Some believes that the origin of saffron is from the ancient land of Medes of Iran, some researchers believes that the origin of saffron is from the vast areas of world including Greece, Turkey, Minor Asia and Iran. The Iranian while exporting saffron to most of the areas of ancient world, have introduced its properties to Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Samis including Arabs and trained the method of its cultivation to the Islamic nations neighboring to Mediterranean in the 1st and 4th centuries (Hejri).
The Iranian nations like Rostamian and Beno Tabari were successful in the transfer of culture of saffron cultivation. The historical evidences shows this reality that the Iranian were interested and paid attention towards gold and saffron since the ancient time in such a way that they were spending gold and saffron in festivals, ceremonies like wedding, fest or welcoming the great person and pilgrims.
In the eras of Archeamenian, saffron was used for decorating bread and flavoring food. In the era of Parts, the Iranian saffron was exported to Greece and Rome. After that China became the customer of Iranian saffron. In the era of Sasanides, cultivation of saffron became accustomed in Ghom and Bon and the quality of that product became famous. At the same time, saffron was used for finishing of expensive papers, but mostly the solution of saffron was used as writing ink and used in the compound of durable writing ink for a long period.
In addition, saffron was also used in writing religious prays on paper and cloth and sometimes on shrouding. Saffron with all its properties, characteristics and qualities was also used by literary men, writers and poets and we are sure that the word saffron and its expression and comparison are mostly used in Persian texts and sources in comparison to other works of world languages.
In the 10th century, cultivation of saffron became famous by Arabs (Arabs learned from Iranian) in Spain and subsequently in the 18th century became accustomed in Walden and Essex in England and nowadays this place is known as Walden Saffron . As shown in the literary and medical writings of India, saffron is well known for the people of that land for the long time. Also, saffron plays special attention among the people of Egypt, Greece, Jews, Hindus and Moslems.
At the end, Saffron is cultivated chiefly in Iran. Soil and weather conditions naturally vary in the saffron cultivating countries. The climate of Iran country makes it suitable for saffron growth. Khorasan state has almost %90 of total saffron production in Iran. Therefore, Iran is the biggest producer and provider saffron along with the highest quality in the world.