Pampore: India's Saffron Capital and the Legacy of Kashmiri Kesar

• Pampore, in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, is known as India's Saffron Capital, producing the renowned Kashmiri Kesar.
• The region's cool, dry climate, Karewa plateaus, and well-drained soil provide ideal conditions for saffron cultivation, a tradition spanning over a thousand years.
• Kashmiri Saffron is rich in Crocin (color), Safranal (aroma), and Picrocrocin (taste), distinguishing it from other varieties.
• The saffron is hand-picked and sun-dried, preserving its natural strength and purity, and has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Saffron cultivation is the primary livelihood for thousands in Pampore, making it a key player in India's spice trade, often called "Red Gold."

Why It Matters: Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, is India's Saffron Capital, famed for its GI-tagged Kashmiri Kesar.