Tehran - November 5th marks National Saffron Day in Iran, a celebration of the nation's rich history and significant economic contribution to the global saffron trade.

Iran exported a significant 221 tons of saffron in 2023, out of a total production of 238 tons. These exports generated $208 million in revenue.


Cultivated in Iran for centuries, saffron, often dubbed "red gold," is prized for its delicate, vibrant threads. These threads are used worldwide in both culinary and medicinal applications. As one of the world's leading saffron producers, Iran produces over 90% of the world’s supply of saffron.

Currently, saffron is cultivated in more than 27 provinces over 123,000 hectares of land, producing 450-470 tons of the strategic commodity per year.

It is a medicinal and spice plant known to Iranians more than 4,000 years ago. The word saffron was originally called ‘zarparan’ consisting of the two Persian words of zar meaning gold and paran meaning flower blossoms referring to purple crocuses of the plant.

In the old Persia, saffron was first found near Alvand and Zagros mountains during the kingdom of Media that goes way back to 708 – 550 BC and the Persians were the first race to cultivate it. Alexander the Macedonian is said to have stewed in it in the bath, believing that it helped heal wounds.

Today saffron is mainly used to season and color dishes. It is a strategic product in many aspects, chiefly harvested in the vast plains of Khorasan, but it is being promulgated to other provinces across Iran in recent years.

Saffron is a labor-intensive crop which needs 250,000 flimsy crimson red strands to be plucked laboriously by hand from about 75,000 crocus blooms to make a pound. The flowers must be picked early in the morning before the scent is lost to the heat of the day and then dried.

Currently, 67 countries import saffron from Iran.