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United States product record

Saffron: How Commercial Products Changed Over Time

A dated United States record of saffron products, packages, formulations, prices, claims, and commercial milestones.

3 product families13 confirmed observations2014 to August 28, 2026Updated
Three small unlabelled glass vials of red saffron threads beside purple crocus flowers and a gram scale
Saffron is sold in tiny packages, so gram price, thread form, stated origin, and traceability matter more than dramatic packaging. Image: The Foods That Shaped Us Research Desk. Image terms. Request permission.

Current evidence status

This record follows 3 saffron product families in the U.S. market. It reports only dated, confirmed fields. A blank year means no qualifying observation, not that the product stayed the same.

The historical identity behind the products

Saffron commands high prices because each crocus flower yields only a few stigmas and harvesting is labor-intensive. The Saffron history article follows cultivation, trade, luxury, and medicine; this guide focuses on modern retail identity, package math, and evidence limits.

Read the full Saffron history

Confirmed commercial timeline

  1. Rumi Spice began commercial operations

    Rumi Spice identifies 2014 as the beginning of its effort to connect Afghan saffron producers with international buyers.

  2. Current U.S. product snapshots compiled

    Catalogue identity, formulation, package-price, and availability fields were recorded separately so later changes can be compared without overwriting this baseline.

Current product snapshot

Current confirmed product, formulation, package, observed price, availability, and observation date
ProductFormula / formatPackage and priceStatus
Rumi Spice Organic Afghan SaffronObserved August 28, 2026Whole threads; 0.5 g packagePure Afghan saffron threads, according to the product page.$14.990.5 g$29.98 per gavailableSource
The Spice House Coupe Grade Spanish SaffronObserved August 28, 2026Whole threads; 0.04 oz package (about 1.13 g)Saffron.$16.490.04 oz (about 1.13 g)$14.59 per gavailableSource
Burlap & Barrel Herati SaffronObserved August 28, 2026Whole threads; 0.5 g jarSaffron threads.$9.990.5 g$19.98 per gunavailableSource

These are point-in-time observations, not permanent offers. Tax, shipping, subscriptions, bundles, promotions, and local stock are not assumed unless the record states them.

Formulation and package changes

This pilot establishes a 2026 baseline. No earlier formulation or package is treated as comparable unless a dated observation is present. Later confirmed changes will append to this record.

Ownership, manufacturing, recalls, and authenticity

No additional qualifying event is currently recorded beyond the dated timeline above. Absence from this dataset is not proof that an event never occurred.

Trend observations

No aggregate trend metric is published for this identity unless its value, geography, period, sample, and source can be stated together. Product counts in this record describe the tracked sample, not the whole U.S. market.

Download the public record

The files contain confirmed derived observations, evidence metadata, source links, and checksums. They do not reproduce restricted source captures.

JSON dataCSV observationsMethodology

Evidence and provenance

  1. [1]Herati Saffron — Burlap & Barrel; 2026. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  2. [2]Cambridge World History of Food — Cambridge University Press; 2000. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  3. [3]ISO 3632-1:2025: Spices - Saffron - Specification — International Organization for Standardization; 2025. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  4. [4]Phytochemistry, quality control and medicinal uses of saffron: an updated review — Plants; 2023. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  5. [5]Introducing Rumi Spice — Rumi Spice; 2014. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  6. [6]Organic Afghan Saffron — Rumi Spice; 2026. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.
  7. [7]Coupe Grade Spanish Saffron — The Spice House; 2026. Captured 2026-08-29. metadata only.

Where to explore next

Current buying guide Full food history All Food Evolution records