THE MOST EXPENSIVE SPICE IN THE WORLD

From $500 to $5,000 per lb

Saffron

Crocus Sativus

Thrives where hot and dry summer breezes sweep semi-arid lands. Survive cold winters, as low as −10 °C and short periods of snow cover. Grow best in full sunlight.

The Plains of La Mancha

Generous spring rains and drier summers are optimal. Rain immediately preceding flowering boosts saffron yields Rainy or cold weather during flowering promotes disease and reduces yields. • Dormant through summer • Buds early autumn.

Mid-autumn flowering. Harvests are by necessity a speedy affair: after blossoming at dawn, flowers quickly wilt as the day passes.Plants bloom within a window of 1 or 2 weeks.

Labour intensive and back breaking work

40 hours labour to pick 150,000 flowers.

50,000–75,000 flowers = 1 lb dry saffron the equivalent of a football pitch

Saffron contains more than 150 volatile and aroma-yielding compounds

Documentation over 4,000 years - used to treat some 90 illnesses

Remedies, Magical Potions, Dyes, Perfumes, Body washes, Potpourris, Mascaras, Ointments, Woven in Textiles, Divine offerings, and Medical treatments.

• Cancer-Suppressing • Mutation-Preventing• Stimulates The Immune System • Antioxidant-Like Properties. • Helpful For Depression. • Protect Eyes From Bright Light & Retinal

Stress • Slows Down Macular Degeneration • For Wounds, Cough, Colic, And Scabies

HEALTH PROPERTIES

From 14th century, Spain exported the BEST quality saffron in the world.

In the past, cultivated over a remarkably large surface area.

1970,s = world´s largest producer 6000 hectares.

Total acreage under cultivation has since decreased to less than 100 hectares.

In spite of the rapid decline, a few hundred Spanish farmers passionately sustain this labour intensive cottage industry.

HISTORY

Cleopatra used saffron in her baths so that lovemaking would be more pleasurable.

Alexander the Great used Persian saffron in his infusions, rice, and baths as a curative for battle wounds

Supposedly saffron is grown in Kashmir, principally to offer it to the Buddha.

Buddhist monks wear saffron-coloured robes; however, the robes are not dyed with costly saffron but turmeric

European cultivation plummeted after Roman Empire

Spread of Islam reintroduced the crop to Spain and Italy.

The 14th C Black Death caused demand to peak.

Large quantities imported on Venetian & Genoan ships from southern Med

13th C trade: subject to mass piracy.

Mediterranean Pirates would ignore gold & Jewellery and instead steal saffron bound for Europe.

The 14 week "Saffron War"

800 lb saffron hijacked by nobles. (today valued more than $500,000) 

Fear of rampant saffron piracy spurred other countries to cultivate.

Basle became RICH.

Spread through England.

Especially Norfolk and Suffolk. In Essex Saffron Walden, emerged as England's prime saffron growing and

trading centre.

SAFFRON TODAY

SPAIN

Graded By Laboratory Measured For • Crocin (Colour), • Picrocrocin (Taste), • Safranal (Fragrance)

International Organization for Standardization

Grades: IV (Poorest), III, II, And I Finest Quality no more than

0.5 Per Cent Of “Floral Waste”.

1. Iran: 300 tons (97% of world production) 2. Kashmir: 6 tons3. Greece: 5 tons 4. Azerbaijan: 3.70 tons 5. Spain: 1 ton 6. Morocco: 0.8 ton. 7. Italy: 100 kg8. Turkey: 10 kg 9. France: 4kg10.Switzerland : 1 kg

2009 Saffron Production

Kashmiri Saffron

Rarely available outside India.

Typical methods mixing with:• Beets, • Pomegranate fibres, • Red-dyed silk fibres, • Saffron crocus's tasteless yellow

stamens. Also dousing fibres with honey or vegetable oil.

COUNTERFEIT SAFFRON

Powdered saffron is more prone to adulteration….. Turmeric, Paprika, etcAs well as fraudulent mislabelling.

2010 - 190,000 kilos of saffron exports

netted £40 million.

Local production = 1,500 kilos.

Remainder poor-quality imports from Iran, Morocco and Greece.

Spain….Major importer countries of Iran’s saffron.

Barely one per cent of saffron labelled as Spanish is actually grown in the country.