How to check if coriander powder is pure at home

To check coriander powder at home, sprinkle a little on water: FSSAI's DART booklet says sawdust and powdered bran float, while pure spice leaves none on the surface. Then look, smell and taste, because the Indian standard requires natural colour and a characteristic flavour. These are screens only; ash, moisture and volatile oil need a laboratory.

By The MILLERS | Published 4 October 2026 | Last updated 4 October 2026 | Home tests are indicative only

Key takeaways

• FSSAI's DART booklet has a float test for sawdust and powdered bran in powdered spices, which applies to coriander [1].
• The Indian Standard for coriander powder (IS 2443:2008) requires it to be free from extraneous matter and added colours, with limits for moisture, ash and volatile oil [2].
• Common spice adulterants include brick powder, artificial colour, chalk, papaya seeds, horse manure and lead chromate [3].
• Excess starch in powdered coriander is found by microscopy, not by a kitchen test [3].
• In an eastern Indian study, lead chromate was not found being added to chilli or coriander, unlike turmeric [4].

What is coriander powder adulterated with?

Coriander powder is mild in flavour, so it is easy to dilute. A 2023 review in Food Science and Nutrition lists the most common spice adulterants as brick powder, artificial colour, chalk powder, papaya seeds, horse manure and lead chromate, and names coriander among the spices that are adulterated [3]. The same review says excess starch in powdered spices such as coriander, cumin and chilli can be detected by microscopy [3].

In practice, you are looking for two kinds of problem: light fillers that float (sawdust, bran, husk) and added colour or earthy matter that shows up on a plate or in the smell.

How do I test coriander powder at home?

Start with FSSAI's float test, then use your eyes and nose. Three quick checks together say more than any one of them [1][2].

1. Fill a clear glass with plain water.
2. Sprinkle a level teaspoon of coriander powder over the surface.
3. Look at the surface after a minute or two. Pure spice will not leave sawdust or powdered bran floating on top; if the spice is adulterated, sawdust or bran will float [1].
4. Spread a pinch on a white plate in good light. The Indian Standard says the powder must be free from dirt, mould, insect infestation and added colours that are visible to the naked eye, so look for specks, lumps or an unnaturally bright tint [2].
5. Rub a pinch between your fingers and smell it. The standard asks for a characteristic pleasant taste and flavour, free from musty odour [2]. A musty or flat smell is a reason to doubt the packet.

What does the Indian Standard say pure coriander powder should be?

IS 2443:2008 sets numeric limits that only a laboratory can check, and the table shows which parts you can screen at home [2].

The numbers in the table are as printed in the 2008 edition of the standard, which is the version we read. Regulations are updated, so check the current FSSAI notification before quoting a limit in a dispute.

Is lead chromate a worry in coriander powder?

Not on the evidence of one large Indian study, though shared machinery is a caution. Researchers collected 80 chilli and coriander samples alongside 503 turmeric samples in eastern India; only one chilli and four coriander samples had detectable lead, and the authors did not find evidence of lead chromate being added to chilli or coriander [4]. They noted that grinding equipment is shared between spices, so cross-contamination from turmeric residue is possible [4].

That is one reason we keep our turmeric guidance separate: see how to check if turmeric powder is pure.

How do we handle coriander at our counter?

Our Green Premium Coriander Powder page says whole seed is cleaned, stone-sorted and milled at the counter, with nothing added back, and that the Brown Coriander Powder is also milled to order from whole seed. Whole seed is easier to judge than powder: you can see its colour, size and smell before it is ground, which is the simplest defence against filler.

Our lab reports page shows a coriander tile, but at the time of writing its Google Drive link asks visitors to sign in, so we do not point you to it here.

What are the limits of these tests?

• FSSAI says DART is meant to create awareness among consumers about adulteration, not for any other purpose [1].
• A float test finds light fillers. It does not find starch, chalk or dissolved colour reliably.
• Smell is subjective and fades with storage; an old but unadulterated powder can smell flat. See why freshly milled spices smell stronger.
• Ash, moisture and volatile oil need laboratory equipment [2].

Where to buy coriander powder you can check

Try the float test on our Brown Coriander Powder and Green Premium Coriander Powder next to your current packet. Both are milled to order from whole seed. For the other two big powders, read our guide to spotting adulterated chilli, turmeric and coriander, and see how our coriander goes into homemade sambar powder.

Frequently asked questions

Does coriander powder float or sink in water?

Pure coriander powder should not leave sawdust or powdered bran floating on the surface. FSSAI's DART booklet says that if spices are adulterated, sawdust or powdered bran will float. A little powder may sit briefly on top because it is fine and dry, so judge by what stays afloat after a minute or two [1].

Can I use iodine to test coriander powder for starch?

We do not recommend it as a home test. FSSAI's DART booklet uses iodine for starch in milk, ghee and asafoetida, not coriander, and the review we cite says excess starch in powdered coriander is found by microscopy [3]. If starch is a concern, ask for a laboratory report.

What does pure coriander powder smell like?

The Indian Standard IS 2443:2008 asks for a characteristic pleasant taste and flavour and no musty odour [2]. Fresh powder smells sweet and citrusy. A flat, dusty or musty smell can mean old stock, filler or poor storage, though smell alone cannot prove which.

Is dung powder really added to coriander powder?

A published review lists horse manure among common spice adulterants [3]. DART's float test covers sawdust and powdered bran, not dung specifically [1], and we found no regulator statistic on how often it occurs in coriander, so we quote none. Buying whole seed removes the question.

Is a very brightly coloured coriander powder pure?

Not necessarily. IS 2443:2008 says whole coriander has a natural colour that ranges from yellowish brown to grey, and that the powder must be free from added colours [2]. An unusually bright or uniform tint is a reason to look closer, but only a laboratory can identify an added colour.

Sources

1. FSSAI. DART: Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test (household test booklet, test 35 on sawdust and powdered bran, and scope note). fssai.gov.in
2. Bureau of Indian Standards. IS 2443:2008, Spices and Condiments - Coriander, Whole and Ground - Specification (third revision), 2008. law.resource.org
3. Selected food items adulteration, their impacts on public health, and detection methods: A review. Food Science and Nutrition, 2023. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10724644
4. Forsyth J. E. et al. Systemic drivers of toxic food adulteration: lead chromate in turmeric across eastern India. npj Science of Food, 2026. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13357593

Home tests are indicative only; a laboratory test is needed for a definitive result.