saffron price in Colombia

Key Takeaways :

  • Saffron Imports: Colombia imports saffron, primarily from Spain and Italy. While the exact amount can fluctuate, in 2019, they imported over 100 kilograms [World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS)].
  • Saffron Prices: Due to being an imported spice, saffron can be expensive in Colombia. Retail prices can range between COP 694,618.18 and COP 1,085,340.91 per kilogram, which is roughly between US$106.97 and US$167.14 per kilogram.
  • Saffron Uses: Despite the cost, Colombians do incorporate saffron into their cuisine. You can find it used in dishes like:
    • Salmon with Coconut-Saffron Sauce
    • Saffron and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Seafood and Chicken Paella
    • Saffron Mashed Yuca [My Colombian Recipes]
Written by Vahid Epagloo, Food Consultant Updated:

Saffron is one of the most famous spices in the world known as the most expensive spice, some source named saffron as the red gold. We can say saffron is one of the oldest spices too; the story of saffron is as long as the time. When you know these points about this golden spice, you may guess why it is so expensive. We are going to check the saffron price in Colombia, in 2024.

Saffron in botanical

What we called saffron spice is the stigmas of a lilac flower called Crocus Sativus. You may hear the name of this flower as the saffron flower or Crocus flower. These stigmas separated and dried manually to make saffron. To produce the different types of saffron these saffron threads need some more processing.

These processes make different types of saffron. The best type of saffron you can find in Colombia is called the Super Negin saffron. This type is all red, the red part of the saffron threads are cut and dried. In these strands there should not be curved, cut, broken, or burned ones. The high-quality saffron chooses to produce this type.

The cultivation conditions that this flower needs to grow in, are not met anywhere in Colombia. That is one of the main reasons that Colombia is importing saffron.

The saffron price

As you know, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and some sources compare its price with the gold price. Saffron has many features; its red color and floral aroma are the most famous features. This expensive spice also has awesome medicinal properties and health effects. Due to these effects and the positive medicinal tests on them, the demands for saffron increase these days, when the demands increase the price would be increased too. In addition, the agricultural reasons cause a decreasing in final saffron products these years. All these points cause an increasing in saffron price.

The price for materials like saffron has two types, the retail price and wholesale one. Usually, the restaurants and industries buy saffron in bulk. Actually, they buy saffron in bulk due to its cheaper price. Some of them would not buy this golden spice in high quality. They buy lower quality to reduce their costs.

The saffron price in Colombia

The price of saffron in Colombia in 2024 has a range between $152.96 and $239.00 per kilogram also $69.37 and $108.39 per pound for retail buying. This price in Unidad de Valor Real has the range between 695,272.73 and 1,086,363.64 COP per kilogram, and 315,316.43 to 492,681.92 COP per pound for retail buying in Bogota and Medellin.

The wholesale price is cheaper as we mentioned, in 2024 the approximate range of this price in Colombia is between $107.07 and $167.30 per kilogram, or $48.56 and $75.87 per pound.

Where to buy saffron in Colombia?

Finding saffron in Colombia, local shops and the markets is not easy. Saffron is one of the exotic spices in the world, it has a high price and it is the jewel of spice. You cannot find this spice anywhere, especially in the country like Colombia that imports this spice. Some people may even do not know anything about this spice. We introduce some local shops that you can find saffron in them.

The other choice to buy saffron is online shops. Today, due to technology and the Internet you can buy anything from the best suppliers anywhere in the world. You can buy the high quality saffron in all types from online shops. The most familiar type of the magic spice is the Super Negin Saffron.

Can you recognize Super Negin Saffron? It is important to recognize it and avoid fake saffron. Frauds usually color other food strands and sell them instead of Super Negin saffron. If you want to buy your spice online, it is better to learn about recognizing it first.

Colombia local shops

We introduce some of the most famous shops in Colombia that you can find the jewel of spice there.

Mercado Bazurto

This market is not Colombian, but it is in Colombia. This market is outdoors one, and you can buy food, foodstuff, and everything you need to cook food. You can also learn many different things about cooking here. The cooking class here is interactive. You can feel favorite scents of exotic spices from all around the world. You can see the jewel of spice, saffron here.

Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao

This is another outdoor market in Colombia that you can find fresh evergreen and all foodstuffs here. In the fragrant evergreen part you may find the exotic spices like saffron.

Mercado de las Pulgas de Usaquen

This market is one of the most popular flea markets that held only on Sundays in the town square of a residential neighborhood. You can find great and awesome thing that you want here. There is also the place for foodstuffs and spices too.

Online shops

There are many different online shops that sell saffron. Consumers always ask about trusted online sellers. You should recognize saffron and check all licenses of the suppliers and sellers. You can also check the ideas of consumers and buyers, are they repeat their shopping and do they satisfy or not. It is recommended to check the commodity price in different shops before buying this luxurious spice.

The Ghaaneh saffron brand has a great online shop; you can see all ISOs and certificate of this brand. You can find the high-quality saffron from the saffron field of Iran. The Ghaaneh brand has all types of saffron.

Conclusion

According to the proven healing properties of saffron, today almost all people try to add this exotic spice to their daily diet. Unfortunately, the saffron price increases every year, but it is better to add it to your daily diet in order to have a healthier life. Experts recommend using the highest quality saffron.

FAQs

How can I recognize the best saffron powder?

It is better to make the powder of the luxurious spice yourself by mortar or spice grinder. If you want to buy saffron powder, you should brew it, if it needs more than about 7 minutes to release its color, it is real saffron. Also, when you can smell the floral aroma of saffron from the powder, you can be sure that it is saffron powder.

Which type of saffron is better to buy?

The Super Negin saffron is the most popular one for the saffron users. If you cannot recognize saffron, it is better to buy Pushal saffron. If you want a good quality and a better price, you can buy Negin saffron.

Can I buy wholesale saffron?

If you know how to store it, you can buy saffron in bulk. It has a cheaper price, but if you cannot store it in the correct conditions, your spice would lose its quality.

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