Spice contracts are short documents that hide a lot of judgement. If you buy on price alone you will get exactly the quality the specification permits – which is rarely the quality you pictured.
ASTA colour value
For chilli, ASTA colour is the number that governs appearance in the finished product. Byadgi typically runs 75 to 120 ASTA, Teja rather lower but far higher in pungency. If your product is a colour extract, specify ASTA and hold the supplier to it; if it is a hot sauce, Scoville matters more.
Purity percentages are not all the same
Cumin sold as “99%” and cumin sold as “99.5%” differ by half a percent of admixture on paper. In practice the second has been through an extra gravity pass and looks visibly cleaner. For retail packing the difference is worth paying for; for grinding it may not be.
Moisture, and why it is a price term
Moisture is both a quality and a commercial issue – you pay for water, and water invites mould. Specify a maximum, and specify that it is measured at loading rather than at the seller’s convenience.
Steam sterilisation
EU and US buyers increasingly require steam sterilisation for microbial reduction. It must be declared before purchase because it changes both the cost and the lead time.
A good supplier will talk you through these lines rather than simply accepting whatever you send. If they do not ask questions about your end use, they are quoting a commodity, not supplying a product.