GRADE 1: RED GOLD
Kashmiri Saffron
Graded 1: "Red Gold", it is vibrantly coloured and has the most intense flavour. It is one of the most labour intensive products to create in the world; one kilo of fresh flowers yields about thirty grams of saffron threads - all hand harvested with extreme care.
Saffron seeds are put into gently loosened ground (once every 4 - 7 years) and the field is divided into mini domes to ensure that the seeds are exposed to optimal moisture and sunlight. Kashmir sees heavy winter snowfall, and the dome shape lends protects the fragile seedlings against the snow. The domes are gently worked by hand 4/5 times a year until Autumn when the flowers begin to bloom. They grow straight from the earth with no stems, and are harvested multiple times.