HAMTA SAFFRON

PAY TO PEACE BY RED GOLD

Once Try, Always Use

What is Saffron?

Saffron is a spice derived from a rare

plant called Crocus Flower. The plant

can grow up to 20-30 cm having four

flowers, each with three Stigmas at the

end. These stigmas along with the

styles are collected to be dried and

prepared as what we know as saffron

spice. Compared to its weight, saffron

is the most expensive spice in the

world.

The extremely pleasant aroma of the

saffron is linked to more than 150

chemical compound present in the

plant.

Many of these compounds are from the carotenoid family including lycopene,

zeaxanthin, and alpha and beta carotenes. Also, the yellow colour of the saffron

is yielded by a component called alpha crocin. Throughout the harvesting and

drying processes of the saffron, a molecule is formed which is called safranal

and is the main origin of saffron strong aromatic flavour.

Types of Saffron?

Despite what may many think, saffron

is categorised into various types based

of quality and strength. The strength

and quality in turn, are related to

distinct factors such as age, ratio of

styles and stigma and the origin of the

plant. The best and the most costly

saffron is cultivated in Iran which has

various grades including Sargol, Pushal,

Khooshe or bunch, Konj (Konge) or

white and Negin.

The grades for Spanish saffron are

Coupe (similar to Iranian Sargol),

Mancha (similar to Iranian Pushal),

Rio, Standard and Sierra. Other

saffron producing countries do not

have any classified grades for their

product.

Other than these mentioned grades,

there is an International Standard

System (ISO 3632) which

determines the grade of saffron by

laboratory measurement of Crocin

(for colour), Picrocrocin (for taste)

and Safranal (for fragrance).

According to this grading, saffron

has three grades, based on the

spectrophotometric reading of the

Crocin.

The International grades include;

Grade I (finest grade) with the

reading of more than 250 is the

best grade of saffron which Sargol and Coupe fall into this

category.

Grade II with the reading of up to 250 with the example of

Pushal and Mancha.

Grade III with the reading of up to 170.

Colour Strength:

1. Bunches Saffron 120 150 UPS

2. Pooshal (Mancha) Saffron 170 250 UPS

3. Sargol (All Red) Saffron 260 270 UPS

4. Negin (Negin Sargol or Pooshal Negin) 270 < UPS

Iran India Greece

Azerbaijan Morocco Italy

Turkey France Switzerland

Persian Saffron

As is mentioned before, with harvesting more

than 300 tons annually, Iran accounts for almost

95% of world production of saffron. This spice

is perfectly fitted with the dry climate and soil

composition. In addition, the eminent crop

protection and harvesting processes, makes the

Iranian saffron, the best and costliest exquisite

condiment in the world.

Having tens of centuries of fame and name in

glowing of this ancient fragrance of Persia,

the Iranian saffron has been sitting heads and

shoulders above all the producing countries

around the world. This is a gift from holy

mother of earth which was conferred to that

specific soil.

IRAN 95%

Who We Are?

Hamta Group, is a prominent multinational and multi-product business operating across

all over the world. Hamta Group is a foremost independent trading and business solution

service provider and aims to maximize its clients’ trading through a unique mix of superior

value proposal, innovative solutions, diverse product offering, competitive spreads and

customer service.

We strongly believe the concept of Pay to Peace so

we are honoured to bring the aroma of ancient

Persia to you from the heart of saffron district in Iran.

We are the sole importer and distributor of Persian

Saffron in East Asia. Our flawless harvested, hand-

picked product is guaranteed by its quality, price

and packaging.

Equipped with an advanced analytic laboratory, we are compelled to give the best

quality products to our clients. The harvested product, undergoes routine physiochemical

and microbial lab tests to control the quality, safety and sanitation of the harvest. All

quality control checkpoints are standardized and calibrated according to ISO guidelines.

Our Products Standards:

INS259-1: Saffron Specifications

INS259-2: Saffron Test Methods

INS1197: Determination of Total Ash

INS1253: Determination of Acid–Insoluble Ash

INS12158: Determination of Cold Water Soluble Extract

INS5689: Microbiology of Saffron

INS3659: Saffron Sampling Specification

INS16536: Iran Good Agricultural Practices (IRANGAP) Saffron

INS17034: Saffron Spray

ISO 3632-1:2011: Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.), Part 1: Specification

ISO 3632 -2:2010: Saffro n (Crocus Sati vus L.), Part 2: Test M ethods

Grades of Iranian Saffron

SARGOL

This grade consists of ONLY red stigma tips

and is the strongest grade. Sargol saffron is

the pure saffron with no broken stand and

has the ISO reading of 260-270.

KHOOSHE (BUNCH)

This grade is relatively low strength grade

(ISO reading is 70 to 75) and consists of

red stigmata plus large amount of yellow

style, presented in a tiny bundle.

KONJ (KONGE)

This grade consists of only yellow-white

styles and has a very little aroma and

colouring potential.

