GUIDE
How to Source Premium Saffron
A step-by-step guide to finding reliable suppliers and building a supply relationship that lasts.
Saffron is the most adulterated spice in the world, which makes supplier selection more important than price negotiation. A cheap lot that fails your customer's test costs far more than the margin you saved.
Start with the specification, not the price
Decide the colour strength, moisture ceiling and grade you actually need before you ask anyone for a number. A supplier quoting against your written specification can be compared fairly; a supplier quoting against 'good quality saffron' cannot.
Test before you commit
Ask for a sample drawn from a real lot, not a showcase sample, and have it tested independently — ISO 3632 colour strength, moisture, and a check for added dye. A supplier who resists this has told you something useful.
Judge the relationship, not just the batch
Ask what happens when a season is short, whether they will hold stock against a forecast, and what they do when a batch fails their own check. The answers to those three questions predict your next two years better than the first invoice does.
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