The most important factors in saffron are Crocin (color), Picrocrocin (flavor) and Safranal (aroma). Higher amount of these compounds in saffron provide higher quality of saffron. The International Organization for Standardization ( ISO) issued a specific standard for saffron based on minimum requirement of each quality, which is called ISO 3632. ISO Certification must be done by a third party. There are two laboratories used for chemical and microbial test required to process the raw material. Saffron in filaments is classified into four categories, on the basis of its floral waste and extraneous matter content. Trade requirements for saffron in filaments or in powder form as given by ISO 3632 are presented as below:
Table 1 - Classification
of saffron in filaments
|
Characteristic
|
Categories
|
|
Extra I
|
II
|
III
|
IV
|
|
Floral waste
% (m/m),
max.
Extraneous
matter
% (m/m)
max.
|
0.5
0.1
|
4
0.5
|
7
1.0
|
10
1.0
|
Table
2 - Chemical requirements for saffron, in filaments or in powder form
|
Characteristic
|
Requirement
|
Test method
|
|
Saffron in
filaments
|
Saffron
in Powder form
|
|
Moisture and volatile matter, %
(m/m), max
|
12
|
10
|
ISO
3632-2, clause 9
|
|
Total ash, % (m/m), on dry basis,
max.
|
8
|
8
|
ISO
928 & ISO 3632-2 clause 10
|
|
Acid-insoluble ash, % (m/m),
on dry basis, max.
Categories I and II
Categories III and IV
|
1,0
1,5
|
1,0
1,5
|
ISO
930 & ISO 3632-2, clause 11
|
|
Solubility in cold water, % (m/m),
on dry basis, max.
|
65
|
65
|
ISO
941
|
|
Bitterness, expressed
as direct reading of
the absorbance
of picrocrocine at about
257 nm, on dry basis, min.
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV
|
70
55
40
30
|
70
55
40
30
|
ISO
3632-2, clause 13
|
|
Safranal, expressed as
direct reading
of the absorbance
at about 330 nm, on dry
categories
min.
max.
|
20
50
|
20
50
|
ISO
3632-2, clause 13
|
|
Colouring strength,
expressed as direct reading
of the absorbance of crocine at about 440 nm,
on dry basis, min.
Category I
Category II
Category III
Category IV
|
190
150
110
80
|
190
150
110
80
|
ISO
3632-2, clause 13
|
|
Total nitrogen, % (m/m), on dry
basis, max.1)
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
ISO
1871
|
|
Crube fibre, % (m/m), on dry
basis, max.1)
|
6
|
6
|
ISO
5498
|
Processing, sorting, and packing of our saffron are done under the supervision of our trained and experienced staffs by applying defined systems. In addition, we supply our customers with Iran standard institute certification, which is official organization for saffron analysis as well as ISO 3632 certificate.