Frequently Asked Questions

We export Nigerian Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle, also called zobo or flor de jamaica) in four formats: Grade A sifted whole calyces for tea and beverage use; tea-bag cut (TBC) hibiscus screened to 1–4 mm or your sieve range; hibiscus flower powder milled to specification; and Grade B industrial hibiscus (unsifted or broken calyces) for extraction, concentrates and colouring. All are dried to export moisture, laboratory-tested and inspected by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).

Typical contract specifications for Nigerian hibiscus are moisture 10–12% max, admixture (stems, seeds, sand, dust) 1–2% max for Grade A, deep red to burgundy colour, no live insects and no visible mould, with total ash, acid-insoluble ash, microbiology, pesticide-residue and heavy-metal limits set to the destination market. We agree exact figures in writing per contract and confirm them by laboratory analysis before shipment. [Confirm the specification you can guarantee for each grade.]

Our standard minimum is one full 40' high-cube container, approximately 10–12 tonnes of Grade A whole flowers in 25 kg bags (hibiscus is light, so containers fill by volume long before weight). A 20' container carries roughly 5 tonnes. [Confirm your MOQ — e.g. 1 × 40' HC / 10 MT] Smaller sample lots are available by courier for evaluation.

Hibiscus prices are driven by the size of the Nigerian crop, demand from Mexico, the USA and Europe, grade, cleanliness and the time of year — they are typically lowest at the new-crop peak from November to January and rise as stocks tighten towards the next harvest. Prices are quoted in USD per metric tonne FOB Lagos or CFR/CIF your port for a stated grade. We do not publish a list price because it moves week to week; request a quotation and you will receive a written offer within two business days.

Dried hibiscus is bulky and light. A 40' high-cube container typically takes 10–12 tonnes of whole Grade A flowers in 25 kg PP bags, 11–14 tonnes of compressed Grade B bales, 12–14 tonnes of tea-bag cut and 18–20 tonnes of powder. A 20' container carries about 5 tonnes of whole flowers and is rarely economical. Exact bag count and tonnage are confirmed on the pro-forma invoice.

Roselle is planted with the rains between May and July in the northern states and harvested from around October to December, with drying and aggregation running into January. New-crop exports begin in November and run strongly through to April; stocks remain available from warehouses year-round but become tighter and more expensive from about May until the next harvest.

Yes — Mexico is the world's largest importer of Nigerian hibiscus for agua de jamaica. Following the 2017–2018 suspension over khapra beetle findings, Mexico's SENASICA re-opened the market under a strict protocol: fumigation and phytosanitary certification supervised by NAQS, pest-free inspection at loading and compliant documentation. We ship under that protocol and keep up to date with current requirements. [Confirm your Mexico shipment experience and current SENASICA/NAQS protocol steps with your agent.]

Yes. Dried hibiscus is a food product and the EU, USA (FDA) and Mexico (COFEPRIS) all apply limits for Salmonella, E. coli, yeast and mould, pesticide residues and heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. We arrange testing by an accredited laboratory for every shipment to the parameters your market requires, and can arrange steam sterilisation or irradiation at destination through partners where buyers require it. Certificates accompany the shipping documents.

Yes. We dispatch representative samples (typically 500 g – 1 kg per grade) by courier so that you can check colour, cleanliness, moisture, cup quality and run your own laboratory tests. [State your sample policy — e.g. samples free, courier at buyer's cost, credited on first order]

Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, NAQS phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, laboratory certificate of analysis, weight certificate and, where requested, a third-party inspection certificate, health certificate and NEPC/NXP export papers. Document sets for letters of credit are prepared to the credit's terms, and Mexico-bound cargo receives the additional declarations the import protocol requires.

Typical terms for new buyers are an irrevocable letter of credit at sight or a deposit with balance against shipping documents. Terms are confirmed on the pro-forma invoice. [Confirm your standard payment terms — e.g. 30% advance, 70% against copy of B/L; or 100% LC at sight]

During the season, orders of one to several containers typically ship within [e.g. 2–3 weeks] of contract confirmation and deposit/LC, subject to vessel schedules and fumigation holding time. Tea-bag cut and powder require additional processing time. A firm shipment window is stated at quotation.

Both. FOB Lagos (Apapa or Tin Can Island) is our standard basis. We also quote CFR or CIF to Veracruz, Manzanillo, Houston, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Valencia and other major destinations through our freight-forwarding partners. FCA and EXW are available for buyers who prefer their own forwarder to take control at origin.

Yes. Buyers are welcome to appoint SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Cotecna or another agency to sample, analyse, weigh and supervise container stuffing and fumigation. We coordinate scheduling and access. Inspection fees are normally for the buyer's account unless otherwise agreed.

We do not claim certifications we cannot evidence. [State any certifications you actually hold — e.g. organic (EU/NOP), HACCP, ISO 22000, kosher, halal, FDA facility registration — with certificate numbers, or remove this FAQ.]