The carotenoid responsible for saffron's colour. Measured by UV-Vis absorbance at 440 nm and reported as E¹% 1cm. ISO 3632-1 Category I requires ≥ 190.
The glycoside behind saffron's taste. Measured at 257 nm. Category I requires ≥ 70.
The volatile compound giving saffron its hay-like aroma. Measured at 330 nm; the standard expects a value between 20 and 50.
The international standard for saffron specification and test methods. Part 1 sets the categories, Part 2 the test procedures.
ISO 3632 quality tiers set by minimum crocin and picrocrocin values. Category I is the highest.
Kashmiri grade consisting of stigma only, with the style removed. The highest Kashmiri grade.
Kashmiri grade where a length of the pale style stays attached to the stigma, lowering colour value per gram.
The longest, most uniform all-red Iranian thread, cut clear of the style.
All-red Iranian thread, shorter than Super Negin but meeting the same category thresholds.
Broken all-red stigma tips. Strong colour, no presentation value; used for extraction and blends.
Iranian thread with a short length of style attached — the Iranian analogue of Lacha.
The pollen-receiving part of the crocus flower. Three per flower; this is the saffron.
The pale stalk connecting stigma to ovary. Edible but nearly colourless — its presence defines lower grades.
The autumn-flowering crocus from which all true saffron comes. Sterile; propagated by corm.
The underground storage organ the crocus grows from, lifted and divided every few years.
The elevated plateau soils of Pampore, Kashmir — well-drained silt where Kashmiri saffron is grown.
Carthamus tinctorius petals — flat, wide and red. The most common visual substitute for saffron.
Artificial colouring applied to inferior thread. Betrays itself by bleeding red instantly in cold water.
The lab document stating the measured crocin, picrocrocin, safranal and moisture values for a specific lot.
The Harmonised System heading for saffron. India uses 0910 20 10 for saffron in its crude form.
The DGFT-issued code permitting a business to export from India. Quoted on every shipping document.
Issued by plant quarantine authorities confirming a consignment is free of pests and disease.
Establishes the country of manufacture, used for customs clearance and preferential duty.
Free On Board. Seller delivers, cleared for export, onto the vessel at the named load port; risk passes there.
Cost, Insurance and Freight. Seller pays carriage and insurance to the named destination port.
Cost and Freight — as CIF, but the buyer arranges insurance.
Ex Works. Buyer collects from the seller's premises and handles everything from there.
The smallest quantity a supplier will produce or ship for a given grade or packaging format.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Navi Mumbai — India's largest container port and our default load port.
Packing under the buyer's brand, artwork and destination-compliant labelling.
A closure that visibly breaks on first opening — required by most retail and pharmacy channels.
Replacing air in a pouch with nitrogen to slow oxidation and protect colour and aroma in transit.
No term matches that. Try "crocin", "category" or "incoterm".
Sample first. Decide after.
Tell us the grade and volume you are working to and we will send an indicative offer, the specification sheet, and a sample dispatch window — normally within one working day.