Generations of Pure Devotion

The Ritual of the Autumn Bloom

During late October, our fields transform into a sea of purple. Saffron blossoms last for only a few short weeks, demanding that our entire family work from dawn till dusk.

We pluck the blossoms in the cool dawn air when the flowers are still closed. This keeps dust and wind away from the precious red stigmas inside. Once picked, we sit around large wooden wicker tables in our Pampore home, carefully removing the crimson threads.

Our saffron is shade-dried on traditional mesh screens rather than using electric dehydrators. This is a slow, tedious process, but it is the only way to lock in the high concentrations of color and Safranal that make Kashmiri saffron the finest in the world.