At ₹250–₹350 per gram, saffron is one of the most counterfeited foods in the world. Here are tests you can do in your kitchen in under ten minutes.
- The water test. Drop 2–3 threads in lukewarm water. Real saffron releases a slow golden-yellow cloud over 10–15 minutes; fakes bleed red dye almost instantly.
- The thread test. Genuine threads are trumpet-shaped with a flared end. Corn silk and safflower are uniform and stringy.
- The rub test. Rub a soaked thread between your fingers. Real saffron stays intact and stains yellow; dyed fibres disintegrate and stain red.
- The aroma test. Kashmiri Mongra smells honeyed and hay-like. A sharp chemical note is a warning sign.
- The taste test. Real saffron tastes slightly bitter, never sweet.
Every batch of our Mongra kesar is lab-tested for ISO 3632 colour strength and sold with the GI-tag lot number on the box, so you know exactly where it came from.
