Canadian red lentils
Red lentils are Canada's highest-volume lentil export and a staple protein across South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Grown in Canada's prairie provinces, Canadian red lentils offer strong milling performance and consistent red cotyledon colour. They are quoted whole (with seed coat), as footballs (whole, dehulled), or as splits (dehulled and split).
Forms and grades
- Whole red lentils — with seed coat, for millers and markets processing at destination.
- Footballs — whole dehulled red lentils.
- Splits — dehulled and split red lentils, ready for retail and foodservice.
- Typical grades: No. 1 Canada, No. 2 Canada.
Indicative specifications
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | max 14% |
| Admixture | typically max 0.2–1.0% per grade |
| Red colour (cotyledon) | good uniform red, per grade |
| Damaged / broken | per contracted grade |
Specifications are indicative. Contracted specifications govern all sales. Quotations state grade, parameters, and crop year.
Applications
Dhal milling, retail packing, soups and processed foods, foodservice, ingredient use.
Packaging & loading
- 100 lb / 50 kg / 25 kg PP bags, ~1,000 kg totes, or bulk in lined container
- Per 20-ft container: 600 × 100 lb, 545 × 50 kg, 1,090 × 25 kg (whole, footballs or splits)
- Bulk in liner: 27.75 MT per 20-ft container
Documentation & shipping
- Full export document set incl. CFIA phytosanitary certificate
- Track Vancouver / CFR / CIF — see Logistics
Availability
- Quoted by crop year; new crop typically ships from early autumn
Red lentil FAQs
What is the difference between footballs and splits?
Footballs are whole red lentils with the seed coat removed; splits are dehulled and separated into halves. Footballs cook slightly firmer; splits cook fastest and are the common retail form in most markets.
Should I buy whole or processed red lentils?
Millers with their own processing usually buy whole to capture the processing margin. Retail packers and foodservice distributors typically buy footballs or splits ready for packing.
Need red lentils to a specification?
Send your grade, form, packaging, and destination — we will quote against it.