Wholesale White Saffron

What is White Saffron?

“White saffron” or “Konj saffron” refers to the saffron stigmas that haven’t yet reached their full red color maturity. The deep red color of saffron comes from high amounts of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin, which influence flavor, aroma, and color. However, sometimes stigmas are picked before turning fully red, resulting in pale yellow or white saffron.

Properties of White Saffron:

While still considered true saffron, white or yellow colored saffron may have distinct flavor characteristics and slightly lower levels of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin compared to red saffron. Similar to red saffron, yellow saffron is used for cooking and medicinal purposes. You might need slightly more white saffron to achieve the desired color and taste, making it ideal for applications where a subtler saffron touch is preferred, or when aroma is the main focus.

White Saffron vs Safflower:

It’s important to distinguish white saffron from safflower. Safflower is a different plant with reddish-orange florets sometimes called “wild saffron” due to its color. However, safflower lacks the characteristic aroma and flavor of true saffron.

White (Konj) Saffron Quality:

The quality of Konj saffron can vary depending on factors like the maturity of the saffron blooms, the cultivation environment, and harvesting and processing techniques. Generally, it’s understood that immature Konj saffron contains lesser amounts of crocin, picrocin, and safranal compared to fully mature red saffron. This may result in a more subdued scent and taste.