How to Spot Pure Chilli Powder in 30 Seconds

🧪 Easy Quality Test (You Can Try This at Home)

You can check if your chilli powder is natural or artificially colored in just a few seconds:

  1. Take a glass of room-temperature water.
  2. Gently sprinkle one teaspoon of chilli powder on top.
  3. Watch how it behaves:
  • âś… Natural Powder:
    • Floats and settles slowly
    • Water changes color gradually
  • ❌ Added Color:
    • Dissolves quickly
    • Creates bright, red streaks in the water, like ink

Note: If you are testing a masala chilli powder, a slight yellow tint is normal because it may contain turmeric.

⚠️ A Helpful Reality Check

Chillies that produce strong natural color—like Byadagi, Kashmiri —are usually more expensive.
So if you see chilli powder that is very bright red and unusually cheap, it may not be pure. Some low-cost powders use added color to look like premium varieties.