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12 Best Saffron Brands in India You Must Know About

Megha Agarwal

October 3, 2024

Ayurveda and traditional blends have always been a popular choice for many for the remedying numerous health problems. One of the most potent spices used in Ayurveda for ages is saffron. It is a one-of-a-kind spice that we use for multiple purposes as an aromatic agent to a beautifying ingredient. But when you plan to buy saffron from the market, you must opt for a brand that offers a genuine and authentic product. For making a smart choice, navigate through our list of the best quality saffron-producing brands in India. 

Our Top Picks:

Lion Saffron

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Upakarma

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House of Saffron

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Types of Saffron

Saffron is cultivated in various parts of the world, and different types of saffron are known for their distinct characteristics and quality. Here, we have discussed some of the most popular saffron available.

Bunch Saffron

Bunch Saffron is a type of saffron where the red and yellow parts are found together in a single strand. It consists of approximately 30% red part and 70% yellow part. The saffron is whole, and the stigmas of the three saffron branches are not separated from the white part (also known as the saffron cream).

Poshal

Among all Persian saffron kinds, Poshal saffron is the most affordable. The style (the term for this component of the flower) only comprises the yellow and orange base of the stigma. This variety has very little saffron, and neither its medicinal nor culinary effects are very noteworthy.

Sargol

Sargol Saffron is one of the most widely used and common types of saffron that is familiar to consumers. It is graded and priced based on factors such as the thickness and fineness of the stigmas, as well as whether they are broken or not. Most often, sargol is used in cooking because of its colour. It has a wonderful scent as well, making it perfect for culinary purposes.

Negin

Negin Saffron is known for its beautiful colour, shape, and aroma. It has three smooth and unbroken strands of stigmas that are connected to each other. Due to its beautiful appearance, Negin saffron is considered to be more expensive than Sargol saffron.

Kashmiri Saffron

Kashmiri saffron is grown in the Kashmir valley in India, and it is known for its distinct aroma and flavour. It is characterised by its dark maroon threads and is often considered to be one of the best-quality saffron varieties in the world. Kashmiri saffron is known for its intense aroma, slightly bitter taste, and rich colouring properties. This makes it highly prized in culinary and medicinal applications.

List of the Top 12 Saffron Brands in India

Lion Saffron

Lion Saffron originated in the year 1957 in Kashmir. It is one of the oldest saffron producers which handpicks some of the best variations of saffron in the world. It is the best saffron brand in India for luxurious saffron gift boxes with exquisite packaging. The company grows the best species of saffron in Jammu and Kishtwar and caters to consumers after several rounds of lab tests. 

Notable Features of Lion Saffron:

• Lion Saffron manufactures red Kashmiri saffron, which has several health benefits. 
• It boosts immunity and keeps your digestive system calm and going.
• It has several antioxidants good for pregnant women and the baby in their womb. 
• Mongra Kesar and Lacha Saffron are the most popular saffron varieties of the brand Lion Saffron. 

Pros:

• Vegetarian 
• Different varieties available
• Available in various price ranges
• A+++ and A++ graded variants only

Why We Picked Lion Saffron?

Lion Saffron is the best Kashmiri saffron brand in India that keeps no stone unturned to cultivate the purest forms of saffron in the laps of Kashmiri valleys. Plus, the company makes meticulous efforts to purify the saffron strands and bring the best to consumers. 

Upakarma

Upakarma Ayurveda is a unique brand that offers herbal products. It explores different forms of saffron and makes skincare and beverage products. Through meticulous research, the brand has developed different products like tea, resin, and pure shilajit capsules. It also makes health capsules like neem, giloy, and turmeric capsules, besides producing pure saffron. 

Notable Features of Upakarma:

• The brand primarily cultivates Afghani and Kashmiri saffron. 
• The Kashmiri kesar helps improve your skin texture and brightens it to impart a natural glow. 
• It also deals with skin imperfections and heals them with the essential antioxidants in it. 
• It can be used in food as a flavouring agent to enhance the aroma of any dish. 

Pros:

• 100% vegetarian
• GMP certified
• ISO certified 
• Comes in handy packaging
• Available in different variations

Cons:

• Little pricey

Why We Picked Upakarma?

Upakarma handpicks each stigma of saffron to assure no damage to the saffron threads. It also makes sure each of them goes through rigorous testing and quality checks. 

House of Saffron

House of Saffron is an eminent name in the saffron business. Fine artisans of Kashmir handpick each strand to maintain purity. The company produces various types of saffron to cater to different people’s requirements. 

