Guntur Red Chilli Market — Global Spice Trade Heritage

Guntur district is the chilli capital of India and one of the world's largest chilli markets, accounting for a significant portion of global chilli exports. The Guntur Sannam chilli — medium-hot, brilliant red, and high in capsaicin and colour compounds — is the industry standard for paprika and chilli paste production globally. The Guntur chilli yard (mirchi bazar) at Guntur processes thousands of tonnes of dried chilli daily during the October–January harvest season, with buyers from spice companies across India and internationally attending auctions. Traditional chilli cultivation in Guntur uses deep black cotton soil and Nagarjunasagar canal irrigation, growing two crops per year. Women workers sort and grade chillies by hand, separating by colour, size, and damage — a skilled task requiring colour discrimination and consistency.