Price of Saffron - How much is Saffron worth?

Price of Saffron, the Worlds most Expensive Spice.

Saffron, is one of the most coveted spices in the world today. Saffron is not only used for culinary purposes, but also for the many health benefits associated with it. 

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices on the planet. Per pound, Saffron can cost upwards of $1,500. You're probably thinking with these prices, you might start a little saffron farm of your own, well, we have some bad news.

 

Why is Saffron expensive?

The main reason why saffron is so expensive is the fact that the process of production of this spice can’t be automated. It takes an immense amount of physical labor to handpick, dry, trim, and package this majestic spice. 

Saffron is extracted from the threads/stigmas found in the flowers of saffron crocus or crocus sativus plant. These stigmas represent the small elements located in the center of the flower’s blossom. They are attached to the thin small stalks in the flower.

It’s good to know that every crocus sativus plant comes with just three stigmas. Keep in mind that the size of one stigma is about 3 cm. To put it in simple words, in order to produce one pound of saffron, you have to use 70,000 crocus sativus flowers to be handpicked and over 210,000 threads to be individually plucked and trimmed from the flower. 

Besides the long production process, there are few other factors that contribute to the high price of saffron such as supply and demand. The understanding of Saffrons health benefits has been growing at a rapid pace, as global demand continues to increase, so does the cost of this spice. 

Understanding the price of saffron

Those who are planning on buying saffron should know that the price of saffron varies depending on the grade and quality. As we mentioned in our other article - types of saffron, here you can learn about the different grades of saffron and the types of trims available to consumers.

Additionally, saffron is distributed more than once to different sellers. The saffron  you buy in your local market is usually not sold by the growers or even through a second-hand buyers. There are many middle men in this industry, so it's good to do your research on the brand and make sure the product you're purchasing hasn't been adulterated with fillers. 

How to get the best price for saffron

If you are looking for a way to get the best price for high-quality saffron, then you should buy this spice from a reputable, trusted vendor. Unfortunately, the popularity of this spice has made many people think about frauds and scams. Namely, there is a high number of companies that are selling fake saffron or saffron with unacceptably low-quality saffron. These companies are focused on selling low-end saffron with higher profit margins. You can easily recognize it due to the color – they use yellow and orange threads in the process of production. What’s even worse is that some of them are using an adulterated product with natural or even artificial coloring.

Due to the fact that saffron is the most expensive spice on the market, it's very important that you understand the different varieties of saffron and their intrinsic value. By doing this, you can expect to get the most value from your hard earned dollar. 

We at Zaran Saffron, will guarantee you receive a the highest quality of Saffron at the best price, direct form our farmers where we produce the highest quality saffron in the world.