PUSHAL

This grade consists of red stigma and

yellow/white styles of the flower. Due to

presence of the yellow styles, this grade

has extreme colouring capacity. The ISO

reading of this grade is 170 to 250.

NEGIN

In this grade, each bundle of saffron

consists of 3-4 coiled stigmas, which

gives a very unique and distinct

appearance to the saffron. For this

grade, the ecology of cultivation,

harvesting and drying process are the

main factors for distinguishing from

Pushal grade.

Saffron Use and Facts

Dried saffron is composed of 12% water, 65% carbohydrates, 6% fat and 11%

protein. As for other spices or dried foods, the nutrient content of dried saffron in a 100

gram amount shows richness of nutritional value across B vitamins and dietary minerals.

Tables below are the nutrition facts of saffron based on daily value.

Saffron Nutrition Value per 100g (3.5 oz)

Energy 1298 kj Daily

(310 kcal) value %

Carbohydrates 65.37 g (21%)

Dietary fibre 3.9 g (15%)

Proteins 11.53 g (22%)

Minerals

Calcium 111 mg (11%)

Iron 11.10 mg (85%)

Magnesium 264 mg (74%)

Phosphorus 252 mg (36%)

Potassium 1724 mg (37%)

Sodium 148 mg (10%)

Zinc 1.09 mg (11%)

Selenium 5.6 g

Fat 5.85 g Saturated 1.586 g

Mono-unsaturated 0.429 g

Poly-unsaturated 2.067 g

Vitamins Vitamin A 530 IU (10%) Thiamine (B1) 0.115 mg

Riboflavine (B2) 0.267 mg

Niacin (B3) 1.460 mg (10%) Vitamin B6 1.01 mg (78%) Folate (B9) 93 g (23%)

Vitamin C 80.8 mg (97%) Water 11.90 g

History of Saffron

History of Saffron cultivation and use, spans thousands of years. Historical findings revealed

saffron based pigments in prehistoric paintings on a 50`000-years-old cave wall in Persian

Empire. Sumerians used saffron as a confidential ingredient in magical remedies. They

believed that saffron medical benefits is linked to divine intervention.

Persian saffron is cultivated since 10th century BC to be used as a fragrance, colour, medication

and an aphrodisiac compound. Cyrus the Great, used saffron threads to dissolve in his bath tub

to overcome tiredness and fatigue as well as healing the war wounds.

Health Benefits of Saffron

According to Avicenna (IBN SINA), the

Persian polymath in his famous book

“The Canon of Medicine” saffron has

more than 20 healing benefits which are

listed briefly below;

Treatment of Alzheimer`s disease

Reduction of neurological damages in M.S patients

Anti-oxidative compound against free

radicals

Heart health

Prevention against age related vision loss

Prevention against cataract

Anti-depression

Memory improvement

Treatment of insomnia

Improvement of epileptic convulsions

Improvement of Iron absorption and

adolescent anaemia

Improvement of food digestion

Control of appetite and weight loss

Relief of menstrual discomforts

Increase of sex drive and libido

Nerve stimulation and mood change

Improvement of kidney, liver and bladder function

Treatment of bronchitis and dry cough

Treatment of fever

Treatment of gastric bloating and flatulence

Treatment of hypertension

Decreasing blood cholesterol level

Skin rejuvenation

Treatment of sunburn marks

Treatment of hair fall

Swindle in Saffron Sale

Saffron is very costly and precious in its nature. Some fraudulent merchants

nowadays are using fake materials to resemble the natural saffron. For example

it`s been discovered that some people, dip the dried corn silk in dye and saffron

extract and sell it as pure saffron. Some other frauds, spray the saffron with oil,

honey and sugar syrup to give it more weight and volume. Also it has been shown

that some types of saffron grades in the market, are mixed with special fine

powders to increase the weight.

However, the pure saffron can be distinguished from the fake one with a little

experience and practice. The appearance of the saffron threads is the main

element to its neutrality. Saffron is dark red in colour, non-glossy and not oily.

Squeeze a single thread between your fingers, if it leaves a trace of grease or

oil on your fingertips, be sure that it is fraud. In addition, the stigma is dentate

and wide in one end, and straight bar-like on the other end.

Saffron Storing

Either grinded or intact, saffron will lose its

aroma and flavour over the time, hence it

has to be stored in cool, dark and dry

place in a sealed glass container. Only a

small pinch of saffron gives a very rich

aroma and colour to the whole recipe.

Conveniently, the required portion of dried

saffron let to be dissolved in warm or cold

water for a certain amount of time and

then be used for garnishing the dishes.

Our Products

Our product and packages are being

presented with standard analysis sheets

and guarantee. To receive more

information about the product please visit

our website or kindly call for sample and

price. One kilogram of our dried saffron,

according to its grade may cost between

2000USD to 4000USD, however the price

may subject to change weekly.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

Website: www.persiansaffron.hamta.org

E-mail: saffron@hamta.org

Our Locations:

Tehran – Iran

Vancouver – Canada Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia