Buyer guide · 7 min read
How to Choose a Dehydrated Onion and Garlic Supplier in India: A 10-Point Checklist
By Shantanu Gawli, Mireva Foods ·
India is a leading producer of onion and garlic, and many exporters sell dehydrated onion and garlic online. Quality and reliability vary widely between them. This checklist covers what experienced importers verify before placing a first order, from government registrations to the documents that should arrive with every container.
1. Verify the export registrations
A genuine Indian food exporter holds these registrations, and each one can be checked on an official government portal.
| Registration | Issued by | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| IEC (Importer Exporter Code) | DGFT, Government of India | The company is allowed to export |
| FSSAI licence | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | The business is licensed to handle food |
| APEDA RCMC | Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority | Registered exporter of scheduled agri-food products |
| GST registration | Goods and Services Tax Network | A registered, tax-compliant Indian business |
2. Ask for a written specification sheet
The supplier should send a product specification with numbers, not adjectives: moisture, mesh or cut size, ash, colour and microbiology. "Premium quality" is not a specification.
3. Test a representative sample
Test the sample in your own lab or production line. Ask whether it comes from current production, so it reflects what you will actually receive.
4. Confirm a COA comes with every batch
A Certificate of Analysis should report each parameter in your specification, for the actual batch shipped, before the goods leave India.
5. Start with a trial order
A trial order of a few hundred kilograms lets you qualify the product in your plant before committing to full containers. Suppliers who refuse small first orders give you no low-risk way to test them.
6. Check packing and labelling
Dehydrated powders need a food-grade inner liner. Agree bag size, labelling, pallet type and whether the container is palletised or floor-loaded.
7. Agree the Incoterm and loading port
FOB, CFR and CIF are the most common terms. For western India, goods usually load at Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mumbai. Make sure the quote states which term it uses.
8. Confirm the export documents
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of Analysis
- Certificate of Origin
- Phytosanitary certificate where required
9. Agree payment terms that protect both sides
Common options are an advance against proforma invoice, a part advance with the balance against documents, or a letter of credit for larger orders. Be cautious of a new supplier asking for 100% advance into a personal bank account.
10. Judge the communication
A reliable supplier answers technical questions clearly, gives a realistic lead time and tells you before shipping if a batch is outside specification. Slow or vague answers before an order rarely improve after payment.
Red flags to watch for
- Prices far below the market for the same grade
- No registrations, or numbers that do not match the company name on official portals
- Refusal to send a sample or a COA
- Payment requested to an account in a different name from the exporter
Mireva Foods is a brand of Exim2Globe, Nashik, and holds IEC, APEDA, FSSAI, MSME and GST registrations. The registration numbers are listed on our About page, and we send copies on request before you order.