Sale of one kilogram of Iranian saffron in Turkey at 70,000 lira

Bags of premium Iranian saffron threads sold in Turkey at around 70,000 lira per kilogram

As of 2019, one kilogram of Iranian saffron in Turkey sold for around 70,000 lira. In Turkish markets, saffron — known locally as safran — tends to be bought more by foreign residents living in Turkey than by the local population.

Saffron, known in Iran as “red gold,” is expensive because of the labor involved in harvesting it: producing a single kilogram requires more than 170,000 flowers. Historically, saffron has been valued in traditional folk medicine across many cultures, though these traditional uses are not a substitute for modern medical treatment.

A Long History in Global Trade

Iranian saffron has a high export value, and Iran remains the largest saffron producer in the world. Saffron cultivation in Iran is believed to date back more than 3,000 years.

As Iranian traders exported saffron across the ancient world, they introduced it to the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Semitic peoples, including the Arabs, spreading its use to other nations around the Mediterranean between roughly the 1st and 4th centuries CE. According to historical accounts, saffron cultivation later spread through Persian communities to North Africa, Andalusia (present-day Spain), and Sicily, helping establish saffron growing in those regions as well.

Historical records suggest that Iranians have prized saffron and gold since ancient times, using them in celebrations and weddings, and to honor elders and guests.

Growing Competition in the Saffron Market

New producers such as Afghanistan, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, and India have become increasingly active in saffron cultivation and trade in recent years.