Saffron: The 'Red Gold' Spice Unveiled – Why It's the World's Most Expensive

• Saffron, derived from the Crocus sativus flower, is known as 'Red Gold' due to its deep red color, high market price, rarity, and labor-intensive hand-harvesting process.
• Cultivated for over 3,000 years, saffron was highly valued in ancient civilizations for its use in royal cuisines, perfumes, dyes, and medicines.
• Rich in bioactive compounds like crocin and safranal, saffron offers significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mood-enhancing health benefits.
• Iran is the world's largest producer of saffron, while in India, Jammu and Kashmir (Pampore) is the main region, with Kashmiri saffron holding a GI tag.
• Saffron is the world's most expensive spice because of its extremely low yield, extensive manual labor required for harvesting, and limited cultivation areas.

Why It Matters: Saffron is the world's most expensive spice, known as 'Red Gold' for its rarity, value, and health benefits.