What Goes Into Harvesting the World's Most Expensive Spice - Vendors

Gulzar Ahmad Kuchay has been selling saffron for over 30 years. Every autumn his family comes together for the annual harvest in the pampore region of Kashmir. Together they pick saffron flowers, separate the stigma from the petals, dry the spice, and package it up to sell to local shops.
Credits:
Producers: McGraw Wolfman, Syed Shahriyar
Line Producer: Mukhtar Zahoor
Director/Camera: Syed Shahriyar
Editor: Mike Imhoff
Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
Development Producer: McGraw Wolfman
Supervising Producer: Stefania Orrù
Associate Director of Audience: Terri Ciccone
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For more episodes of 'Vendors,' click here: trib.al/ENyeU0E
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[@sandihuynh8876]

Honestly it's amazing how much care and quality there is to such a "small" yet very delicate product

[@ReganAtSea]

genuinely think no one else on this platform is making food content this good

[@AsitdyaDsr]

With Kashmiri saffron, we in india make biryanis , chicken kebabs , white rice and many sweets. No other spice has this unique flavour I think. A luxury spice. Thanks to eater team for focusing on farmer’s hard work to bring this gift to the world.

[@Lol-jv9hv]

This video is really well made - the way you hold the attention is clearly extremely honed. Incredible work ^^

[@karlbryanison2660]

Ulul

[@caseysutherland]

This is truly fascinating. I loved hearing him discuss his family’s hard work and the care taken to bring this to harvest. Truly amazing!

[@therealmykag]

I was just rewatching Ratatouille and I never noticed the old lady at the beginning casually had saffron, must be nice to be able to afford it

[@kellywhite9299]

“Ahh. L' Aquila saffron…”

[@gab.lab.martins]

It's not _that_ expensive. Not an everyday product, but once every month or two is perfectly doable. "It's more expensive than gold", by weight. Gold is pretty heavy, saffron is pretty light. A pinch goes a long way.

[@ex_potato]

I buy 5g boxes, and using it sparingly, I can stretch it out for a year. In the UK, it costs me around £25 for a decent quality Spanish saffron. I mostly use it to make paella and saffron-infused aioli. I think that's pretty reasonable.

[@ninadganore]

not that expensive

[@CatalystRestorations]

"It looks like some juice or Mountain Dew" lmao

[@teresanoll4054]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story and family history. 💙 From Chicago USA

[@itouchgamer96]

Thanks you eater for setting a spotlight on the art and beauty of this region that is often neglected in the West

[@theweatherisaokay4964]

Although I didn't saffron much, but watching how delicate and long process it took, I really appreciate this spice now.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Another remarkable video. Thank you. Goodluck to these farmers and families. God bless

[@doduarrow]

damm now i want quit my dead end job and start cultivation saffron

[@crane71]

The most beautiful place in India - Kashmir!

[@YusufOnder]

Finally a product where everything is just pure transparent 👌👌👌

[@rima1815]

Saffron is the most corrupted product in the world after alcool, around 90% of the importation in Europe, are not or doesn’t correspond to the border bill. In the shop, the saffron powder you buy have 95% of being corrupted or mixed with differents things. Your comment is a dream ;)

[@delphipascal]

well that was thoroughly enjoyable viewing

[@James__123]

Brilliant video!

[@AzlianaLyana]

One or two flowers it's enough to take your foods to the next level. But boy...are they expensive!

[@graciepatton2502]

I am almost blind but I grow and harvest my own saffron if you take your time you can do it anyone

[@kingyatt4295]

This is super fire .

[@joanneganon7157]

Remarkable Job 👏

[@r0fLc0pt3rf0rtHewiN]

you guys are on a roll good content

[@ThickCutBacon]

Fantastic video!

[@fuckkatuas2837]

Indian saffron is amazing.

[@TheChefmike66]

This was fantastic. I will never look at this ingredient in the same way!

