What is the difference between Tellicherry and Malabar grades?

Tellicherry grades (TGSEB, TGEB) are sorted on berry size, from 4.25 mm and above. Malabar Garbled grades (MG1, MG2) and the GL grades are sold on bulk density. Buyers who sell pepper whole usually specify Tellicherry; buyers who grind it usually specify Malabar or a GL grade.

What does a GL grade mean?

GL refers to grams per litre of bulk density. 500 GL, 550 GL and 600 GL describe progressively denser, heavier pepper, which generally correlates with fuller berries and lower light-berry content.

Is piperine content specified?

Yes. Piperine is a standard parameter alongside bulk density, moisture and foreign matter, and it is reported on the Certificate of Analysis.

Black Pepper exporter and supplier from India

Indian black pepper is graded two ways: by screen size for the Tellicherry grades, and by bulk density for the Malabar Garbled and GL grades. Buyers choose between them depending on whether pepper is sold on appearance or ground into a blend. Allvora supplies whole pepper across both grading systems, with density, moisture and piperine confirmed before shipment.

Whole black peppercorns shown close, filling the frame, with their wrinkled surface visible.

7 black pepper varieties and grades.

Black Pepper varieties, grades, buyer specifications and available forms
Variety	Grade / Type	Key buyer specifications	Available forms
TGSEB	Tellicherry Special Extra Bold	4.75 mm+ · high density · moisture ≤11% · piperine · foreign matter	Whole
TGEB	Tellicherry Extra Bold	4.25 mm+ · bulk density · moisture · piperine	Whole
MG1	Malabar Garbled Grade 1	Berry size · bulk density · moisture · light berries · piperine	Whole
MG2	Malabar Garbled Grade 2	Density · moisture · foreign matter · piperine	Whole
500 GL	Commercial	Bulk density ~500 g/L · moisture · berry size	Whole
550 GL	Premium commercial	Bulk density ~550 g/L · moisture · piperine	Whole
600 GL	Premium	Bulk density ~600 g/L · moisture · piperine · purity	Whole

COA available on request · Specifications confirmed before shipment

Specifications by variety.

Each variety page carries its full specification list, available forms and the documentation supplied with a shipment.

TGSEB
Tellicherry Special Extra Bold
Key buyer specifications
4.75 mm+
high density
moisture ≤11%
- Whole
TGEB
Tellicherry Extra Bold
Key buyer specifications
4.25 mm+
bulk density
moisture
- Whole
MG1
Malabar Garbled Grade 1
Key buyer specifications
Berry size
bulk density
moisture
- Whole

Black Pepper questions

Request a black pepper quote.

Send your variety, grade, volume, packaging and destination. We respond within 24 hours.

Request a quote Contact us

Response within 24 hours · COA with every shipment