Notable Features of House of Saffron:

• It cultivates premium ranges of saffron like diamond, gold, and platinum according to ISO standards. 
• It is one of the best quality saffron brands in India for pregnant women. Its assured quality makes it suitable for pregnant and gestating women to build immunity and remain healthy. 
• The saffron ranges of this brand are alluringly fragrant for use in preparations like biryani and kulfi. 

Pros:

• A1+++ ISO graded variations available
• Available in strand and powder form
• All vegetarian variants

Why We Picked House of Saffron?

House of Saffron is among our best picks as it sustainably sources saffron from Pampore, Kashmir. Each strand is immensely effective in restoring immunity and building strength on a cellular level. 

Dry Fruit Hub

Dry Fruits Hub is a popular brand which aims to provide healthy snacks and food for its consumers. The brand is quite popular in India, and it keeps the traditional flavours of India alive through its delicious and authentic products. 

Notable Features of Haldiram’s:

• Its saffron is plucked with perfection from the Kashmiri valleys to provide the best quality saffron
• The saffron enhances digestion, thus uplifting your mood and immunity
• The saffron has a vibrant colour that entices your vision and satiates your taste buds
• It is suitable for boosting your health and can be used regularly. 

Pros:

• Vegetarian products
• ISO certified 
• Comes in a beautiful wooden gift box

Why We Picked Haldiram’s?

The saffron cultivated by this Dry Fruits Hub is free from any allergens, preservatives, and gluten. It has a rich flavour providing you with a delectable experience. 

Everest

Everest is a household name in the spice industry with a broad portfolio. It has a place in the heart of thousands of Indians for its purity and guarantee of quality. Each spice from this brand can intoxicate your taste buds and tantalise your senses. The pioneer of spices ensures you have a memorable culinary experience. 

Notable Features of Everest:

• This brand is one of the best pure saffron brands in India that adds an enriching touch to every dish it goes into. 
• Saffron stigma is handpicked from the best flowers of the season to infuse the best of flavours. 
• It accentuates Mughlai dishes like pulao, biryani, and korma. 

Pros:

• No added preservatives
• Hygienically packed
• Sourced from the best farms
• Affordable 

Why We Picked Everest?

Everest is chosen to be among the best brands of saffron in India as it is driven by quality and not quantity. The strands of saffron are carefully plucked from the flowers to retain their richness and effectiveness.

Keynote

Keynote is an international brand that produces export-grade products like honey and saffron. Its mission is to spread the goodness of its products sourced from exclusive farms in India and abroad. Gulkand, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and kokum syrup are some of its offerings to its customers. 

Notable Features of Keynote:

• Keynote is among the best saffron brands in India that manufacture saffron by flash drying each strand to provide the best-graded saffron of optimal length and depth of colour.
• Each package is vacuum-packed in airtight glass jars to reach the customers at its highest potential.
• It sells the mongra variant of saffron. 
• The saffron produced by Keynote has a phytosanitary clearance ensuring the best is served to you. 

Pros:

• No chemicals added
• Instants acting saffron strands
• Certified by NABL
• Laboratory tested 
• 100% vegetarian

Baby Brand Saffron 

Baby Brand saffron has a legacy of over 50 years in producing 100% pure saffron strands. The brand is all about saffron and has been a family-run business for generations. It presently has a fully-automated factory in Neemrana, India, to process saffron and proffer the best quality saffron to India. 

Notable Features of Baby Brand Saffron:

• The saffron cultivated and manufactured by Baby Brand Saffron is handpicked and processed with utmost care.
• Saffron is an immunity booster that empowers cellular activity and improves overall health. 
• It brightens the skin and improves skin tone and texture through its antioxidants. 

Pros:

• Export quality saffron
• Hygienically packed
• Produces finest quality saffron
• Value for money brand

Vedaka

Vedaka is a brand launched by the e-commerce site Amazon. It manufactures dry fruits and groceries of premium quality. It also produces different types of teas suiting the taste pallets of different populations. 

Notable Features of Vedaka:

• It produces 100% authentic saffron threads which have no adulteration.
• It is a versatile product of the brand that can be used as a flavouring agent, colourant, or even in skincare home mixes. 
• It takes only a few seconds to infuse in any mixture to extract its aroma. 
• It is sourced from a single origin point to ensure the same quality each time. 

Pros:

• 100% vegetarian
• Laboratory tested
• Comes in premium packaging

Healofy Naturals

Healofy Naturals is a skincare and nutritional expert that crafts products with natural ingredients, specifically for mothers and children. The brand takes 360-degree care of the body through its wide product range comprising personal care, pregnancy care, baby care, and nutrition care products. 

