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Saffron
One of Iran’s best and most important products is saffron, which is used in coloring, cooking and many other applications. The world’s annual saffron production stands at around 210 tons, some 180 tons of which is produced in the Iran. About 85 percent of Iran annual saffron production is exported to other nations.
South Khorasan Province has a considerable share of 45 tons per annum of saffron production, and four agricultural and horticultural cooperative companies in this province are in charge of the affairs regarding saffron from production to its sale.
Establishment of modern saffron laboratories and packaging factories in the cities of the northeastern province of Iran would contribute to the production of high quality produce and promote its exports across the world.
Saffron's aroma is often described by connoisseurs as reminiscent of metallic honey with grassy or hay-like notes, while its taste has also been noted as hay-like and somewhat bitter. Saffron also contributes a luminous yellow-orange colouring to foods.
Saffron is widely used in Iranian (Persian), Arab, Central Asian, European, Indian, Turkish, Moroccan and Cornish cuisines.
Confectionaries and liquors also often include saffron. Saffron has a long history as part of traditional healing; modern medicine has also discovered saffron as having anticarcinogenic (cancer-suppressing), anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing), immunomodulating, and antioxidant-like properties. Saffron has also been used as a fabric dye, particularly in China and India, and in perfumery.
Saffron prices at wholesale and retail rates range from US$500/pound to US$5,000/pound (US$1100–US$11,000 per kilogram)—equivalent to £250/€350 per pound or £5,500/€7,500 per kilo. In Western countries, the average retail price is $1,000/£500/€700 per pound (US$2200/£1100/€1550 per kilogram).
A pound comprises between 70,000 and 200,000 threads. Vivid crimson colouring, slight moistness, elasticity, recent harvest date, and lack of broken-off thread debris are all traits of fresh saffron.
References:
ISNA, Fars News
Mehr News
Payvand www.payvand.com/news/06/aug/1073.html
Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron
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