[@RogueStatusX]

buying this ingredient keeps families like this in poverty and keeps the overlords that jack the price up 200 fold in business

[@thomasaiu999]

Beautiful wonderful saffron so much love and care goes into it no wonder it’s so expensive! But it adds that nice floral touch to a dish be it a main or in a side dish color a little goes a long way

[@carrielahr]

Such a great interesting video! Thank you for sharing and for the hard work you all do. Wish I could try some of your Saffron Kahwa.

[@DRV-mt5dd]

Just, wow. Great informative video.

[@hkbabel]

Thank you

[@quinnw6795]

Amazing video

[@zodiacmanan]

This is worth more than gold.

[@dreamcatcher75418]

cool video!!! 😃

[@kompressor740ify]

Nice!

[@LindsayDaly]

Haha the mountain dew comparison was endearing

[@crabmansteve6844]

Kashmiri saffron really is the best, it's very fragrant in my opinion. It's super expensive, but it's very worth it. I like making saffron butter to eat with lobster or crab.

[@Yogirliej4dee]

I Found out there are several varieties of crocuses the common one is grown as a spring flower

[@hyperbaroque]

Has me wondering about growing it indoors. But I am sure there are secrets to the soil content to create the product we see here.

[@renatoetzi]

I have some 200 bulbs outside in the garden and another 100 in a greenhouse in pots in the Netherlands. They flower and grow better in the greenhouse because we get early rains in autumn and they like to be dry. The 100 in the greenhouse produce more flowers and for longer than the 200 outside. All 300 bulbs together they produce about 5 grams of safron per season. It is something to grow as a hobby. Not to get rich. Each bulb gets 2 to 3 flowers and each flower has 3 safron threads like in the video. I think that indoors like in a heated home they would not grow well. They need seasons and a cold period in winter.

[@jacobobesser]

@@renatoetzi Wow that's really cool information. Thanks for sharing that.

[@chfire2004]

It grows well in raised beds with sand mixed into the soil, it really just needs to drain well. I've got it in 12 inch high beds, but it would easily grow in a 6 inch deep pot.

[@rima1815]

You don’t need special soil, saffron bulb grow everywhere. You throw some in mountain, it’s ok...it grow...

[@danielmizrahi9629]

i like how he says its secret but hes doing a video for youtube :D haha love the guys voice also. excellent video

[@rima1815]

My farmers in Iran produce saffron since 1875 :). Khorosan region, border with Afghanistan

[@RserBot2]

Well it doesn't have the scent

[@rima1815]

@@RserBot2 Thé scent ? The highest grade measured are actually in this region, the ISO 3632 confirmed this since 1999, when it was first put in papers for saffron (smell, scent and colour). We have european saffron or Latin American or even From Tasmania, one of the most expensive (this expensive because the seller make marketing, and he is always ne in New Zealand and Australia).

[@RserBot2]

@@rima1815 are you accusing wall street journal for false reporting? You better be a good student and agree with WSJ that Kashmir saffron is the BEST

[@rima1815]

@@RserBot2 this not false, this is mistake. Saffron specialist and consultant for quality&importation. 90% of the market is false with old harvest that can’t be sold. They mix it, and sell it in powder. I analyze, see, try, taste and collected more than 50/60 differents saffron from different region. The Khorosan one is still best.

[@rima1815]

@@RserBot2 Second argumentions, this new papers is not allow to enter in Iran, so, how can they say the best saffron in Kashmir, when they didn’t go to the best place because of political reason ? Sometimes, you need to use your brain and logic.

[@aliazizi1653]

Great job. Regarding the statement regarding Iranian saffron I should say it has incredible fragrance. It is proven and I believe Gulzar Ahmad needs to try Iranian saffron to change his view.

[@fvysl133]

😂 it’s okay all believe their is the best trust me, same thing I’ve been told by Azerbaijani when I was in Baku

[@Damc3808]

Guess they don’t have much wind, can u imagine one powerful gust thousands of dollars lost

[@DRV-mt5dd]

I would really like to try that "Mountain Dew".

