Bay leaf grades describe how dried leaves are sorted and cleaned before packing. This guide explains the seven quality names AgroHoby uses for Turkish bay leaves and the four points AgroHoby uses when it grades. Numeric limits are left out on purpose, because they are agreed between buyer and supplier for each order.

What are bay leaf grades?

A bay leaf grade is a trade name for a lot of dried leaves that has been sorted and cleaned to an agreed level. Grades let buyers compare offers and match the leaf to a use. The exact meaning of a name is set between buyer and seller, so ask for a product data sheet before you order.

A grade name is a trade term that both sides agree on.
CBI advises exporters to ask their buyer for a product data sheet so they can learn about the product requirements.
The same words can be used slightly differently from one supplier to the next, so confirm the meaning first.

What do graders look at when they grade bay leaves?

AgroHoby looks at four things when it grades Turkish bay leaves: leaf size, colour uniformity, cleanliness and aroma. The level you accept for each one depends on your use, so write the figures you need into the specification before the order is confirmed.

Size: how large and how even the leaves in a lot are.
Colour uniformity: how consistent the green colour is across the lot.
Cleanliness: how free the lot is from stems, dust and other foreign matter.
Aroma: the strength and character of the smell when a leaf is crushed.

Which quality names does AgroHoby supply?

AgroHoby supplies Turkish bay leaves under seven quality names: Hand Selected, Semi-Selected, Fair Average Quality, Hand Semi-Selected, Standard Selected, Cut and Cleaned and Fine Powder. The table gives one defining sentence where one exists. For the other names, the export team gives details on request.

Quality name	What it is	Common use
Hand Selected	Whole dried leaves that are selected by hand.	Whole dried leaves flavour soups, stews, meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
Semi-Selected	Whole dried leaves, offered in carton box and in pressed bale packing.	Whole dried leaves flavour soups, stews, meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
Fair Average Quality	One of our quality names. Details on request.	Ask the export team.
Hand Semi-Selected	One of our quality names. Details on request.	Ask the export team.
Standard Selected	One of our quality names. Details on request.	Ask the export team.
Cut and Cleaned	The processed form of the leaf, cut and cleaned.	Ask the export team.
Fine Powder	The ground form of the leaf.	Ask the export team.

What does Fair Average Quality mean?

The meaning varies by product, so confirm what FAQ covers for bay leaves. AgroHoby gives details of its Fair Average Quality name on request.

Ask which size, colour and cleanliness range the grade covers.
Ask for a sample of the grade before you place a large order.
Write the agreed range into the order confirmation.

How does AgroHoby select and clean its leaves?

AgroHoby selects the leaves by hand, cleans them and then grades them. Hand selected grades are sorted by hand, and machine cleaned grades are cleaned by machine. The company handles selection, cleaning and grading in its own process and carries out in-house quality control. More detail is on our quality control page.

Selection by hand.
Cleaning by hand or by machine, depending on the grade.
Grading by size, colour uniformity, cleanliness and aroma.

How do I choose a grade and ask for a quote?

Start with how you plan to use the leaves, then tell us the grade, packaging and quantity you need. Packaging options are 5 kg and 10 kg cartons and 25 kg and 50 kg bulk, with custom packaging on request. You can also ask for a sample by grade before you order.

Send the grade, packaging, quantity and destination country through our request a quote form for Turkish bay leaves.
Ask for a sample of a grade with the sample request form.
Read common buyer questions in our FAQ about Turkish bay leaves.
See the full range on the Turkish bay leaves page.
Next, read which bay leaf specifications buyers should request and how bay leaves are harvested and dried.

More buyer guides are listed on our resources page.

Sources

Last updated: October 2026