NATURE'S FINEST
Wholesale Bay Leaf — Grades and Export Products
Wholesale Turkish bay leaf in 25 kg standard bales and 10 kg vacuum-laminated premium parcels from our integrated Samsun Alaçam and İzmir Torbalı facilities. SA, FAQ, HPS, SS Press and Machine Select grades — guaranteed 1.8–2.4% essential oil, ISO 22000 certified, FOB Türkiye Incoterms, exported to 40+ countries.
Black Sea Alaçam Bay Leaf — Wholesale & Export Standards
KRD & EKAM grades the bay leaf processed at our 14,000 m² Samsun Alaçam integrated production campus and 5,000 m² İzmir Torbalı export facility against every standard class used in the international spice trade. Every lot passes through 48–72 hours of shaded post-harvest drying followed by a combined manual and machine calibration line; we hold 6–8% target moisture, sub-3% broken-and-dust ratio (sub-1% in HPS classes), and full light-oxygen-temperature control through storage to preserve the volatile-oil profile.
The nine product calibres below are the same Alaçam-grown leaf sorted for different end uses. HPS 4-7 cm leads premium gastronomy and retail; FAQ is the international reference class; SS Press bales optimise long-haul container freight; Machine Select grades give high-volume manufacturers a cost-effective option.
FAQ in Bales
SS Press in Bales
HPS 5-10 cm
HPS Uncalibre
Machine Select 4-7 cm
HPS 4-7 cm
Machine Select 5-10 cm
Machine Select Uncalibre
Grade Glossary
These grade names are part of the international trade vocabulary for Turkish bay leaf. Each class implies a specific calibre, broken ratio and end-use profile.
- SA Quality BaleSA
- Superior Grade — hand-sorted whole leaves, uncalibrated size range, broken < 2%, foreign matter < 0.5%. Premium wholesale and fine-dining supply class.
- FAQ BaleFAQ
- Fair Average Quality — 4–10 cm range, broken ~5%, foreign matter < 1%. The reference class of the international bay-leaf trade.
- SS Press BaleSS
- Hydraulic-pressed 25 kg bale, density-optimised. Freight-friendly for distant markets; quality comparable to FAQ.
- HPS 4-7 cmHPS 4-7
- Hand-Picked & Sorted, 4-7 cm calibre. Highest-premium class; essential oil typically > 2.0%. The preferred grade for fine-dining accounts and premium retail packs.
- HPS 5-10 cmHPS 5-10
- Hand-Picked & Sorted, 5-10 cm calibre. The recipe-book standard image of a bay leaf. Premium retail and glass-jar packaging.
- Machine Select (4-7, 5-10, Uncalibre)Machine Select
- Optical-sorted (NIR + visual camera), size tolerance ±1 cm. Cost-effective option for high-volume food manufacturers.
- HPS UncalibreHPS-OOC
- Hand-picked leaves outside the standard size bands; whole-leaf integrity at a discounted price. Ideal for meat marinades and long simmering.
Standard Quality Parameters
Every shipment carries a buyer-specific Certificate of Analysis. Standard targets:
- Essential oil: 1.8% minimum, 2.0–2.4% typical (well above the 1.0% Turkish Food Codex floor)
- Moisture: 6–8% (max 9%)
- Broken and dust: under 3% (under 1% in HPS classes)
- Foreign matter: under 1%; stems, twigs and off-species leaves removed
- Colour: olive to dark green; yellowed leaves are sorted out
- Microbiological: compliant with EU and FDA spice limits, optional irradiation / PPO at request
- Pesticide: within EU MRL list (harvested from non-input natural groves)
Packaging, MOQ and Container Loading
- Standard bale: 25 kg outer polypropylene sack with kraft or aluminium inner liner — optimised for long-haul container freight
- Premium retail: 10 kg vacuum-sealed aluminium-laminated parcel — preserves the volatile oil for up to 24 months
- MOQ: 1 × 20-ft container (≈ 8–10 tons by calibre); ≥ 5 tons for custom packaging
- Lead time: 7–14 days for baled grades, 21 days for custom calibration and labelling
- Incoterms: FOB Mersin / İzmir / Tekirdağ; CIF and DAP on request
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