"Oregano" on a quote tells you almost nothing. The price you compare is only meaningful once you have pinned the specification. Here is the checklist professional buyers use.
The criteria that move quality
- Carvacrol / essential oil — the headline aroma metric; Aegean Turkish oregano typically runs 2.5–4.0%.
- Moisture — ≤12% for export grade; higher risks mould and aroma loss.
- Cut size & uniformity — rubbed, cut, or ground, sieved to a consistent particle size.
- Leaf-to-stalk ratio — more leaf, more aroma per kilogram, cleaner appearance.
- Foreign matter — extraneous plant and inorganic matter, tightest on Extra Class (≤0.1%).
- Colour & aroma — bright green, pungent, free of mustiness.
- Microbiology — total plate count, yeast/mould, and pathogen testing where your market requires it; steam-treated options on request.
Match the grade to the channel
A retail packer paying Extra Class prices for Class II fill is overpaying; a seasoning manufacturer buying Extra Class for a grinder is also overpaying. Decide the channel first, then specify. See the grade comparison table.
Always quote against a COA
We do not publish one fixed number because oil and colour shift by crop year and origin. Every shipment ships against a Certificate of Analysis. Put the specs that matter to you in the RFQ and we will quote to them. Request a quote.