{"id":3088,"date":"2026-08-24T19:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagingen.saffrona.eu\/?p=3088"},"modified":"2026-10-11T12:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T12:18:33","slug":"saffrona-saffron-special-grade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/saffrona-saffron-special-grade\/","title":{"rendered":"Saffrona Saffron: Batch L2025-01 Assessed as Special Grade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Saffrona\u2019s Afghan saffron has received documented quality recognition: batch L2025-01 was independently assessed as Special Grade under ISO 3632-1:2025<\/strong>. This category sits above Category I and is the highest quality category in the current saffron specification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The classification is based on measured laboratory results. It documents the quality of the tested batch that Saffrona selects and supplies for the European market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Saffrona<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Category I to Special Grade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Batch L2025-01 was originally assessed as Category I under the earlier edition of ISO 3632. The revised specification, ISO 3632-1:2025, introduced Special Grade above Category I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saffrona then commissioned an updated assessment of the existing measurements against the new specification. The updated test report, AR-733-2025-00206306-02, dated 24 August 2026, classifies the tested batch as Special Grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tested sample therefore meets the requirements of the highest quality category in the current ISO specification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measured quality parameters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The classification is based on the following measured saffron quality parameters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality parameter<\/th>Batch L2025-01 result<\/th>Special Grade requirement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Colouring strength \u2013 Crocin<\/td>279 \u00b1 7<\/td>min. 230<\/td><\/tr>
Flavour \u2013 Picrocrocin<\/td>104 \u00b1 3<\/td>min. 80<\/td><\/tr>
Aroma \u2013 Safranal<\/td>30 \u00b1 3<\/td>20\u201350<\/td><\/tr>
Moisture<\/td>7.5 \u00b1 1.2%<\/td>max. 12% for saffron threads<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The crocin and picrocrocin measurements are above the minimum requirements. Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH<\/strong> performed the analysis and assigned the updated classification. Measurement uncertainties are shown as stated in the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This assessment applies specifically to the tested sample from batch L2025-01. It also supports claims for packed units whose documented traceability links them to that batch. It does not automatically apply to future harvests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality you can verify<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Terms such as \u201cPremium\u201d, \u201cbest quality\u201d or \u201cSuper Negin\u201d are frequently used in the saffron market. On their own, they do not provide an analytical assessment of product quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saffrona makes quality claims verifiable through laboratory measurements linked to an identified batch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISO 3632 assesses saffron using defined physical and chemical characteristics, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Colouring strength<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Flavour and bitterness-related measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Aroma-related measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Moisture content<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Further requirements for purity and physical condition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Special Grade is therefore a classification assigned through an independent laboratory assessment against the current specification, rather than a freely chosen marketing label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Afghan saffron for the European market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The tested saffron comes from Herat in western Afghanistan, a region with a long tradition of saffron cultivation. Saffrona works directly with family farms and a coordinated network of women-led saffron farms, connecting origin and processing with the European market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Special Grade assessment documents how carefully managed production and processing can deliver measured quality that meets the current specification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For Saffrona, this is an important milestone: Afghan saffron can be presented through transparent, internationally comparable quality measurements alongside its origin and the people who produce it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What does this mean for customers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Consumers receive specific evidence to inform their purchase. Foodservice, retail and food manufacturing businesses can assess the documented batch using concrete laboratory measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Saffrona\u2019s approach rests on three principles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Measurable quality supported by laboratory results<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Batch-specific transparency<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Traceable origin from cultivation to the European market<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The Special Grade classification of batch L2025-01 supports Saffrona\u2019s commitment to supplying high-quality Afghan saffron with clear, current quality documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Scope of the claim: the ISO 3632-1:2025 classification applies to the tested sample from batch L2025-01 and traceably linked packed units. ISO publishes international standards; it does not test or certify individual products.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In a market where quality terms are not always used consistently, batch-specific measurements provide additional guidance. Customers can assess documented results alongside origin, product descriptions and appearance. This transparency is central to Saffrona\u2019s quality approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Saffrona\u2019s Afghan saffron has received documented quality recognition: batch L2025-01 was independently assessed as Special Grade under ISO 3632-1:2025. This category sits above Category I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-afghan-saffron"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3088"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3581,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3088\/revisions\/3581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saffrona.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}