Turkey: Cool weather boosts flowering of world’s most expensive spice

Identified with the Safranbolu district of Karabük, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and called "the most expensive spice in the world", saffron blooms more due to the cool weather. Saffron, which has a history of 3,500 years in Safranbolu, was traded in Western Anatolia during the Byzantine period and maintained its importance during the Ottoman period, bloomed early this year due to the rain. The harvest of saffron, which was registered with a geographical indication by the European Union Commission last year, is in the middle of the season. Saffron, which is harvested when it reaches 15-30 centimeters in October and November, has the opportunity to bloom more due to the cool weather. Saffron, which can dye 100 thousand times its weight in liquid yellow and requires 570 thousand fibers to obtain 1 kilo of product, is sold for 320 thousand liras per kilo. İsmail Yılmaz, who produces saffron in Yukarıçiftlik village, stated in his statement to İhlas News Agency that the ...