Lab Testing & Certificates of Analysis
Every batch tested. Every result published. No exceptions.
✓ Most recent batch tested: February 2026
In short: every batch of Ceylon Spice Garden cinnamon and blue lotus is tested by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka's ISO/IEC 17025-accredited national laboratory, before it ships. Our latest batch measured lead at 0.2 ppm (Ceylon cinnamon) and 0.4 ppm (blue lotus) — both well under the 1.0 ppm New York action level — with arsenic and mercury not detected. Every certificate is published below.
What We Test For
Every batch is tested for safety and authenticity before it is listed for sale.
🔬 Identity Verification
Confirms the correct botanical species — proving our Ceylon cinnamon is Cinnamomum verum and our blue lotus is Nymphaea caerulea.
⚗️ Coumarin & Active Compounds
For cinnamon, coumarin content is what determines daily safety. We test it per batch rather than quoting industry averages.
🛡️ Heavy Metals
Screens for lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium by ICP-MS to confirm levels are well below safety limits.
🦠 Microbial Safety
Screens for microbial contamination to confirm the product is safe for consumption.
Published Lab Reports
Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verumBatch CSG-2026-02 · Ceylon cinnamon quills · tested by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka, 17–23 Feb 2026, by ICP-MS (report SS 2602607). Heavy-metal results shown below.
Key Test Results
| Test | Specification | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species Identification | Cinnamomum verum | Confirmed — Cinnamomum verum | Pass |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤ 1.0 ppm (NY action level) | 0.2 ppm | Pass |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤ 1.0 ppm | Not detected (<0.05) | Pass |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤ 0.5 ppm | 0.05 ppm | Pass |
| Mercury (Hg) | ≤ 0.1 ppm | Not detected (<0.05) | Pass |
Blue Lotus
Nymphaea caeruleaBatch · Dried Blue Lotus flowers · tested by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka, 17–23 Feb 2026, by ICP-MS (report SS 2602606). Heavy-metal results shown below.
Key Test Results
| Test | Specification | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species Identification | Nymphaea caerulea | Confirmed — Nymphaea caerulea | Pass |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤ 1.0 ppm (NY action level) | 0.4 ppm | Pass |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤ 1.0 ppm | Not detected (<0.05) | Pass |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤ 0.5 ppm | Not detected (<0.05) | Pass |
| Mercury (Hg) | ≤ 0.1 ppm | Not detected (<0.05) | Pass |
Why We Publish Lab Results
Most supplement and spice companies don't show you lab results. Some don't even perform testing. Here's why we do both — and make them public.
Species Fraud Is Real
Cassia cinnamon is often sold as "Ceylon" because it's several times cheaper. Our species ID testing proves every batch is genuine Cinnamomum verum.
Coumarin Safety
Cassia can contain many times more coumarin than true Ceylon — very roughly 700–12,000 mg/kg versus below-detection to a few hundred mg/kg in Ceylon. If you use cinnamon daily, that difference matters for liver health.
Supply Chain Transparency
We source directly from farmers in Sri Lanka and test at the point of export, so nothing is added, substituted, or contaminated along the way.
How to Read a Certificate of Analysis
If you've never seen a COA before, here's what to look for:
| Section | What It Tells You | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Product Name & Batch # | Identifies which specific product and batch was tested | Should match the batch info on your product packaging |
| Lab Identification | Who performed the testing | Should be a named third-party lab with ISO 17025 accreditation — ours is the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka |
| Test / Specification / Result | What was tested, acceptable range, actual result | Result should fall within specification; "Pass" = met standard |
| Date & Signature | When testing was performed and who signed off | Should be recent and signed by a qualified analyst |
🚩 Red Flags on Other Companies' COAs
- No lab name — "tested and verified" without identifying who did the testing
- "In-house" testing only — the company tests its own products (conflict of interest)
- No batch/lot number — the COA may not apply to the product you received
- Very old dates — a COA from 2 years ago doesn't reflect current batches
- Missing heavy metals panel — the most important safety test, most commonly skipped
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the product: identity verification (correct species), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium by ICP-MS), coumarin content for cinnamon, and microbial safety. Each batch's certificate shows exactly which tests were run.
The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) — Sri Lanka's national laboratory, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. It is an independent, third-party lab; we do not rely on in-house testing.
Every batch, before it's listed for sale. Agricultural products vary between harvests — batch-level testing ensures every product you receive meets our standards.
Yes — email info@ceylonspicegarden.com with your order number and product, and we'll send the specific COA for your batch.
Cassia cinnamon typically contains roughly 700–12,000 mg/kg of coumarin; true Ceylon ranges from below detection up to a few hundred mg/kg at most. At daily doses, high coumarin can stress the liver — so Ceylon is the safer choice for regular use. Coumarin also varies batch to batch, which is why we test rather than quote averages. Read our full coumarin guide.
Aporphine and nuciferine are the two primary alkaloids in Nymphaea caerulea, associated with its traditional calming character. Where our COA reports them, the result is shown in the blue lotus table above.