Product Guide
Teja vs S-17 Chilli: Are They the Same Variety?
Buyers researching Guntur chilli sometimes ask whether Teja or S-17 is the hotter option, expecting to choose between two different varieties. In most trade usage they are the same hybrid under two different names — Teja the common trade name, S-17 the hybrid seed code it's commonly sold under — so the more useful comparison is between Teja/S-17 as a pair and the other named varieties in the belt, like 334 and Sannam S4.
Written by Shanmukha Raju Y · Reviewed
Sourcing this product? See our Dry Red Chilli product page for specifications, HS code and MOQ.
Guntur Belt Varieties, Compared
Teja / S-17
- Heat
- High
- Colour
- Deep red, moderate
- Common use
- Heat-focused end products
334
- Heat
- Medium
- Colour
- Deep red, strong value
- Common use
- Oleoresin, colour-focused powder
Sannam S4
- Heat
- Mild to medium
- Colour
- Bright red
- Common use
- Whole-chilli export
One Variety, Two Names — Not Two Varieties
In Guntur-belt trade parlance, "Teja" and "S-17" most commonly refer to the same high-pungency hybrid — S-17 is the seed line's code name, and Teja is the commercial name it's traded under further down the chain. Some suppliers use the two terms interchangeably; a smaller number use "S-17" specifically for the seed/planting stage and "Teja" for the traded dry chilli. Either way, a buyer asking "Teja or S-17?" as if choosing between two chillies is usually asking a question that doesn't apply — worth confirming which convention your specific supplier uses rather than assuming a difference exists.
This naming overlap is exactly the kind of ambiguity our spice grading terms glossary exists to clear up — variety names travel informally through the trade and aren't standardised the way HS codes or lab parameters are.
Where the Real Differences Are: Teja/S-17 vs. 334 vs. Sannam S4
| Variety | Typical heat | Colour | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teja / S-17 | High — one of the hotter commercially traded Guntur varieties | Deep red, moderate | Buyers targeting a distinctly spicy end product |
| 334 | Medium | Deep red, strong colour value | Oleoresin extraction, colour-focused powder |
| Sannam S4 | Mild to medium | Bright red | Whole-chilli export where heat is secondary to appearance |
These are typical positioning, not guaranteed figures for any specific lot — pungency and colour genuinely shift with season, soil and growing conditions within every one of these varieties. Treat the table as a starting point for which variety to ask about, not a substitute for a tested result on your actual shipment.
Confirm the Number, Not the Name
Whichever name your supplier uses, the specification that actually protects your order is a tested Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) result and ASTA colour value for the specific lot being shipped — not the variety name alone. This is the same principle our Teja chilli buyer's guide covers for that variety on its own: name the variety and required heat range in your enquiry, then confirm it against a lab result before the order is placed, not after.
Sourcing From Us
Teja (S-17) is available within our dry red chilli range alongside 334 and Sannam S4, sourced from the Guntur belt — variety naming, heat level and stemless/with-stem processing are all confirmed with the supplying source at enquiry stage. If a supplier's quote names one term and a buyer's enquiry names the other, we confirm which variety is actually meant before quoting.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is S-17 chilli the same as Teja chilli?
- In most Guntur-belt trade usage, yes — S-17 is the hybrid seed line's code name, and Teja is the common trade name it's sold under further down the chain. A minority of suppliers use the two terms for different stages (S-17 for seed, Teja for the traded dry chilli) rather than as true synonyms. Confirm which convention your specific supplier uses rather than assuming a difference exists.
- How does Teja/S-17 compare to 334 and Sannam S4?
- Teja/S-17 is typically one of the hotter Guntur varieties with moderate colour; 334 runs medium heat with strong colour value, often used for oleoresin extraction; Sannam S4 is mild to medium heat with bright colour, common for whole-chilli export. These are typical positioning, not guaranteed figures for any specific lot.
- Should I choose a chilli order based on the variety name alone?
- No — pungency and colour shift with season and growing conditions even within one named variety. Ask for a tested Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) result and ASTA colour value for the specific lot you're buying, and treat the variety name as a starting point rather than a specification.
This guide is general orientation for buyers, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Requirements change and vary by product, origin and importer type — confirm current rules with your own customs broker or compliance contact before relying on anything here for an actual shipment.
Related Reading
Buyer's Guide
Guntur Dry Red Chilli: A Sourcing Guide for Importers
What buyers should know before importing dry red chilli from Guntur — heat level, aflatoxin limits, whole vs. powder, and how to read a chilli spec sheet.
Buyer's Guide
Teja Chilli: What Buyers Should Know Before Importing
What Teja chilli actually is, why buyers ask for it over other Guntur varieties, and what to confirm before ordering — heat level, processing and specification.
Reference
Spice Grading Terms Glossary
Plain-language definitions of common spice grading terms — SHU, volatile oil, bulk density, foreign matter, and more — for buyers reading a supplier spec sheet.
Product
Dry Red Chilli
Indian dry red chilli supplier — whole chillies and ground powder
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