What microbial specifications apply to thyme used in food production under EU law?

EU Regulation 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs sets the framework. For dried herbs and spices used in ready-to-eat or further-processed applications, the critical criteria include Salmonella spp. absent in 25 g (tested per ISO 6579-1), E. coli limits, and Listeria monocytogenes absent in 25 g where applicable. Suppliers should also provide aerobic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, and moulds data on the CoA. TANDOR issues a full microbial panel CoA for every batch.

What Brix level should food-grade thyme concentrate carry for beverage applications?

Thyme concentrate for beverage use is typically supplied at 30–65 °Brix, measured by refractometry in line with AOAC method 932.12 or an equivalent calibrated method. The appropriate Brix range depends on your formulation — higher Brix reduces water activity and extends ambient shelf life, while lower Brix grades are easier to disperse in cold-process beverages. TANDOR can confirm the Brix specification on the CoA and, where required, target a customer-specified range at production.

Is EU-Organic certified thyme available, and what documentation comes with it?

Yes. EU-Organic thyme certified under Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is available through TANDOR. Each certified lot is accompanied by a transaction certificate (TC) issued by an accredited control body, the supplier's valid operator certificate, and full traceability documentation. Note that organic certification confirms production and handling method; the batch still receives the standard contaminant and microbiological panel to confirm food-grade compliance.

What is the minimum order quantity for dried thyme and IQF thyme for a food manufacturer?

For dried cut-and-sifted thyme, stock grades are typically available from 100–500 kg; custom-specification or milled grades generally start at 1 MT. For IQF thyme, the practical minimum is around 1 MT per order, subject to seasonal availability — the main European harvest runs May to July, so advance planning with your sourcing partner is essential to secure IQF supply outside that window. TANDOR can advise on current stock positions and lead times for your required form and origin.

Thyme Supply for Food & Beverage Producers

Sourcing Thyme for Food & Beverage: Forms, Specs & Compliance

For food and beverage producers, the procurement decision begins with product form, because each form carries a different specification envelope, shelf life, and processing suitability. TANDOR sources all three primary forms across multiple EU and Mediterranean origins, with batch-level Certificates of Analysis (CoA) issued for every shipment.

Product Forms & When to Use Each

Dried Cut-and-Sifted (C/S) Thyme

The most widely used form for dry rubs, seasoning blends, infusions, soups, and sauces. Typical commercial spec:

Moisture: ≤ 12% (ISO 939)
Volatile / essential oil content: ≥ 12 ml/kg on dry basis (aligned with European Pharmacopoeia monograph for Thymus vulgaris)
Sieve cut: commonly 1.0–3.15 mm for standard C/S; powder grades (< 500 µm) for encapsulation or direct dosing
Foreign matter: ≤ 2% (stems, extraneous vegetable matter)
Ash / acid-insoluble ash: per ISO 930, used to detect soil or mineral adulteration

IQF (Individually Quick-Frozen) Thyme

Preferred by food manufacturers requiring fresh-flavour profile, minimal Maillard browning, and clean-label positioning. IQF whole sprigs or chopped leaves are harvested at peak volatile oil concentration and blast-frozen within hours. Key food-grade parameters:

Core temperature on delivery: ≤ −18 °C (maintained under EU cold-chain rules)
Colour score / chlorophyll retention: typically assessed by CIE L*a*b* against agreed reference standard
Extraneous matter: zero tolerance for foreign bodies above 2 mm under retailer and processor codes of practice
Microbial spec: must meet the process hygiene criteria of EU Regulation 2073/2005 (as amended); for frozen herbs, E. coli < 100 CFU/g is standard at production, with Salmonella spp. absent in 25 g by ISO 6579-1

Liquid Concentrate / Extract

Used in beverage applications (functional drinks, herbal RTDs, spirits flavouring) and liquid seasoning. Critical specs:

Brix: typically 30–65 °Brix depending on application; confirmed by refractometry (AOAC 932.12 or equivalent)
Thymol + Carvacrol content: quantified by GC-FID or GC-MS; a combined thymol/carvacrol figure of ≥ 40% of total volatile fraction is common for "thyme-type" concentrates
pH and water activity (aW): critical for microbial stability; aW typically < 0.85 for ambient-stable concentrates
Clarity / turbidity: agreed NTU range per customer SLA; centrifuged or filtered grades available

Microbial & Contaminant Compliance

All TANDOR-sourced thyme lots are tested to a full food-grade panel before export:

Microbiology (per EU Reg. 2073/2005): Total aerobic count, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, yeasts & moulds
Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin B1/B2/G1/G2 and Ochratoxin A per EU Regulation 1881/2006 maximum levels; tested by HPLC or ELISA
Pesticide residues: Screened against the EU MRL database (Regulation EC 396/2005) via GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS multi-residue panel
Heavy metals: Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic per EC 1881/2006 limits for herbs and spices
Allergen status: Thyme is inherently allergen-free under EU Regulation 1169/2011 Annex II; CoA confirms no cross-contamination with the 14 major allergens during processing and packing
Irradiation status: Stated on documentation per EU Directive 1999/2/EC; non-irradiated grades available and confirmed by photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL) where required

EU-Organic Certification

For producers targeting organic or clean-label product lines, TANDOR can source thyme certified under EU-Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848, which replaced the previous Regulation 834/2007 from January 2022. Certified material is accompanied by:

Transaction certificate (TC) from an accredited control body (e.g. ECOCERT, Soil Association, or Romanian-accredited bodies)
Confirmation of the operator certificate of the producing farm or processing facility
Traceability to field level on request

Important: EU-Organic certification governs production and handling method, not automatically the microbiological or pesticide specification — organic lots still receive the full contaminant panel described above.

Origins, MOQ & Supply Realities

Commercial thyme production for the EU food industry is concentrated in Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and the Balkans (including Romania and Bulgaria). Each origin presents different quality profiles:

Spanish and Turkish dried thyme typically carries the highest essential oil content and is most widely traded for flavour applications
Moroccan origin is common for volume dried grades; pesticide residue history requires robust pre-shipment testing
Romanian/Balkan origin offers shorter logistics lead times into the EU and increasingly competitive EU-Organic certified supply

Practical MOQ guidance:

Dried C/S: typically 100–500 kg for stock grades, 1 MT+ for custom-spec or milled grades
IQF: typically 1 MT+ per order, subject to seasonal harvest windows (main harvest: May–July)
Concentrate: typically 50–200 kg for small-batch beverage producers, 500 kg+ for industrial scale

Lead times vary by form and origin: dried herb from stock can ship within 2–3 weeks; IQF and concentrate from fresh harvest are seasonal and require forward planning with a sourcing partner.

Why Source Through TANDOR?

TANDOR is a Romania-based sourcing intermediary specialising in EU botanical raw materials. For food and beverage procurement teams, the practical advantages are:

Multi-origin access: We maintain relationships with vetted suppliers across Spain, Turkey, Morocco, and the Balkans, allowing origin switching when quality or supply issues arise — without the buyer needing to qualify multiple vendors independently
Batch-level CoA: Every shipment is accompanied by a full Certificate of Analysis covering the microbiological, contaminant, and identity parameters relevant to your application
EU-Organic supply chain: Certified organic lots available with full transaction certificate documentation ready for your own organic certification audit
Spec alignment: We work from your existing product specification or help you draft one aligned to EU food law before first order, reducing rejection risk
Regulatory documentation package: Country-of-origin declarations, allergen statements, irradiation status, and phytosanitary certificates prepared as standard

Thyme for Food & Beverage Producers | EU Sourcing