Teja S17 Chilli — World's Most Exported Indian Red Pepper

What is Teja S17 Chilli?

Teja S17 is a variety of Capsicum annuum developed and released by the Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation in 1991. It was bred specifically for high pungency and strong market yield — traits that made it an instant success among farmers in the Guntur and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh. Within a decade of its release, Teja S17 had displaced many older varieties to become the dominant chilli grown across the Guntur chilli belt.

The variety is characterized by its elongated pod shape (typically 8–12 cm in length), deep red wrinkled skin, and exceptionally high capsaicin content. The distinctive wrinkled texture is a visual marker of maturity and proper drying, and experienced importers worldwide recognize Teja chillies by this appearance alone. The pungency range of 50,000–100,000 SHU places it firmly in the "very hot" category on the Scoville scale — making it significantly hotter than common jalapeño peppers (2,500–8,000 SHU) and approaching cayenne pepper levels.

What sets Teja S17 apart commercially is the combination of heat intensity and supply reliability. The Guntur APMC market handles hundreds of thousands of bags of Teja chilli during peak season (January–April), ensuring consistent availability even for large container order quantities. The variety's high oil content and capsaicin density also make it excellent for oleoresin extraction — the process of creating standardized capsaicin-based food additives used in the global processed food industry.

Teja S17 is typically sun-dried after harvest, which concentrates the capsaicin while preserving the natural red color. Properly dried Teja chillies have moisture content below 12%, which inhibits mold growth and extends shelf life significantly. Our processing unit further cleans, sorts, and optionally de-stems the chillies before packing — ensuring the product arriving at the buyer's facility meets the exact specifications agreed upon in the purchase order.

Why Import Teja S17 from Gaman Impex?

Gaman Impex combines direct farmer and market access with modern processing infrastructure to deliver consistently high-quality Teja S17 chillies. Our team is present at the Guntur APMC yard during the procurement season, personally inspecting and selecting lots that meet our quality benchmarks before purchase. This hands-on sourcing approach means we can guarantee color uniformity, moisture levels, and pungency consistency that general traders cannot offer.

Our processing facility is equipped with modern cleaning machines that remove dust, broken pods, stems, and foreign matter. After machine cleaning, the chillies undergo manual inspection — an additional quality check that ensures only export-grade pods make it into the final shipment. Each batch is sampled and sent for laboratory analysis at NABL-accredited labs before dispatch, with the COA sent to the buyer electronically in advance of shipment.

Documentation support is a key differentiator. We handle all export documentation including phytosanitary certificates, fumigation certificates, country of origin certificates, APEDA registration certificates, and customs filing. This reduces the administrative burden on importers and ensures smooth customs clearance at destination ports. For buyers importing into the EU, we can provide specific pesticide residue test reports aligned with EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 requirements.

Teja S17 Export Markets

Teja S17 is the most globally traded Indian chilli variety, with demand concentrated in Southeast Asia and extending to South America and the Middle East.

Vietnam: The single largest importer of Teja S17 globally. Vietnamese food manufacturers use Teja chilli as a primary ingredient in chilli sauce, chilli oil, and spice powders destined for both domestic consumption and re-export. The high pungency of Teja is particularly valued in Vietnamese cuisine for the concentrated heat it provides.

China: China imports substantial quantities of Teja S17 for Sichuan and Hunan-style cooking preparations, as well as for the industrial capsaicin extraction sector. Chinese buyers typically require whole chillies in large container loads.

Thailand: Thai food processors import Teja S17 for blended chilli paste and sauce production. The variety's high oil content makes it ideal for Thai-style chilli oil and dried chilli flakes.

Malaysia: Malaysian food manufacturers use Teja S17 in curry paste formulations and retail chilli products. The variety is prized for delivering consistent heat levels in standardized food products.

Teja S17 vs Other Guntur Varieties