Saffron crocus blooms for only four to six weeks, and is picked by hand from late October into November.
It grows on the karewa plateaus around Pampore, about 15 km from Srinagar on the highway towards Pahalgam.
Each flower gives three red stigmas, the saffron threads. Pickers work early, before about 10 am, before they bruise.
These grades describe how the threads are prepared, not quality. Mongra is pure red stigma, the most concentrated grade.
Kashmiri saffron received a GI tag in 2020. Genuine packs from certified producers carry the GI certification mark.
Much saffron sold as Kashmiri is imported. Buy from a Pampore farm or a certified seller, and be wary of low prices.
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