High-Quality Saffron from Kashmir
Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Also called red gold, pure saffron threads can sell for 35 to 40 USD per gram. Saffron is a flower, and approximately 150 flowers are needed to make one gram of saffron. Nevertheless, it is an extremely potent spice and you only need a small amount to flavor or color dishes.
Most saffron is grown in Iran, Spain, and India. In 2018, a total of 1.1K tons of saffron was exported, which was valued at approximately 491.2 million USD. Iran exported more than 70% of the world’s total. India is a much smaller producer, but saffron from the state of Kashmir is often thought to be of the highest value.
Saffron from the state of Kashmir has a very dark red color, explains Chef Grown Produce, a saffron grower and exporter from the region. The darker the color of the saffron, the stronger the taste and thus the more valuable it is. Compared to Iranian saffron, Indian saffron is 15-20% more expensive. As such, saffron from Kashmir is not used as a spice but rather as a superfood, or for celebrations.
High Production Expectations for the 2020 Season
Saffron is currently starting to flower, during wintertime. It is harvested between late March and early June, after which it is processed and stored. Processed saffron can be stored for a long time, so when production is low, such as during the 2018/2019 season, the stocks can be used to maintain a steady supply. During the 2018/2019 season, the weather conditions negatively affected the saffron flowers, leading to lower production results. This year, the production is expected to be higher, with some sources even saying there might be a bumper crop. Prime Minister Modi of India has recently made it its mission to double the production of saffron in the Kashmir region, so production is estimated to rise further over the next few years.
Iranian and Spanish saffron is mainly used to color dishes, but Indian saffron is mainly sold for its special taste and medicinal, cosmetic, and aromatic properties, states Chef Grown Produce. They mainly export their products to Australia and Europe, where there are large Indian communities. The saffron strands are sold to individual customers and saffron powder is mainly sold to customers buying in bulk.