Understanding Saffron Grades: What You Need to Know
Saffron, often called the "King of Spices," is highly prized for its vibrant color, exquisite aroma, and distinctive flavor. However, not all saffron is created equal. To ensure quality, saffron is classified into different grades based on key characteristics such as color intensity, flavor, and aroma.
There are several internationally recognized saffron grades, the most common being:
1. Super Negin
Super Negin is the highest grade of saffron available. It consists only of the thick, crimson-red stigma tips, without any yellow or orange parts. Super Negin saffron has the highest levels of crocin (color), picrocrocin (taste), and safranal (aroma), offering the purest experience for culinary and medicinal use.
2. Negin
Negin saffron also features red stigmas but may be slightly less thick or perfectly straight compared to Super Negin. It is still of excellent quality, highly prized for premium applications in food and beverages.
3. Sargol
Sargol saffron is composed of shorter, pure red stigmas. It is very potent in color and aroma but can sometimes include tiny traces of yellow style. It’s a popular choice for both home and professional chefs.
4. Pushal (Pushali)
Pushal saffron includes the red stigmas along with a small portion of the yellow style (the connecting part of the flower). While still offering a strong aroma and color, Pushal is slightly less concentrated than the top three grades and is often more affordable.
5. Bunch (Dasteh)
Bunch saffron is the entire dried saffron thread, including red stigmas and yellow or white styles. It is typically used in traditional markets and offers a broader saffron flavor profile, although with lower concentration than higher grades.
Understanding saffron grades empowers you to make better purchasing decisions. Whether you seek the unparalleled quality of Super Negin or the affordability of Pushal, selecting the right grade ensures you enjoy saffron’s luxurious properties to the fullest.
At Novin Saffron, we offer a range of premium saffron grades to meet every need — from gourmet cooking to special ceremonies. Explore our collections today!
