“More Precious Than Gold.” A Journey to a Saffron Plantation: Harvesting, Tasting, and a Tour with a Biologist

Many people probably know about “Imeretian saffron,” common in Georgia and sold at every market. And most likely, you know that it’s not real saffron, but dried marigold flowers.

However, few know that real saffron—Crocus sativus—is also grown in Georgia. The very saffron that is “more precious than gold” (with prices reaching up to $1800 per kilogram).

We invite you to embark on an exciting journey to a saffron plantation. You will have the chance to pick the flowers with your own hands, experience how labor-intensive the process is, and understand why this spice is so expensive. You’ll even be allowed to take a small amount of the saffron you harvest with you.