Thymoquinone test, 2026 harvest
Thymoquinone is the compound everyone in this industry advertises, so it's the one we test on every harvest. This year's oil was tested by Eurofins using two different methods. 3.02% by HPLC and 2.99% by NMR.
What the tasting panel said
Three trained judges at Eurofins tasted and assessed the oil. They found it dark olive-green and cloudy, which comes from leaving it unfiltered. They described the smell as "characteristic, ethereal", a technical term for the sharp, spicy, herbal aroma of the seed's essential oils, a bit like thyme or oregano. The taste they called "characteristic, ethereal, distinct bitter and astringent": true to real black seed oil, with the same spicy aromatic notes, the clear bitterness of the raw seed that refining would smooth away, and that drying, gripping feel you get from strong black tea or walnut skins.
Pesticide residue screen
Before our first shipment left Ethiopia, a sample of the seed was tested at Bless Agri Food Laboratory in Addis Ababa. The screen covered 34 common pesticides, including DDT, malathion and dimethoate. We've blacked out our supplier's details to protect a confidential relationship; the lab, report number, dates and results are left visible so you can verify it.
The result
Every one of the 34 came back below the lab's reporting limit. For most compounds that limit is 0.10 mg/kg, and for a few it's lower. It shows that this sample of seed had none of these 34 compounds above the lab's reporting limits. It was run on the seed rather than the pressed oil, and the sample was taken before export, so it covers early 2026 harvest.
Aflatoxin test, Spanish border
Aflatoxins are toxins made by moulds that can grow on stored seeds and spices, so they're one of the main safety checks on imported seed. When our first shipment arrived in Spain, border officials took an official sample and sent it to Eurofins in Murcia. All four aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) came back below 0.5 µg/kg each, and the total below 2.0 µg/kg. This test is covered by Eurofins' ENAC accreditation. Report AR-26-XU-066218-01, dated 1 April 2026. This report is addressed to our customs agent, who handled the border clearance and official sampling on our behalf. Their details are blacked out at their request; the lab, report number, dates and results are left visible so you can verify it.
Thymoquinone test, 2026 harvest
Thymoquinone is the compound everyone in this industry advertises, so it's the one we test on every harvest. This year's oil was tested by Eurofins using two different methods. 3.02% by HPLC and 2.99% by NMR.
What the tasting panel said
Three trained judges at Eurofins tasted and assessed the oil. They found it dark olive-green and cloudy, which comes from leaving it unfiltered. They described the smell as "characteristic, ethereal", a technical term for the sharp, spicy, herbal aroma of the seed's essential oils, a bit like thyme or oregano. The taste they called "characteristic, ethereal, distinct bitter and astringent": true to real black seed oil, with the same spicy aromatic notes, the clear bitterness of the raw seed that refining would smooth away, and that drying, gripping feel you get from strong black tea or walnut skins.
Pesticide residue screen
Before our first shipment left Ethiopia, a sample of the seed was tested at Bless Agri Food Laboratory in Addis Ababa. The screen covered 34 common pesticides, including DDT, malathion and dimethoate. We've blacked out our supplier's details to protect a confidential relationship; the lab, report number, dates and results are left visible so you can verify it.
The result
Every one of the 34 came back below the lab's reporting limit. For most compounds that limit is 0.10 mg/kg, and for a few it's lower. It shows that this sample of seed had none of these 34 compounds above the lab's reporting limits. It was run on the seed rather than the pressed oil, and the sample was taken before export, so it covers early 2026 harvest.
Aflatoxin test, Spanish border
Aflatoxins are toxins made by moulds that can grow on stored seeds and spices, so they're one of the main safety checks on imported seed. When our first shipment arrived in Spain, border officials took an official sample and sent it to Eurofins in Murcia. All four aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) came back below 0.5 µg/kg each, and the total below 2.0 µg/kg. This test is covered by Eurofins' ENAC accreditation. Report AR-26-XU-066218-01, dated 1 April 2026. This report is addressed to our customs agent, who handled the border clearance and official sampling on our behalf. Their details are blacked out at their request; the lab, report number, dates and results are left visible so you can verify it.
