Humboldt Saffron
Re-homing the world's most sought-after spice,
in the hills of the emerald triangle.
Humboldt Saffron is a budding endeavor. We'll update this page with more info soon, but in the meantime...
Why Saffron,
and why here?
The Emerald Triangle is currently world-famous for a different crop, which was smuggled here in seed form from Afghanistan back in the early ’70s. Those seeds took a particular liking to the bright hillsides of northern California, and have grown here ever since.
Though smuggling is unnecessary in this case, saffron is also sourced from the middle east – and also takes incredibly well to this sister climate, with our dry summers and plentiful light. In addition, processed saffron is highly coveted. So much so, that saffron spice is the most expensive, and therefore the most counterfeited spice in the world.
What is saffron?
The demand and corresponding cost are a combination of its unique flavor and medicinal properties, as well as labor-intensive harvesting and processing practices. The saffron flower is a member of the crocus family, and the 3 slender “stigma” produced by each flowers are harvested by hand, dried, and sold as saffron spice. It takes approximately 160 flowers to produce just one gram.
Saffron is most highly coveted in areas of the Middle East and Asia, where entire cultures have been using this native plant in their food, medicine, and other traditions for centuries. But demand is rising, as word of this life-giving spice has spread to other parts of the globe. Not only is saffron antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory and a natural mood enhancer, but its flavor is so distinct that it simply cannot be substituted.
about me
My name is Alana. I’m originally from Hawaii and spent most of my adult years living in the Pacific Northwest. Now, I’m looking forward to a new chapter in the breathtaking hills of Northern California, cultivating domestic, traceable origin saffron.