Saffron Academy · Quality research
A regional comparison offers useful evidence about saffron samples, but cannot rank every product from two countries. This guide explains a 2024 study without turning its findings into a blanket origin guarantee.
About the study
Nazarian, Nasiri Mahalati, Sahabi and Feizi compared samples from seven Herat districts and nine Torbat Heydarieh localities, collected in 2021. They used UV/Vis quality indicators associated with colour, bitterness and aroma.
Reported mean values
| Indicator | Herat samples | Torbat Heydarieh samples |
|---|---|---|
| Colouring strength, crocin-associated | 279.1 | 237.4 |
| Bitterness, picrocrocin-associated | 101.0 | 89.6 |
| Aroma-related, safranal-associated | 31.4 | 34.2 |
Herat had higher mean colour and bitterness indicators; the Iranian samples had the higher mean aroma-related value. Zendeh Jan’s sample recorded 303, 106 and 33 respectively. An Iranian locality, Abrood, also appeared in the higher-quality cluster.
279.1 divided by 237.4 is about 1.18, not five. These means therefore do not demonstrate five times the colouring strength. Nor is an individual analytical indicator a percentage measure of overall quality.
What do the measurements mean?
UV/Vis values are conventional analytical indicators. Wavelengths such as 440 nm identify where absorption is measured; they are not themselves quality scores or selective measurements of an exact single-compound concentration.
The study’s historical classification should be read in its original standard context. It should not be retroactively treated as a complete assessment under the later ISO 3632-1:2025 specification.
What can and cannot be concluded?
The comparison supports differences between the tested samples and shows that high-quality saffron was present in both regional datasets. It does not establish that all Afghan saffron is superior to all Iranian saffron, that every future harvest will have the same values, or that a country name certifies purity.
Climate, cultivation, harvesting, drying and storage can influence saffron. A proposed explanation is not the same as a measured cause. Claims about pesticide absence, pristine soil or one uniquely superior irrigation system require appropriate direct evidence.
For consumers and professional buyers
Assess the actual product, rather than a national stereotype. Ask for traceable origin, a clearly identified batch, suitable storage and relevant laboratory information. A regional research paper is not a certificate for the package being purchased.
Supporting growers and women-led production is a separate sourcing question. It should be documented through the business’s actual relationships, rather than inferred from an analytical comparison.
Related guides
Reference
Nazarian R., Nasiri Mahalati M., Sahabi H. and Feizi H. (2024). Advances in Horticultural Science, 38(1), 75–81. Original study.