Quality Control

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.