Saffron Lab Test Report

We submitted a sample of our Pampore saffron to an independent, government-run laboratory for testing against the international saffron standard. This page publishes what came back — the full result table, who tested it, and the laboratory’s own statement on the result.

The Result

The sample was classified Grade 1 — the highest category under ISO 3632 — by the Quality Evaluation Laboratory at IKSTC Dussu, Pampore, a NABL-accredited laboratory (Certificate No. TC-11943) operating under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and run by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Kashmir.

Testing was carried out from 28 September to 30 September 2026, with results issued on 1 October 2026.

Full Test Results

Test method: ISO 3632-2:2010. The requirement columns show the ISO 3632-2 specification limits for each grade.

Characteristic	Clause	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Our result
Extraneous matter (mass fraction %, max) — floral and plant waste	Clause 8	0.5	3.0	5.0	0.04
Foreign matter (mass fraction %, max) — from other plants	Clause 9	0.1	0.5	1.0	0.02
Total ash (on dry matter, %, max)	Clause 12 / ISO 928	8.0	8.0	8.0	4.45
Moisture and volatile matter content (mass fraction %)	Clause 7	10–12	10–12	10–12	11.10
Flavour strength as picrocrocin (A1%, 257 nm on dry matter, min)	Clause 14	70	55	40	90.93
Aroma strength as safranal (A1%, 330 nm on dry matter)	Clause 14	20–50	20–50	20–50	41.29
Colouring strength as crocin (A1%, 440 nm on dry matter, min)	Clause 14	200	170	120	212.01

Laboratory remark recorded on the report: Grade 1.

What These Numbers Mean

ISO 3632 is the international standard for saffron. It grades saffron from 1 to 3 using laboratory measurement of three naturally occurring compounds, alongside physical cleanliness and moisture:

• Crocin is what gives saffron its colour. Measured at 440 nm, it is the single most-cited number on any saffron report. Grade 1 requires a minimum of 200; the tested sample measured 212.01.
• Picrocrocin is what gives saffron its flavour, the characteristic bitter note. Grade 1 requires a minimum of 70; the tested sample measured 90.93 — a wide margin above the threshold.
• Safranal is what gives saffron its aroma. The standard sets a band of 20–50 rather than a minimum, because an unusually high safranal reading can indicate over-drying or age. The tested sample measured 41.29, inside the band.
• Extraneous and foreign matter measure physical cleanliness — how much floral waste or other plant material is mixed in among the threads. Both came back far below the Grade 1 ceilings, at 0.04% and 0.02%.
• Total ash and moisture indicate mineral content and how thoroughly the saffron was dried. Both sit comfortably within specification.

Test Scope

The report covers a 10-gram sample of our saffron submitted for testing in September 2026. We are thrilled this sample achieved the highest possible Grade 1 rating for colour, aroma and flavour.

The sample was pulled from the same fields and processed using the same methods as the saffron we sell every day. So while the Grade 1 classification technically applies only to those specific threads, we believe it speaks to the consistently high quality you can expect from our traditional harvesting practices.

We will continue pursuing additional quality assessments to further validate the care and craft we put into every crimson thread. Transparency is our priority, and we look forward to sharing those results as we have them.

Report Details

Laboratory	Quality Evaluation Laboratory — IKSTC Dussu, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Kashmir. Dussu, Pampore, 192121, J&K, India
Accreditation	ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited · NABL Certificate No. TC-11943
Sample ID code	SS/IKSTC/2026-27/57
Application number	QEL/IKSTC26-27/72
Sample	Saffron — cut filaments, 10 gm
Product type / origin as recorded	Origin Pampore
Lot	Not valid for any lot · Lot weight 3 kg
Goods owner	SaffronTownKashmir&Co.
Date of sample receipt	28 September 2026
Date of test	28 September 2026 to 30 September 2026
Date of testing results	1 October 2026
Test method	ISO 3632-2:2010 (total ash by ISO 928)
Reviewed and authorised by	Dr Abdul Nayeem Dar, Technical Manager
Approved and issued by	Dr Inam Ul Bassol Bhat, Quality Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your saffron lab tested?
A 10-gram sample of our Pampore saffron was tested in September 2026 by the Quality Evaluation Laboratory at IKSTC Dussu, a NABL-accredited laboratory, and classified Grade 1 under ISO 3632-2:2010. The full result table is published above.

What grade did it receive?
Grade 1, the highest category in ISO 3632. Colouring strength measured 212.01 against a Grade 1 minimum of 200, and flavour strength measured 90.93 against a minimum of 70.

Does the Grade 1 result apply to the saffron I order?
The classification applies to the 10-gram sample that was tested. That sample came from the same fields and the same process as the saffron we sell, but the report itself is specific to those threads.

What is the difference between Grade 1 and Mongra?
They describe different things. Grade 1 is an ISO 3632 laboratory classification based on measured crocin, picrocrocin and safranal. Mongra is a traditional Kashmiri grade describing which part of the thread is included — pure crimson stigma tips with the yellow style removed. See our guide to Kashmiri saffron grades.

Related Reading

• Quality & Laboratory Testing — our wider approach
• How to Check If Saffron Is Actually Lab Tested
• Shop our Kashmiri Mongra Saffron from Pampore
• How to Identify Pure Kashmiri Saffron
• How to Test Saffron Purity at Home: Step-by-Step
• How Can You Tell If Saffron Is Real?
• How to Identify Genuine Kesar in India
• Kashmir Saffron GI Tag: What It Means (and What It Doesn’t)
• Kashmiri Saffron Grades: Mongra vs. Lacha vs. Guchhi
• Kashmiri Saffron Price: What Genuine Pampore Kesar Actually Costs
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Our Farm in Pampore

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