Saffron, the Red Gold from Iran

Saffron, scientifically known as Crocus sativus, is the world’s most expensive spice. Iran is the largest global exporter of saffron, renowned for its excellent quality. The main cultivation areas for saffron are located in the northeastern region of Iran, specifically in the province of Khorasan, and the harvest takes place from mid-October onward. Saffron flowers thrive under specific climatic conditions with ample sunshine and dry heat. Farmers harvest the saffron flowers early in the morning, before the sun induces blooming, as they are otherwise challenging to collect. The fresh saffron threads must be extracted from the flowers on the same day and subsequently dried. Approximately 14 grams of saffron threads are obtained from one kilogram of saffron flowers.