Notable Features of Healofy Naturals:

• This saffron is specially manufactured for the nutritional care of mothers and their foetuses. 
• It is one of the best organic saffron brands in India as it is directly sourced from organic farms.
• By having Healofy saffron, pregnant women can wave off mood swings as it optimises the release of serotonin that modulates mood and improves the quality of sleep. 
• The saffron is good for cramp relief and supports healthy digestion. 

Pros:

• A++ graded pure saffron
• Affordable
• Doctor’s approved
• ISO certified

Truthsome

You can explore a vast range of hair care and skin care products offered by Truthsome. It makes every blend without any harsh chemicals and toxins. The company is also popular for its fine-quality saffron. 

Notable Features of Truthsome:

• Truthsome is one of the best brands producing saffron that packs each saffron strand with delicate hands. 
• This saffron has the power of multiple antioxidants that deal with free radicals, help brighten your skin, and reduce blemishes. 
• It is a good digestion improver and helps with menstrual cramps. 
• Pregnant women can have it daily to control mood swings and strengthen the baby’s bones. 

Pros:

• Cost-effective
• Fights carcinogenic free-radicals
• A+++ graded saffron producer

Surkh

Consumers across the globe love saffron produced by the brand Surkh. The brand brings you the best and finest quality of the most exotic saffron. Surkh is synonymous with deep red, and so is the saffron produced by this brand. 

Notable Features of Surkh:

• Surkh saffron has natural antioxidants that benefit both women and men. 
• You can use this saffron for cooking aromatic dishes, as a nutritional supplement, and for skin care. 
• It is good for memory retention. 
• Saffron produced by Surkh is a fine agent for weight loss if consumed regularly. 

Pros:

• ISO grade 1 tested
• FSSAI certified
• Easy on wallet
• 100% vegetarian

Vedapure

Vedapure explores the bounty of nature and churns out 5000-year-old secrets of Ayurveda. It deals with products from different arrays to help people lead a healthy life. The enormous product range includes shilajit resin, saffron, tea, Ayurvedic juices, and immunity boosters. 

Notable Features of Vedapure:

• Vedapure picks its saffron from the Herat province of Kashmir, where the climate and soil are perfect for growing saffron flowers. 
• The harvested saffron is all-red, as high-quality saffron should be. 
• The harvested saffron is naturally dried to ensure better shelf-life and potency. 

Pros:

• A++ graded saffron

Cons:

• Little pricey

How to Check Saffron’s Purity?

Saffron is widely used in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic applications due to its distinct flavour, aroma, and vibrant colour. However, it is often adulterated with lower-quality or counterfeit products. Therefore, it is important to know how to check saffron’s purity to ensure you are getting authentic saffron. To help you out, here are some tips to help you determine the purity of saffron.

Use your fingers to sift the saffron strands

Take a few saffron threads and place them on your finger after letting them soak in cold water for a few minutes. With two fingers, rub the threads a few times back and forth. Pure saffron threads won’t disintegrate. However, fake saffron will crumble.

Cold water test

Fill up a glass with cold water and place a few saffron threads on top of it. Both pure and changed saffron will partially release their colours into the water.

Pure saffron will release fewer colours more gradually. If the saffron is pure, you’ll see that the threads gradually take on a golden tint. The water in the cup may not become totally yellow for 10 to 15 minutes.

On the other hand, if the water is deeply coloured, it is likely that the saffron is adulterated. Since this product probably includes harmful colouring chemicals, we advise you to avoid using it at all.

Another thing to keep in mind is that pure saffron threads will maintain their colour. However, adulterated ones will quickly turn white.

Use baking soda

In a small cup with water, mix the saffron and baking soda. If the final combination turns out to be yellow, you are looking at pure saffron.

Final Word

All the saffron brands added to the list are known for their quality and integrity. Some produce different variants of saffron, while others offer a single variant. As per the customer reviews, we found Lion Saffron and Upakarma to be the most liked and reviewed brands, but that does not mean the other brands fall behind. Each one of them has curated methodologies to offer saffron of the best kind and process them retaining its benefits. So, go through our list of the best saffron brands in India and select the one you like. Whichever you pick, you will receive quality saffron. 

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Why Trust CashKaro Reviews?

At CashKaro, accuracy is critical while reviewing any product or brand. While making the list of best saffron brands, the same was followed. Every brand featured on the list is well-studied by experts. Only the brands with the best features and good customer reviews have been selected.

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