Saffron: Why is It The World's Most Expensive Spice

Saffron, derived from the autumn crocus, was first cultivated 3,000 years ago in ancient Persia for its rich flavor, color, and healing properties.

Saffron is often called 'red gold' as it retails for ₹3,00,000 per kilogram making it the most expensive spice in the world

Saffron's high price is due to its labor-intensive and time-specific production.

Saffron flowers bloom only for a few days during late September or early October and must be harvested by hand

It should be harvested in the morning when the saffron flowers open. It should be harvested with expertise

Farmers use their thumbnail and index fingers to cut the flower off at the base, making sure to get clean, fresh plants.

Each flower produces only three stigmas, which are picked by hand, dried, and then used as the saffron spice

Each stigma weighs approximately two milligrams. Therefore, about 370-470 hours are required to produce one kilogram of saffron.

To produce one kilogram of saffron, 1,50,000 saffron flowers should be plucked

These labor and time-intensive steps make saffron spice the most expensive spice around the world