 2 steps are done to minimize the admixture of pepper as low as possible, normally at 1%. Then, they classify pepper by size, color and quality to ensure their quality is the same.

Quality control is so important. Here are 3 standards that people check on the quality of peppercorns.

• Appearance: Check the color, size, and uniformity of pepper.
• Moisture: Ensure the humidity of the pepper meets standards. Normally it is at 12.5%.
• Quality: Check the taste and spiciness of pepper. It must offer spiciness and aroma.

2. Packing Pepper for exports

When it comes to packaging material, there are 3 common methods. 

People often use PP bags for whole peppercorns. Because they have good bearing capacity, are moisture-proof and preserve the flavor of pepper. For better preservation of flavor and aroma, they apply the vacuum method. This method can ensure pepper is stored in a sealed environment, avoiding air contact and keeping it fresh.

Another method is packing in carton boxes. People use this method to pack small retail packages or send samples to customers. This method is convenient for transportation and storage due to its sturdy shape.

Packaging specifications:

• Weight: Depending on customer and market requirements. Normally, they pack pepper in 25 kg, 50 kg, or even 100 kg.
• Seal: They seal the package to ensure no gaps to avoid mold.
• Labeling: The label package should be clear, with full product information such as product name, weight, production date, expiry date, origin, manufacturer, etc.

3. Factors that affect the quality of Peppercorns

When exporting, it takes several days for the batch of pepper to arrive at the destination. During the journey, many factors can affect the quality of products. Therefore, producers are always careful to protect peppercorns from these factors.

• Humidity: High humidity will cause pepper to mold and reduce quality.
• Temperature: High temperature reduces the essential oil content that affects the pepper flavor.
• Light: Direct sunlight reduces the quality of pepper.
• Microorganisms: Bacteria and mold can grow on pepper if not properly stored.

By strictly following the above procedures, you can ensure that the pepper is packaged in high quality, meeting the requirements of the international market.

Havigo Company Limited operates in the field of agricultural export. We wish to bring high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products such as spices, rice, beans, and fruits… to the world. We supply you with high-quality products at the best price. If you find interested in importing high-quality Peppercorns products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for better support via WhatsApp: +84 979 58 58 56.