Frequently asked
What is the difference between basil seeds, sabja, tukmaria, and falooda seeds?
All the same thing. Basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum) is the botanical/English name. Sabja seeds is the Hindi/Urdu name. Tukmaria is another Hindi/Urdu name (commonly used in Pakistan). Falooda seeds refers to the application — the seeds used in falooda (a sweet beverage popular across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, MENA). All names refer to Ocimum basilicum seeds — small black seeds that swell to ~10× volume in water and develop a gelatinous coating.
Is basil seed Halal?
Yes — auto-Halal. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a plant, not an animal-derived product, so there are no Halal-doubt concerns at the product level. Halal certification verifies the supply chain is processed without contamination by non-Halal product. Pakistan's Halal-by-default supply chain matches GCC/Indonesia/Malaysia expectations.
What are typical specifications?
Purity ≥ 99%, moisture ≤ 9%, foreign matter ≤ 1%, color: black with slight grey-brown variation, swelling capacity: ≥ 10× volume in 30 minutes (this is the functional spec — buyers test this in-house), broken seeds ≤ 2%. Lab COA per shipment includes microbial limits and heavy metals.
Who buys basil seeds from you?
(1) Beverage industry — falooda/sabja drink manufacturers across MENA (UAE, Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon), South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand). Massive category. (2) Premium retail — health-food retail selling basil seeds as 'chia seed alternative' (similar omega-3, fiber, lower price). (3) Nutraceutical — fiber + omega-3 supplements; basil seeds are 60-65% fiber, 15-20% protein. (4) Food fortification — bars, snacks, smoothie mixes, breakfast cereals.
Where does your basil come from?
Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. Punjab basil (Multan, Bahawalpur districts) is the larger commercial supply. Sindh basil (Sukkur, Khairpur) is regional. Both produce comparable quality (purity ≥ 99% sortex-cleaned). Harvest is twice yearly: April-May (winter sowing) and Sept-Oct (summer sowing).
Are basil seeds the same as chia seeds?
No — different plants but similar functional behavior. Basil (Ocimum basilicum): black, smaller, swells in water to ~10× volume. Chia (Salvia hispanica): grey-black with white-edge, slightly larger, swells to ~12-14× volume. Both have similar nutritional profiles (high fiber, omega-3, protein), both develop gelatinous coating in water. Basil is significantly cheaper per kg, making it a popular substitute in cost-sensitive applications. Pakistan + India produce most global basil; Mexico + Bolivia produce most chia.
What is the MOQ?
1 MT for first orders. Standard FCL 22-24 MT (20ft) — basil seeds pack densely. 25kg or 50kg PP woven bag with LDPE liner. For mixed-product container loads we accept 200 kg minimum per SKU.
Do you supply for falooda manufacturers in MENA?
Yes — major UAE, Saudi, Egypt, Lebanon falooda/sabja-drink manufacturers source from us. Falooda (Persian-origin sweet drink with sabja seeds, vermicelli, milk, syrup) is consumed during Ramadan and summer months especially. Standard format: 25kg PP bag for industrial; private-label retail pouches (50g/100g) for South Asian diaspora retail in GCC. Demand spike during Ramadan (4-6 weeks before) requires forward planning.
How long does shipping take?
Karachi → UAE 3-5 days, Saudi Jeddah 5-7 days, Bangladesh Chittagong 7-10 days, Indonesia 14-18 days, USA East Coast 28-35 days. Add 2-4 days documentation.
Can you supply basil seed oil?
Yes — sweet basil essential oil (steam-distilled from basil leaves, not seeds) is available through partner distillers. Linalool 30-45%, methyl chavicol 8-25%. 5-50 kg drums, food-grade or perfumery-grade. Note: this is leaf-extracted oil, not seed-extracted; basil seeds themselves are not cold-pressed for oil at commercial scale.
Do you supply organic-certified basil?
USDA Organic and EU Organic certified basil is limited but available through partner farms with standing organic certification. ~30-50% premium over conventional. Conventional Pakistani basil is the larger commercial supply; we recommend conventional + pesticide-residue testing as the cost-effective alternative for most buyers.
Can you private-label retail SKUs?
Yes — 25g/50g/100g pouches for retail health-food category, 250g/500g pouches for bulk-economy retail. Lead time 14-21 days for retail-pack production from artwork approval. We coordinate with your design team and print at our Hyderabad facility. Common retail formats: zip-lock pouch, PET shaker jar, glass jar with cork.