[@TheGrace020]

Amazing

[@aghelesaffron4392]

👏👏

[@nickinportland]

I bet that’s some bomb saffron

[@hilee7390]

I wonder what fragrances are coming if I smell that? 🥀🌱🌿

[@Midgetman275]

Love to see you guys cover vegetarian and vegan restaurants, love what you do and seen most of the vids on this channel!

[@timobatana6705]

Gordon Ramsay pits this stuff on his grilled cheese. I am not lying. It's here on yt. Look up Gordon grilled cheese

[@lutomson3496]

when im in spain i buy it there way cheaper then the US is and i use it in everything also

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

😊👍👍👍👍👍

[@majhatruckingsolutions9686]

Is Zamindar Kesar Company the place to buy from ?

[@cheshire147]

Yah real saffron in pyaya is so damn good in the rice so flavorful omg yah it’s def like crack

[@dailydoseofaspartame4065]

1 kg sells for ~$3400, but this guy doesn't look like a millionare to me. Margins on saffron must be huge.

[@thetrapster3692]

His total production is way less that a KG. Saffron is very light object. I do buy 1g it's a lot

[@dailydoseofaspartame4065]

@@thetrapster3692 I just looked it up, 1g is a lot. Thanks for letting me know.

[@JohnFoxx108]

There's a lot of stigma attached to saffron crocuses

[@ndud_]

Gordon should use ur saffron

[@1minutecomicswalahollywood648]

Kashmir Saffron.

[@mcbeans2602]

* *in a whisper* *~* *the spiceee.....how do they know about the spiceeee....* *

[@daffo595]

Needs more views smh

[@northerners2828]

Im using that saffron for chicken pourage.

[@Wvk5zc]

I have eaten lots of Indian/Turkish/Spanish rice infused with saffron but I still don't how it actually tastes like

[@forcehucos2429]

Should try some dessert made with saffron because in desserts the flavour comes out really well.... recipes from india or iran(they use saffron flavour in most recipes) Recipes like .. saffron milk, saffron faluda, safron icecream and saffron khir(rice pudding)

[@GoToMan]

Get some saffron and munch on it

[@gautamtimalsina807]

I dont think they know that their product is sold for much higher prices abroad, sucks that they cant get the profit they want and have to settle for less

[@LarsonChristopher]

Eater, thank you.

[@powerpuffgirls7874]

I hope he get A LOT OF MONEY ..

[@KentGoSuzuki]

Isn’t it weird that the Kashmiri(Hindi?) names for the Month are so similar to English? Is it one of those terms that is based off the English spelling/pronunciations?

[@Aws895]

Kashmiri is very different from Hindi but the names of the month he was using are English ones. We have our own calenders too but English one is used most commonly.

[@adamyusuf7673]

how can someone who provides the worlds most expensive spice live so poor

[@mrinalkumarravi8820]

Because the region is rife with Islamic insurgency and of course the middlemen involved in trade. Although a Kashmiri can shed more light on this.

[@fkarmadi]

Iran saffron is the best

[@RogueStatusX]

dont kid yourselves, these people are getting ripped off and its because they dont have the means or the knowledge to stop it

[@theunsolicited2cents893]

i'll wait for the day when indoor hydrophonics and robotic farming plummets its price

[@elluisito000]

People working with this crope are stigmatized for it 😀

[@josejaviera5276]

And of course, it all comes from Arrakis

[@barrymckockinner9292]

It seems to me he should be making more money out of it

[@edwinjose1885]

What language is he speaking?

[@vrindayadav]

Kashmiri

[@yashsingh5749]

This farm was my great grandfather they migrated when muslims of kashmir forced us hindus to leave from there🤬

[@darren1119]

so why are they not rich?

[@TheGentlemanGR]

The best saffron in Kozani's (Greece) saffron !

[@georgewbushcenterforintell147]

Operated like the legal marijuana business in ca .

[@Trump4king]

Saffron is so gross tasting lol

[@ShivamKumar-wx2lw]

Stick to Salt and Pepper then lol. Nobody asked for your opinion. Literally no one did

[@bankerdave888]

Beware of all the fake saffron out there!

