Saffron Price

Saffron, often hailed as the "golden spice," is revered across the world. Its enchanting hue, distinctive savor, and myriad health benefits have catapulted it to the zenith of the spice hierarchy. What, though, makes saffron such a precious commodity, and why does it command such an imposing price tag?

Saffron Shopping Tips

In this enticing read, we shall embark on a journey through the captivating history and cultural significance of saffron, probe the elements dictating its price, comprehend its grading and quality, scrutinize the global saffron market, and encounter the role it plays in Iranian pastries and cuisine. We shall also equip you with crucial insights for purchasing and preserving saffron. By the time you reach the end of this narrative, you will find yourself in awe of saffron's inherent worth and understand why every cent spent on this golden spice is indeed an investment.

What exactly is Saffron, and what does it taste like? We will explain everything about the Crocus sativus or Saffron plant for those unfamiliar with this plant. It is full of aroma, taste, and properties. This spice has an earthy and subtle flavor. Crocus sativus is a valuable plant that can be used in various ways and provides numerous benefits. In the center of these beautiful flowers is the colorful and fragrant saffron used in many foods and beverages! Saffron color can make the food look twice as awesome. 

How to Identify Original Saffron from the Fake One?

Have you ever been curious about how to identify original saffron? Many people need to know the differences between original and fake saffron, but knowing the difference is essential to get the best quality product. Knowing what to look for when buying saffron guarantees you're getting the real deal. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to tell if your saffron is genuine.

We'll cover everything from recognizing original saffron by sight and smell and tips for avoiding fake products online shopping. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your next purchase of saffron is genuine and of high quality.

1. Taste it 

The first way to spot fake saffron is to place a saffron thread in your mouth. Saffron looks sweet but tastes bitter. If the saffron tastes sweet, it's either low quality or fake saffron.

2. The Fingers Test

Rub a few saffron threads you have placed in your cold water with your fingers. Real saffron won't break apart and turn into dust. In comparison, fake saffron will break apart when you rub it.

3. Smelling Saffron

Smelling saffron is another way of spotting fake saffron. The smell of pure threads reminds you of honey and hay aroma. If the saffron smells like a chemical, it is fake saffron.

4. Color Release In Cold  Water

Put the threads in a small container of tepid water. Wait at least 15 minutes. Real saffron slowly turns the water yellow. The color change may take up to an hour. The saffron threads themselves retain their red color. On the other hand, if the water changes color immediately or turns red or the threads do not retain their color, the substance is not saffron. It is then "Fake Saffron" and is a sign of impurity.

What Makes Saffron Valuable?

The value of saffron is grounded in its meticulous cultivation process and the labor-intensive technique of harvesting the precious stigmas from the Crocus sativus flower. Each blossom yields merely three stigmas, which must be handpicked with the highest possible precision. An astonishing figure of 150,000 flowers is needed to procure a mere kilogram of saffron, rendering it the world's priciest spice per weight.

Saffron's inimitable allure extends far beyond its rarity. Its distinctive flavor and intoxicating aroma have woven a tapestry of culinary delight that stretches across a plethora of dishes, infusing both savory and sweet creations with an added layer of depth and complexity. The radiant golden hue it imparts to the dishes it graces further enhances its visual appeal, transforming it into a culinary jewel much sought after by gourmet enthusiasts worldwide.

The History of Saffron

The tale of saffron is a rich embroidery, spun over thousands of years. Its roots trace back to the ancient lands of Persia, now known as Iran, from where it diffused across diverse landscapes, from the sun-kissed Mediterranean to the bustling heart of Asia and the cultured expanses of Europe. Throughout time, saffron has been more than just a flavor enhancer. Its potency as a medicinal herb and its pivotal role in numerous cultural and religious ceremonies have solidified its esteemed status.

Civilizations of yore, including the illustrious Egyptians and Greeks, turned to saffron as a staple in their traditional medicine chests, harnessing its reputed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mood-elevating properties to combat a multitude of maladies. The Phoenicians, recognizing the invaluable worth of saffron, traded it as a treasured commodity, even to the extent of using it as a form of currency.

In myriad cultures across the globe, the illustrious saffron is a symbol of flourishing abundance, prolific fertility, and contagious joy. This golden strand often graces religious rites and ceremonies, standing as a beacon of purity and spiritual illumination. To this day, saffron maintains its cultural prominence in numerous countries, most notably in Iran, where it is woven into the very fabric of their vibrant culinary traditions and heartily celebrated during momentous occasions.

Different Types of Saffron

Saffron, also known as red gold, may have the same appearance. Still, as will be explained, it has different varieties depending on climatic conditions, harvest type, pure saffron flower separation method, and so on. Starting with the best, here are the saffron types listed in order of quality:

• Super Negin saffron: This is the best quality saffron in terms of cultivation and harvesting; it has a distinctive flavor with a higher percentage of crocin and safranal aroma and color than other types. And it often has the highest saffron price, the most expensive saffron type.
• Pseudo-Negin saffron: This type is the most coloring type, but it is not comparable to Super Negin saffron.
• Negin saffron: This type is different from other types in appearance, and its strands are not curled, as are other types, and its saffron thread heads are separate and completely red.
• Sargol saffron: This is the most widely used type of saffron, and its strands lack yellow or white roots. A snack that contains saffron in its ingredients list is mostly this type of saffron when purchasing Iranian snacks from an Iranian online shop.
• Pooshal (Straw) saffron: The strands of this type are red and yellow, and it is less coloring than Sargol and Negin saffrons.
• Dasteh saffron: This type has strands with white roots and redheads dried and packed in bundles.
• Risheh (Root) Saffron (also known as white or cream saffron): The term "root" does not refer to the root of the flower that is planted in the ground; rather, it refers to the end of the saffron threads (stigma). This type of saffron plant imparts flavor and aroma to food in the same way that red saffron color does, but it is less colorful and less expensive.

Saffron Powder

Saffron powder is a form of saffron known for having a rich gold color and an earthy, intense, and fruity unique flavor. Many recipes, such as saffron tea, saffron rice, and other foods, contain saffron powder. If you want to make saffron rice but are looking for a reliable store, this store is the best place to buy Persian rice.

You can buy saffron online in powdered or dried form, where the whole stigma has been ground into a fine powder. You can also purchase saffron in its whole dried state.

Saffron Benefits

Saffron is an Iranian plant with a unique and distinctive flavor, aroma, color, and amazing properties discussed further below. As said before, the useful part of real saffron is its red strand (stigma), which contains minerals, mucilage, and fat.

The benefits of saffron can improve the prevention and treatment of various diseases, including reducing cholesterol and fat. It is also an antispasmodic, sedative, appetizing, memory enhancer, and aids in the prevention of cancer and heart disease, as well as the reduction of blood pressure.

It also treats stomach aches, anemia, eye diseases, asthma, jaundice, skin diseases, premenstrual syndrome, bloating and digestion issues, urinary tract infections, and gum pains.

The saffron powder can be added to your meals or drinks to treat and prevent depression. According to research and experiments, this plant has exhilarating and anti-depressant properties if you want to smile more. You can achieve peace of mind by drinking saffron tea daily!

This expensive spice can also improve concentration and prevent Alzheimer's disease. As well as calming your nerves, saffron tea prevents cholesterol from accumulating in your arteries, lowering your risk of heart disease. This red gold can help improve genetic eye diseases if consumed daily in your diet.

Interestingly, The Saffron plant contains vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system against diseases and microbial and viral agents. Vitamin C aids in producing collagen, wound-healing cells and tissue, blood vessel repair, and muscle growth.

Factors that Influence the Price of Saffron

The price tag dangling from the strands of saffron is a direct reflection of a delicate dance of various factors, all contributing to its rarity and laborious production. Firstly, saffron's unique cultivation requirements play a key role. The plant insists on specific climate and soil conditions, found only in select regions of the world, namely Iran, Spain, and Kashmir. These regions offer the perfect canvas for the Crocus sativus flower to flourish and bear high-caliber saffron.

Secondly, the price of saffron is significantly influenced by the labor-intensive ballet of its harvesting and processing. The intricate task of handpicking the fragile stigmas demands an artisan's touch and a craftsman's precision. Any damage to these precious stigmas could potentially compromise the quality of the saffron. Each stigma is meticulously detached from the remainder of the flower, dried with care, and packed with reverence, ensuring the saffron's captivating flavor and aroma are beautifully preserved.

The Grading and Quality of Saffron

A captivating dance of factors such as length, color, and the intoxicating aroma of the stigmas swirls together to ascertain the grade and quality of saffron. The price of these exotic spice pirouettes is on the stage of these crucial determinants. The aristocrat of saffron, the illustrious "Sargol", is composed solely of rich, crimson stigmas devoid of any tinge of yellow or white.

It demands a king's ransom due to its unadulterated purity and potent flavor that sends the senses into a pleasurable frenzy. Its counterparts, the humble "Pushal" and "Bunch", bear traces of yellow and white, diminishing their value on the saffron scale.

Nutritional Value of Saffron

The nutritional values of "Saffron" per 100 grams are:

Price of saffron

The history of this spice traces back thousands of years when it was admired for its color, flavor, and medicinal properties. Around 75000 saffron blossoms are needed to produce one kg of saffron spice. It's high! Saffron is generally harvested by hand. The difficulty in harvesting saffron makes it one of the most expensive spices. The End-User saffron spice depends on the farmer's saffron rating based on its coloring power, smell, and taste.

It is necessary to perform lab experiments on saffron quality to rate it. This experiment determines Saffron's quality by compounds such as Crocin, Safranal, Picrocrocin, Crocetin, etc. The highest price belongs to the Super Negin type of Persian Saffron, grade 1. Authentic brands of Iranian saffron, such as Behraman saffron, Zaran saffron, and Mostafavi saffron, allow you to buy your best saffron product with complete confidence.

