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Iran
Iran is the world's largest producer of saffron. In a given
year they can produce 100 to 170 metric tons of saffron.
Saffron is produced mainly in the Khorasan region, where
90% of Iran's saffron is produced. Iran's climate is
suitable for growing the spice and it has had a long
tradition of cultivating saffron. Some would argue that
saffron originated from this region of Asia. In truth Iran
was a vast Kingdom which extended from the Mediterranean and
well into India.
The Silk Road was started by an Iranian King and along it,
saffron and silk were traded with China. For many hundreds
of years Iran or Persia was the seat of the most powerful
Kingdom on earth. Saffron, silks and many other of the
world's luxuries would have been under their control.
Today Iran produces some of the highest quality saffron on
earth. Its names are:
Sargol or cut saffron is when the reddest tips of
each saffron strand are cut and used. By isolating the tips
or the reddest ends of the saffron strand, a stronger
flavor is produced.
Poushal or Pushali saffron is the same as Sargol
saffron, but where more of the whole strand is used.
Possibly a few yellow or lighter parts of the saffron
strands are included.
Dasteh is Iranian saffron that is sold, tied together
in the traditional bunch.
IRANIAN SAFFRON
SAFFRON is a wonderful and most expensive plant which nature
has furnished it with a charming fragrance, pleasant flavor,
a beautiful color and number of other extraordinary
qualities.
It is a plant from iris family of crocus genus and comes in
700 varieties. Each blossom of saffron consists of 3 smelly
strands and from every 2000 flower, which weigh about 1000
grams; some 10-12 grams saffron is obtained.
Agronomists consider IRAN as the region where saffron was
cultivated for the first time and attribute its cultivation
development in other parts of the world gradually during
centuries. Due to long experience with its cultivation, and
the transfer of methods of growing and harvesting it from
person to person and generation-to-generation, Iranian
saffron has managed to keep its distinctive qualities in
comparison with those produced in other regions of the
world.
The latest statistics in year 2001 indicates that %80 of
world 180 M/T saffron production belongs to iran. |
