Iran’s Saffron
The history of saffron and its uses span 4000 years. It has been used in different cultures and civilizations. Saffron is also botanically known as Crocus sativus, an autumn-flowering perennial plant, from which the saffron spice is extracted. Throughout the centuries it has become one of the most expensive spices in the world. With its bitter taste and light metallic notes, saffron was used as a spice, fragrance, dye and medicine. The name saffron originates from the Persian word “Zar-paran”.
Zar-paran is the oldest known name for the spice. The first syllable ‘Zar’ is the Persian translation for gold. ‘Par’ means flower blossom and can be traced back to the saffron origin, which consists of blossom of purple crocuses.This is how the ancient Persian name Zarparan, “flowers as valuable as gold”, also known as “the red gold of Persia” developed. Also, according to an oldPersiansaying, Persia’s king Darius, ca. 500 BC. Provided himself and his fellowship with saffron from Qāen (now South Khorasan province in Iran). It was used, in addition to cuisine and medicine, for dyeing fabrics, shoes and magnificent robes. At that time people were already aware of the amazing characteristics and uses of saffron, so the Persianrulers planted saffron flowers in the fields of Kashmir after their conquest. Thus, it is believed that saffron cultivation and its use spread from Kashmir to the Indian subcontinent.
With the reign of Alexander the Great, the saffron blossom found its way to the Greeks. Greek mythology tells the story of Zeus sleeping on a bed of saffron. “The spice of the gods and kings” was the name the Greeks gave the saffron blossom; later the Romans also appreciate saffron.In the 9th Century with conquest of the Mediterranean and Spain by the Arabs, it is believed that the saffron was brought to Spain by the Arabs and from there the spice had its spread in Europe.
Inspite of the penalty Phillip II imposed on the export of Saffron, in order to keep his control on the monopoly of the cultivation of saffron in Europe, the cultivation of saffron spread out from Spain to the other European countries.
Today Iran is the main supplier of saffron worldwide with 90-95% of saffron world production. The Iranian saffron is also known with its best and highest quality. The hinterland of Birjand, Ghaen (Ghayen), Ferdows in the province of South Khorasan, together with the growing areas of Gonabad and Torbat-e Heydarieh, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, are the main producing regions.Afghanistan has also started to cultivate saffron again in the recent years.
Despite numerous efforts in countries such as Austria, England, Germany and Switzerland to cultivate saffron, only few locations continue to harvest in Northern and Central Europe. These include the small Swiss village of Mund in the Valais, whose saffron production amounts to several kilograms per year.
Moreover, micro-cultivation takes place in Tasmania, China, Egypt, France, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, California and Central Africa. The remaining world production of the world’s most expensive spice takes place in Greece, Italy, Spain, Kashmir and Morocco.
Saffron blooms once every year and is so delicate that it needs to be harvested manually and manually.Every flower is only able to produce three threads of saffron and is dried afterward; that is why saffron is known as the red-gold since it requires a great deal of work to make an ounce in pure saffron.
Iranian Saffron Has a Number of Advantages
Iranian saffron is often regarded as the finest saffron available anywhere in the world. Furthermore, it is a nutrient-dense, health-promoting food. As a result, the medicinal benefits of saffron include lowering blood pressure, avoiding heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and boosting mood and energy levels, among other things. It also has a high concentration of antioxidants, which may aid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. It also aids in the healing of the stomach, the belly, and intestines.
Despite the fact that saffron has a wide range of medicinal qualities, excessive intake may result in toxicity. Excessive intake of saffron may cause death in the human body, which is why it is advised that you should not consume more than 5 grams in a single meal.
Types of Iranian Saffron
There are four generic types of Iranian saffron that you can find either in Iran or outside of Iran.
1. Super Negin Saffron
Super Negin is the highest quality of Iranian saffron. This is all red saffron threads, and it is larger compared to Negin saffron.
2. Negin Saffron
Negin is yet another type of Iranian saffron, and it is considered to be the second-best quality saffron that you can purchase. This saffron is produced from grade one saffron that consists of the red and best part of the saffron flower.
3. Sargol Saffron
Sargol in English means the top of the flower. The Sargol Saffron is also all red threads of the saffron flower, but the threads are shorter compared to Negin and Super Negin saffron types.
4. Pushal Saffron
Pushal is yet another type of Iranian saffron, and it comes with all red saffron threads as well as a bit of yellow saffron. Keep in mind; there is nothing wrong with yellow saffron; it has just changed its color in the drying process of saffron.
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