Dried-saffron trade begins with Crocus sativus identity, style, class and analytical evidence—not a generic spice or colour label. Codex CXS 351-2022 defines saffron as the dried stigma with part of the style of the Crocus sativus L. flower and recognizes filaments, cut filaments with styles removed, and powder made by crushing filaments. A usable offer identifies Crocus sativus L., filament, cut-filament or powdered style, Extra, Grade I, II or III class where declared, stigma-to-style condition, characteristic colour, odour and flavour, absence of adulteration, extraneous and foreign matter, mould, insects, excreta and insect damage, moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, cold-water soluble extract, picrocrocin taste strength, safranal aroma strength and crocin colouring strength, microbiological and pesticide-residue evidence, country and region of origin and harvest, harvest and packing dates, lot, package and net weight, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and information vintage.
The figures below are current requirements from the FAO/WHO Codex Standard for Dried Floral Parts — Saffron, CXS 351-2022, amended in 2025 and 2026. The standard defines identity, class, quality and compliance boundaries; it does not establish current lot availability, a physical offer or a live delivered saffron price.
Saffron filament and cut-filament moisture maximum
12
percent by mass · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Powdered saffron moisture maximum
10
percent by mass · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Extra-class saffron acid-insoluble ash maximum
1
percent by mass on dry basis · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Extra-class saffron picrocrocin minimum
80
specific absorbance index · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Extra-class saffron crocin minimum
230
specific absorbance index · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Grade III saffron crocin minimum
120
specific absorbance index · CXS 351-2022, amended 2026
Filament, cut-filament and powdered saffron are separate styles
CXS 351-2022 defines saffron from portions of the pistil of Crocus sativus L. A filament retains dried stigma with part of the style; a cut filament retains dried stigma with styles removed and detached; powder consists of particles made by crushing filaments. Those forms carry different visual identity and adulteration evidence. Atlas keeps botanical identity, style and processing history explicit before comparing quality, crop, price or trade records.
Class changes taste, aroma, colour and ash thresholds
Codex recognizes Extra, Grade I, II and III. Filament and cut-filament moisture is capped at 12 percent, while powdered moisture is capped at 10 percent; total ash is capped at 8 percent and cold-water soluble extract at 65 percent across classes. Extra class requires at least 80 for picrocrocin taste strength and 230 for crocin colouring strength, while Grade III requires at least 40 and 120 respectively. Safranal aroma strength has a 20 or 30 minimum depending on class and a 50 maximum. Atlas retains class, style, sample, method and analytical basis with each result.
Adulteration, plant matter and class evidence remain visible
The standard states that the product must not contain any form of adulteration. For filament and cut-filament saffron, Extra class limits extraneous matter to 0.25 percent and foreign matter to 0.1 percent; Grade III permits up to 5 percent and 1 percent respectively. Visible mould, dead whole insects, mammalian and other excreta and insect damage are all set to zero in the listed classes. N/A means not evaluated, not zero. Atlas keeps each inspection, laboratory method, date and certificate context attached to the lot.
A class standard is not a delivered physical price
Codex requirements establish identity and quality boundaries, not current availability or price. A delivered saffron price still requires a defined botanical identity, style and class, current permitted physical observations, origin and harvest, picrocrocin, safranal and crocin results, lot quantity, package, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight and information vintage. Atlas keeps any physical-price output unsupported when those fields or usage rights are missing.
Questions procurement teams ask
Are saffron filaments, cut filaments and powder interchangeable?
No. Filaments retain stigma plus part of the style, cut filaments have styles removed, and powder is made by crushing filaments. Their identity, visual evidence and adulteration risks differ.
What happens when saffron is sold ungraded?
CXS 351-2022 applies Grade III or Class III provisions as the minimum requirements when saffron is traded as unclassified or ungraded. Atlas does not infer a higher class from an ungraded description.
What distinguishes Extra-class saffron analytically?
Among the current Codex thresholds, Extra class requires at least 80 for picrocrocin taste strength and 230 for crocin colouring strength, with a 1 percent acid-insoluble-ash maximum on a dry basis. Method and sample context remain essential.
Which fields make physical saffron offers comparable?
Crocus sativus identity, filament, cut-filament or powdered style, class or grade, stigma-to-style condition, sensory evidence, adulteration screening, extraneous and foreign matter, moisture, ash, soluble extract, picrocrocin, safranal and crocin results, microbiology and residues, origin and harvest, packing date, lot, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.
Sources and provenance
Figures retain their source, period and review date. Corroboration is not promoted to primary evidence.