Type and origin
- Kabuli chickpeas: larger, cream-coloured, the usual type in Europe.
- Desi chickpeas: smaller and darker, used mainly for splitting and flour.
- Traditional Spanish varieties exist, such as Blanco Lechoso or Pedrosillano, alongside imported origins.
Specification to agree
Ask for a sample and a recent analysis; for larger lots, consider an independent inspection at loading.
- Calibre (size, usually expressed in millimetres or count per ounce).
- Moisture content and foreign matter.
- Damaged, broken and discoloured grains.
- Crop year, and whether the goods are machine-cleaned and sorted.
Packaging
- Bulk in containers with liners.
- Big bags.
- Bags of 25 or 50 kg, or retail packs for private label.
Documents
- Phytosanitary certificate where required by the destination.
- Certificate of origin.
- Certificate of analysis, including pesticide residues and mycotoxins where your market requires it.
- Fumigation certificate if required.
Incoterms and payment
Offers are usually EXW, FCA, FOB or CFR/CIF. Payment is agreed upfront or by letter of credit, and the goods ship directly from the supplier to you.
Cooking quality
For canners and packers, cooking quality matters as much as appearance: how evenly the chickpeas hydrate and soften, and how many split or remain hard. Crop year, storage and variety all play a part. If cooking quality is critical, ask for a sample to test in your own process before agreeing the contract.
Storage and shelf life
Dry chickpeas keep well when stored cool and dry and protected from pests. Older crops can take longer to cook. Agree the crop year in the contract, and inspect the goods on arrival for moisture, insects and damage.
Organic and certified chickpeas
Organic chickpeas must come from certified producers, and the certificate should cover the product and the operator selling it. Ask for the certificate and, for imports into the EU, the documents required under the organic import rules.
Sorting and cleaning
Cleaning and sorting remove dust, stones, foreign seeds and damaged grains. Optical sorting can improve uniformity of colour. The level of cleaning affects the price, so state what you need: goods for further processing can accept a different level than ready-to-pack retail chickpeas.
Retail and private label packs
Some packers supply chickpeas in retail packs under your own label. In that case, agree the pack size, film, carton and labelling as well as the product specification, and check the food labelling rules in your market.
Comparing offers
Compare chickpeas of the same type, calibre, crop year, cleaning level and packaging, under the same Incoterm. Small differences in calibre or cleaning can explain large price differences, so ask suppliers to quote against the same specification.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting chickpeas without stating calibre.
- Ignoring the crop year, which affects cooking quality.
- Overlooking phytosanitary requirements at destination.
- Comparing offers with different Incoterms.
Checklist before you order
- Type, calibre and crop year specified.
- Moisture, foreign matter and defect limits agreed.
- Packaging and labelling confirmed.
- Phytosanitary and origin documents planned.
- Incoterm, payment terms and inspection option in writing.
How Kestrade helps
We look for producers and traders that meet your calibre, quality and volume, check their documents, and present one clear offer. Samples and inspection can be arranged.