Saffron is a known medicine, spice, as well as a dye. People give it a near-magical existence in their hearts, the reason being: they have known it for at least 3,000 years or perhaps longer, but unlike most other plants, it does not reproduce on its own; humans must grow it with intervention. It is the most expensive food additive in the World. The following are some reasons why it is so expensive.
Why is Saffron expensive?
- Saffron comes from a flower called ” crocus”. And each flower has three red stigmas, which are Saffron; harvesters handpick them — a very difficult and time-consuming task. The chances that every flower delivers a perfect product are slim. Each flower only produces 3 stigmas, so it will take about 75,000 crocus flowers to make a pound. Therefore, we can say one reason for its costliness is its harvesting.
- The yield of saffron is really low and requires a lot of labor for harvesting, as the flower has to be harvested on the same day it blooms, as this delicate flower wilts almost immediately.
- The process of plucking the flowers takes at least six hours a day, as for 454 grams of dried saffron, 75000 flowers are required. The plucking process is also not easy, as the flowers grow only six inches off the ground, so bending for 6 hours becomes difficult for every person involved in the process.
- Growing saffron is not easy. It grows and thrives in extreme temperatures. Both cold and hot, so even a tiny variation in the climate can affect its growth. It grows well in areas that have cold Winters and warm, dry Summers.
- Saffron contains some chemical components, used for many medical purposes. They are very expensive, like picrocrocin, crocin, and safranal. Which are the main components or compounds that are responsible for the taste and colour, and smell of this spice.
- Saffron requires a special type of soil for its growth. The soil must stay well-drained and avoid accumulating moisture.
- Saffron flower needs very precise rainfall for its growth at exactly the time when the corms are coming to life. And no precipitation or rainfall once the flowers have bloomed.
- New studies suggest that Saffron has many unique medical properties. Its extracts contain many important chemicals that help reduce the symptoms of depression and PMS.
Now from all the above-mentioned reasons it is very easy to understand that for a small bottle of saffron how much effort and work is needed, besides the geographically strict conditions it grows in and the small amount of yield it produces. We should appreciate this spice more. And despite it being expensive we should not opt for cheaper alternatives, authentic saffron is very good for our body and has many benefits, we should at least once try this unique and good spice, beside an ounce will last you a long time, so it’s 100 percent worth the buy.
Conclusion
Saffron’s journey from a delicate flower to the world’s most expensive spice is a sort of extraordinary one. Its rarity, labor-intensive harvesting, and unique growing conditions make every petal precious. But beyond the cost lies its true value — rich aroma, vibrant colour, unmatched flavour, and a variety of medicinal benefits.
At Crimson, we bring you 100% Pure Kashmiri Saffron, hand-picked from the fields of Pampore, known as the saffron capital of India. Whether you use it for cooking, wellness, or gifting, our saffron guarantees purity and premium quality.
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