How Kashmiri Saffron Is Made: Quick Answer
Here is how Kashmiri saffron is made, in short. Saffron corms are planted in Pampore’s karewa soil in July–August. The purple flowers bloom from mid-October to November and are picked by hand at dawn. The three red stigmas are pulled out the same day, then dried and graded.
- 150+ flowers make just 1 gram
- Picking and separating are done by hand
- Harvest lasts only a few weeks
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1. Corms are planted (July–August)
Saffron does not grow from seeds. It grows from corms, small bulbs that look a bit like garlic.
- Planted on the raised karewa plateaus around Pampore
- They rest underground through summer and multiply each year
- One field can flower for several seasons before replanting
2. The purple bloom (mid-October to November)
When autumn nights turn cool, the fields turn purple. Each flower has purple petals, three yellow stamens and three red stigmas.
- Only the red stigmas are saffron
- The bloom is short, so families pick every morning for a few weeks
3. Hand-picked at dawn
Flowers are picked early, before the sun fully opens them and the heat dulls colour and aroma.
- Pickers pinch each flower at the base
- Flowers go into wicker baskets
- No machine does this. It is all by hand
4. Threads separated the same day
At home, the flowers are spread on cloth and the three red stigmas are pulled out one by one.
- Petals and yellow stamens are set aside
- Only red tips become Mongra
- Threads with some yellow style become Lacha
5. Slow drying
Fresh stigmas hold a lot of water. They lose about 80% of their weight as they dry.
- Traditionally dried in shade or soft sun on cloth
- Many growers now also use controlled dryers
- Too much heat burns the threads, too little lets them spoil
6. Graded and packed
Dried threads are sorted by grade, weighed and sealed in airtight, dark packs.
- Grades explained: Mongra, Lacha and Guchhi
- About the GI tag and the region: Pampore saffron
Why 150+ flowers for 1 gram?
This is the simple maths behind the price of kesar.
- Each flower gives only 3 thin threads
- Threads lose most of their weight when dried
- So you need about 150–170 flowers, all picked and cleaned by hand, for 1 gram
- What that means for price: saffron price per gram
What this means when you buy
Knowing how Kashmiri saffron is made helps you read a pack better.
- A harvest date from late October to December means new crop
- No yellow at all suggests Mongra, a little yellow suggests Lacha
- Full buying checklist: how to buy Kashmiri saffron
- Test it at home: 7 home tests
How Kashmiri Saffron Is Made: FAQs
How is Kashmiri saffron made?
Corms are planted in July–August. Flowers bloom mid-October to November, are hand-picked at dawn, and the red stigmas are separated, dried and graded.
When is saffron harvested in Kashmir?
From mid-October to November, for only a few weeks.
How many flowers make 1 gram of saffron?
About 150–170 flowers, because each gives only three thin threads.
Which part of the flower is saffron?
Only the three red stigmas. The yellow parts are stamens or style.
Why is saffron picked early in the morning?
Before the sun opens the flowers fully, which helps protect colour and aroma.
Source: S.S. Rana & Co. on the Kashmir saffron GI tag.
