Saffron is not called “red gold” for nothing – the reason it is so expensive is due to a combination of several factors.
Why saffron is so expensive: a lot of work, short harvest time and location requirements
One gram of saffron costs between four and 30 euros. The reason the spice is so expensive is due to the combination of high labor input, long and short harvesting times and the location requirements of the saffron plant.
- Location requirements: Saffron grows best in a dry and sunny climate that is not too hot. It should not get too cold during the year either. These location requirements limit the possible areas where saffron can be grown. The majority of saffron is grown in Iran.
- Long time until the first bloom: When saffron is planted, it cannot be harvested the following year. The plant needs a growing period of three years to produce the first flowers that can be harvested.
- Short harvest time: Saffron only blooms once a year for a short period of time. The time in which saffron can be harvested is just two weeks.
- Difficult harvest: The stigmas (pistils) of the saffron flowers, from which the spice is later made, are extremely delicate and must therefore be harvested by hand.
- Low yield: It takes about 150,000 saffron flowers to produce 90 grams of red gold. This low yield combined with the high labor required drives up the price.
Price development of saffron: Why the spice will become even more expensive in the future
Saffron will probably become even more expensive in the future. There are two main reasons for this:
- Increasing demand: The demand for saffron on the world market is increasing. Since supply cannot be increased indefinitely due to the factors mentioned above, the logic of the market economy means that the price of saffron will continue to rise if demand increases.
- Climate change: Climate change is accompanied by extreme weather phenomena. This could also affect saffron cultivation and lead to unpredictable fluctuations in yields. If the supply is not stable, this will also be reflected in the price.