A brief history
Saffron is the spice derived from the flower of the Crocus Sativus. The stigmas, or threads, of the crocuses are collected and dried to be used as a premium seasoning in food and are amongst the world’s most sought after and expensive spices.
Trading in saffron goes back thousands of years, when merchants would travel along the Silk Road trading Persian saffron for Chinese silk, Indian ivory and Arabian frankincense.
The spice soon became popular in cuisine native to these countries, but the oldest recorded usage of saffron in cooking, is in Persia. During his Asian campaigns, it is said that Alexander the Great even used the magical powers of Persian saffron to cure battle wounds.
Our Company
The Persian Trader is a family owned business proudly based in Edinburgh. We are as passionate about authenticity, provenance and traceability, as we are about supplying the world’s finest quality saffron.
We source our saffron from ancient farms located in the North East of Iran, where the softly sloping terrain that directly faces the sun, is perfect for growing the delicate flowers we painstakingly harvest.
Through regular trips to the region, we have formed a solid bond of trust and partnership with our growers, who take a great pride in their work and the knowledge they are keeping alive a tradition that is literally thousands of years old. The pictures you see in this brochure were taken by our team on a trade visit!
LANDOWNERS, FARMERS, WORKERS, TRADERS, The OLD AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERSIAN TRADERS.
Click here to Learn more about our Farmers
Our Saffron
The Persian Trader only use the most superior grade of saffron. This is called Negin Sargol, the red stigma tip that provides the highest level of flavour, colour and aroma intensity. Unlike some inferior products you may come across, our saffron is never dyed or mixed with cheaper grades. Perhaps that’s just one of the reasons we are the preferred supplier to several Michelin starred restaurants.
As you can see we place great importance on making our packaging both attractive and pragmatic for people to use. Inside each jar and pack, consumers can find information about the provenance of our product as well as interesting and creative recipes for them to try at home.
Usage
Saffron is incredibly versatile and is widely used in French, Spanish and Italian cooking. For cooks feeling a little more adventurous, it works wonderfully in Persian, Indian, Arabic and Turkish cuisine. Saffron can even be added to drinks such as tea or champagne to create a tempting twist.
Ordering
Place an order online or to request more information please email info@thepersiantrader.com