Saffron in Iranian Pastry & Food

Famed for its complex flavors and fragrant creations, Iranian cuisine is a symphony of aromas where saffron plays the lead. The delicate use of this precious spice in Iranian pastries and dishes results in visually captivating and palate-tickling masterpieces.

On the savory front, saffron is a flavor maestro in signature Iranian rice dishes like "Tahchin" and "Zereshk Polo." These culinary delights feature saffron-infused rice paired with a medley of ingredients such as chicken, barberries, and spices. The dazzling golden hue of the rice, achieved through the infusion of saffron, adds a visual feast to these dishes.

Saffron Price Per Gram or Ounce in Canada and the United States?

As you know, people in different countries use different units for weight measurement. For Saffron, "Gram" and "Ounce" are the most popular units. While Gram is an international unit (SI unit), and Ounce is an "Imperial unit" for weight and mass measurement. Generally, "Ounce" is popular in Canada and the USA, and "Gram" is used in most other world regions. Since 1 Once equals 28.35 Grams, note the weight unit when buying saffron online.

The Combination of Saffron with Nuts and Honey

In the realm of gastronomy, saffron and nuts dance a divine duet. The whispering floral overtones of saffron gracefully intertwine with the robust, rustic essence of various nuts, crafting an exquisite marriage of flavors. Within the aromatic symphony of Iranian cuisine, this pair often stars in dishes like "Sholeh Zard," a tantalizingly fragrant saffron-steeped rice pudding crowned with a rich assortment of nuts.

Venturing beyond the realm of desserts, the union of saffron and nuts also graces savory creations. One of Persian cuisine's cherished dishes, "Khoresht-e Fesenjan," is a celebrated stew, artfully blending ground pistachio, pomegranate molasses, and saffron. This interplay of ingredients weaves a tapestry of rich and intricate flavors, forming the perfect companion to meats such as chicken or duck.

The combination of saffron and honey is a true delight for the senses. The intense floral aroma of saffron blends harmoniously with the natural sweetness of honey, creating a unique and indulgent flavor experience. This combination is often used in desserts, such as saffron-infused honey cakes or drizzled over baklava, a traditional Middle Eastern pastry.

Saffron-infused honey can also be enjoyed in beverages. A simple cup of saffron and honey tea provides a comforting and aromatic experience, soothing both the body and mind. The gentle warmth of saffron combined with the sweetness of honey creates a soothing elixir that is perfect for relaxation and reflection.

Why is Saffron so costly?

The price of Saffron is affected by many factors, such as the cultivation process, after-cultivation steps, and delivery costs. The essential item is the time-consuming, heavy, and precise saffron cultivation and preparation process. To produce 1 kg of Saffron, farmers must plant, harvest, and prepare at least 75000 saffron flowers. This is a very detailed and challenging process.

How to Consume Saffron?

Saffron, also called Kesar, Zaafran, or Jafron, has various properties, including the ability to color due to crocin. When the crocin in saffron is removed, it gives the most color to the food. Iranians typically brew saffron in a variety of ways for this purpose. Before brewing, they crush saffron strings and a little sugar in a small container known as a mortar and pestle (a small cup or bowl can also be used instead it). Sugar aids in the pulverization of saffron and the release of its coloring substances, allowing it to dissolve in water.

After thoroughly pulverizing the saffron and making some saffron powder, combine the required amount in a glass with a little hot water and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the saffron color, aroma, and flavor to emerge. Some people, however, use other methods for coloring and using saffron, such as placing small pieces of ice on the saffron powder and waiting for it to melt instead of hot water.

High-quality, pure saffron takes a few minutes to color the food, so if your saffron does so right away, it is of low quality.

Iranian saffron is used in a variety of Iranian dishes, including Zereshk Polow, tahchin, saffron chicken, and grilled chicken, as well as confections and desserts like halva, Sholezard (a saffron rice pudding dessert), traditional ice cream, Masqati, Sohan, Baklava, etc. It can also be used to make various hot and cold drinks.

Last Words About CyrusCrafts' Saffron

It is hoped that you have learned enough about "Saffron," a fragrant, tasty, and high-quality Iranian spice/ingredient. This article was written so that you can get a grasp on Iranian treats, snacks, and customs. For several years, saffron and other Iranian products have been produced and exported to other countries, including Europe, Canada, and the United States, but we intend to contribute to their production and export by utilizing CyrusCrafts' capabilities and knowledge.

The sale of saffron in Canada and the United States at the best price is done by the CyrusCrafts. Our Company will provide you with very high-quality and unique products as part of its specialized activity in preparing, selling, and exporting the best Iranian saffron so that you can have a wonderful and one-of-a-kind taste and serve your guests in a unique and different way.