How Kashmiri Saffron Is Graded: The ISO 3632 Standard Explained

"Grade A" or "premium" on a saffron label doesn't mean much without a standard behind it. ISO 3632 is the actual international standard used to classify saffron quality, and understanding the basics of how it works makes it much easier to judge what you're buying.

What ISO 3632 Actually Measures

The standard tests three main compounds in saffron: crocin (responsible for colour strength), picrocrocin (responsible for bitterness/taste), and safranal (responsible for aroma). Each is measured and given a numerical value, and saffron is graded into categories based on those combined results.

The Grade Categories

ISO 3632 defines four main categories, generally labelled Category I, II, III, and IV, with Category I representing the highest colour strength and quality, descending down to Category IV. Mongra-grade Kashmiri saffron, properly processed, typically falls into Category I — the top tier by this measure.

Why This Matters More Than Marketing Terms

Terms like "premium" or "Grade A" aren't standardised — any seller can use them regardless of actual quality. ISO 3632 category numbers, when a seller actually provides them (via lab testing), are a genuinely objective measure rather than a marketing label.

Colour Strength in Practice

The crocin measurement (often expressed as a colouring strength value) is the most practically relevant number for most buyers, since it directly relates to how much colour and flavour a given quantity of saffron will impart. Higher values mean you can use less saffron to get the same effect — relevant if you're comparing prices per gram between different sellers.

Should You Ask Sellers for Lab Results?

For any significant saffron purchase, it's reasonable to ask a seller whether their product has been lab-tested against ISO 3632, and what category or crocin value it falls into. A seller who can't or won't answer this is giving you less information than one who can.

Our Approach

Our Kashmiri Mongra Saffron is sourced and graded to Category I standards — deep colour, strong aroma, and minimal yellow style content, consistent with what the ISO standard defines as top-tier saffron.

A More Objective Way to Compare

Next time you're comparing saffron listings, look past the marketing adjectives and ask about the actual grading standard behind the product — it's a far more reliable way to judge what you're really paying for.