Sourcing · Black Pepper
Sri Lankan black pepper, sourced direct from origin.
Sri Lankan black pepper (Piper nigrum) carries a sharper, more aromatic profile than the Vietnam-origin commodity pepper that dominates UK supply. We supply UK trade buyers with whole peppercorns and freshly milled ground pepper, accountable from named Sri Lankan suppliers through to UK arrival.
Sources: Sri Lanka Export Development Board · CBI Pepper Market Potential 2024
Sri Lankan Pepper Exports
~$87M
annual export value, premium per kg vs Vietnam commodity
UK Pepper Imports
+7%
annual growth rate, food service driving demand
UK Ground vs Whole
2/3
of UK pepper imports are ground — unusual in Europe
UK Import Duty
0%
Sri Lanka under UK DCTS Enhanced Preferences
Why Sri Lankan Pepper
Pepper with character — not commodity.
Vietnam supplies roughly 66% of UK pepper imports. Vietnam pepper is fine — it's the workhorse — but it's a commodity. Sri Lankan pepper carries a sharper, more aromatic profile, with stronger volatile oil content and a brighter, more complex finish. It commands a real premium per kg in trade.
For UK food service operators where pepper is a visible flavour driver — steak-houses, sauce-makers, prepared-food brands — origin-specific pepper at consistent quality is a real differentiator. We're also one of the few UK suppliers offering Sri Lankan ground pepper at scale, which matters because the UK is unusual in Europe: two-thirds of UK pepper imports are already ground, vs ~10% in Germany.
Quality controls we operate
- Salmonella testing on every batch (post-Brazil contamination precedent)
- Aflatoxin testing in line with UK FSA expectations
- Moisture content check on arrival to prevent pickup and pest issues
- Adulteration screening for ground pepper (papaya seed, chilli)
Procurement teams can request our current quality position at the point of trade application.
Formats Available
Sri Lankan Black Pepper formats for UK trade.
Retail-ready packs and food-service formats. MOQ details on the MOQ & pack sizes page — exact pricing confirmed at trade-account application.
Whole Peppercorns
- Specification
- Black peppercorns, retail and food-service formats
- Minimum Order
- From 1 case · 1 kg foodservice
- HS Code
- 090411
Ground / Crushed
- Specification
- Freshly milled from whole peppercorns
- Minimum Order
- From 1 case · 1 kg foodservice
- HS Code
- 090412
Procurement Context
Trade reference data for procurement teams.
The supply-chain detail UK procurement and food-safety teams typically need before opening a supplier account.
- Botanical name
- Piper nigrum (Sri Lankan)
- Origin region
- Sri Lanka — Matale, Kandy, Kegalle hill districts
- Harvest season
- December–March
- HS code
- 0904.11 (whole), 0904.12 (ground)
- UK duty (DCTS)
- 0% — Sri Lanka qualifies for UK DCTS Enhanced Preferences
- UK VAT
- Zero-rated as food
- Shelf life
- 36 months (whole) · 12 months (ground)
- Storage
- Cool, dry, airtight; light-protected for ground
Apply for sri lankan black pepper trade supply.
Apply for a trade account and we'll confirm pricing, MOQ and pack formats for your business within one business day.