[@chefpizza4677]

Is it just me or saffron always taste like plastic?

[@Marr0wgar]

Fun fact: it's not that good and is honestly a worthless crop.

[@rashnuofthegoldenscales4512]

Kashmiri saffron is a fine product by itself, but what is being said about Iranian saffron is completely false. It is fragrant and must by virtue of authenticity be fragrant and possess a vibrant colour - And at no point has Iranian saffron been smuggled into Kashmir for mixing. This is what the Spanish do when they rebrand Iranian saffron as Spanish saffron. The truth is, Iranian saffron dominates the markets because no other crop than the first grade Birjand crocus yields a harvest that is consistent or comparably abundant. The Kashmiri variety is expensive because of its limited quantity and limited export possibility and the region being politically volatile, due to the remoteness of the location and the ongoing conflict with Pakistan that has affected the local market conditions.

[@jimmoriarty915]

They made a mistake in the translation although to their credit it was a subtle difference. He said" Iranian zafran doesn't have "this" fragrance and not Iranian saffron doesn't have a fragrance .

[@HolySoopCoolers]

They forgot to show their poppy fields.

[@user-hk7de3nt4q]

They're farming and you're selling, how about that, bendejo?

[@HolySoopCoolers]

@@user-hk7de3nt4q it’s a win-win.

[@alisolhjoo6366]

Provided information is not correct in most of the cases. They way they harvest is also not correct (time of the day). Also, the most important issue, Iranian saffron is the best in the world both quality and color not Keshmir whatsoever.

[@giovannigiorgio6406]

Found the Iranian here

[@jimmoriarty915]

May be the time for the harvest is different in dirrerent areas.

[@chfire2004]

This guy is so full of crap, Iranian saffron doesn't have a fragrance? How does he know that, has he harvested it in Iran? I grow this in my backyard it all smells the same. Here's an idea, when you all decide to edit stuff, cut junk that is the local guys opinion out of the video.

[@RserBot2]

Tasted both and Iran's smelled like bombs

[@jimmoriarty915]

They made a mistake in the translation although to their credit it was a subtle difference. He said" Iranian zafran doesn't have "this" fragrance and not Iranian saffron doesn't have a fragrance .

[@Alexander-bv4px]

Just a reminder to everyone - this is child labour. The family is of course not the bad guys here since they most probably all need to help out to make a living, but this video is none the less showcasing child labour in action. Most of the child labour in the world does not take place in sweatshops. The lion part consist of children who need to work at their family business instead of playing and going to school.

[@lundysden6781]

didnt he say the harvest lasts only a few weeks? The kids can go to school the other 90% of the time. Work like that with other kids is a type of play I feel. Nothing more than what some call chores.

[@Alexander-bv4px]

@@lundysden6781 I hope you're right.

[@lylecoglianese1645]

@Alexander, these kids are family members, not some underage underpaid child slaves. There is nothing wrong with functioning as a family. That is how most “family farms” have been run forever.

[@giovannigiorgio6406]

@@lylecoglianese1645 first world citizens needing someone to save. Pretty sure those kids prefer having something to eat (and learning a tradition/job) over "going outside to play"

[@Alexander-bv4px]

@@lylecoglianese1645 They are indeed family members, but child labour does not necessarily equal stereotypical "underpaid child slaves". As I mentioned - most of the world's working children do so to bring financial stability to their family. Family farms have indeed been run that way in the past, but in nowadays (see the Convention on the Rights of the Child) we put bigger emphasis on childrens right to a proper childhood. As Lundy mentioned I may have been too quick to jump to a conclosion that this was the case here, but this (in some form) is still how most of the world's child labour look like. I don't agree that having children working in your family business should be something we accept. And again - in the cases where families let their children work to bright financial stability to their family, the solution is not to scold them but that we as a world should work towards giving everyone a the financial stability so that children does not have to work. I wish you the best in life.