Authentic Afghan Saffron

The Connoisseur Jar — 5 Grams

Price $59.99
$11.99/g In stock

≈ 1250 hand-separated threads · about 50 dishes (a pinch seasons a dish for four)

Herat harvest — the season is stamped on every bottle

  • Free U.S. shipping over $50
  • Gift wrap and a handwritten card available at checkout
  • ISO 3632 Category I — the certificate is published on site
  • Doesn't pass the bloom test? We refund it. No return needed.
Details

For the kitchen that cooks with saffron, not around it.

Five grams of harvest-dated Super Negin at $12 per gram — qabuli pulao on Friday, golden tea every day.

  • 5 g all-red Super Negin · $12 per gram
  • About 100 family dishes, or 300 cups of tea
  • Single origin: Herat Province, Afghanistan
    Shipping & returns

    Standard U.S. shipping is $6.95 flat — free on orders over $50. Orders pack within 1–2 business days and arrive in 2–7 business days with tracking. Choose “Give as a Gift” at checkout for wrap and a handwritten card.

    Every bottle is covered by our 30-day potency guarantee: bloom a pinch, and if it doesn't turn deep gold within 10–15 minutes, we'll replace it or refund you in full. No restocking fee, no questions.

    FAQ
    How much saffron do I use?

    Three to five threads per cup of tea. A generous pinch — 15 to 20 threads — bloomed in 2 tbsp of warm water for a family rice dish. One gram is 60+ cups of tea or about 20 dishes.

    How do I know it's real?

    Every batch is independently tested at harvest time to ISO 3632 Category I and we publish the certificate. Then run the bloom test yourself: real saffron turns water gold slowly while the threads stay crimson. See the proof page.

    Is this threads or powder?

    Whole all-red threads, only ever. Powder is where adulteration hides — you cannot see what's in it.

    Can I have it gift wrapped?

    Yes. Choose "Give as a Gift" at checkout for wrap and a handwritten card. There is no charge for the card.

    How should I store it?

    Sealed in its bottle, in a cool dark cupboard. Never the fridge — humidity is the enemy. Kept well it holds peak aroma for two years or more.

    How much do I need?

    A pinch is plenty.

    Always bloom your threads first — 15 minutes in warm water unlocks color and aroma.

    Bloom calculator

    Enter how many servings you are making.

    10 threads to bloom
    2 tbsp warm water to bloom in

    A guide, not a rule — adjust to taste. Bloom threads in warm (not boiling) water for 10–15 minutes.

    Quick reference

    • 3

      threads

      Per cup of tea

      Water just off the boil. Five minutes. Don't stir.

    • 15

      threads

      Per pot of qabuli pulao

      Bloom in 2 tbsp warm water, then add liquid and threads together.

    • 15

      threads

      Per dessert batch

      Sholeh zard, kheer, custards and rice puddings.

    • 20

      threads

      Per large paella

      Serves 6–8. Bloom in warm stock for the deepest colour.

    Single origin

    Herat, Afghanistan. One province, and nowhere else.

    95% of Afghanistan's saffron grows in Herat's high-desert valleys — the origin the International Taste Institute has ranked the world's best for ten consecutive years. Every bottle is all-red Super Negin, cut above the yellow style, harvest-dated, and independently tested to ISO 3632 Category I. No blending, no vague 'imported', no powder.

    See the lab results

    What to do with it tonight

    Three threads. Hot water. Five golden minutes.

    Warm the cup. Three to five threads. Water just off the boil. Wait five minutes and watch the gold spread — that slow bloom is the proof of the grade you just bought.

    01 The Classic — Herati style, honey optional
    02 The Golden Latte — milk, honey, cardamom
    03 The Calm Cup — steeped long, with chamomile

    Real customers, real saffron

    Reviews