KASHMIRI SAFFRON – The Golden Spice of Kashmir

In Pampore, Kashmir, fields of purple crocus flowers are encircled by imposing snow-capped mountains. The “Kashmiri Saffron – The Golden Spice of Kashmir”, is made from this bloom. Pampore, a little village 14 kilometers outside of Srinagar, is known as the “saffron capital of India” due to the more than 20,000 households that are actively involved in saffron production there.

The highest quality saffron produced in the region fetches prices of up to Rs 250,000 per kilogramme. The lengthy process of growing saffron is what drives up the price of the spice. Locals pluck little flowers and collect them in wicker baskets to start the procedure.

Each flower has three parts: petals, yellow strands, and red threads, which are arranged in priority. The red strands are used to extract the pure saffron. For a kilogramme of the red spice, more than 1,50,000 blossoms are sorted and scanned. The strands are then dried over a charcoal fire after that. One of the priciest spices in the world, saffron is often known as the “crop of gold”.

According to legend, Sufi saints Khwaja Masood Wali and Hazrat Sheikh Sharif-ud-Din brought it to Kashmir. Even the lyrics and hymns of the 16th-century poet Habba Khatoon included these enticing red strands. Habba Khatoon, who was referred to as the Nightingale of Kashmir, was a Pampore native.

Around November is when saffron is harvested. This is the time of year when visitors from all over the world flock to Pampore to see the meadows’ vibrant yellow, maroon, and purple blossoms.And harvest time resembles a festival for villages in the area. On the first day of the harvest, saffron farmers head to the shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Sharif-ud-Din in Namblabal Pampore to offer some saffron.

Although it is used in cooking, saffron has several health benefits. The oil used to make safranal slows the growth of cancer cells and also has anticonvulsant and depressive properties. Alfa-crocin, a carotenoid, also has a comparable impact. Potassium, manganese, iron, calcium, selenium, copper, zinc, and magnesium are among the minerals that are plentiful in it. It also contains significant amounts of vitamins A and C, riboflavin, folic acid, and niacin.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir hosts a three-day Saffron Festival each year that includes cultural activities. It starts in the final week of October and offers visitors the chance to visit saffron fields and shop for the spice directly from growers. To learn more please visit: https://rukhposh.com/kashmiri-saffron/