Distribution Chain

From farmers to final Customers

Step by step

Continental s.r.l. exports saffron directly from Iran,
where it is grown, collected, tested and then packed.

The distribution chain follows a specific plan,
which is essential to maintain the quality of saffron
from collection to the delivery to the final customers.

Paper box- Continental s.r.l. Saffron exportation

PLANNING

According to each client's demand forecasting, Continental s.r.l. plans the annual Saffron's purchase and guarantees the best quotation.

Collection

Continental s.r.l. has no intermediaries and works directly with local farmers who pick flowers up and collect saffron stigmas by hand to preserve their integrity.

Analysis

The Labs in Mashad control each lot doing specific tests to verify the quality of the stigmas. These tests are:

  • - Sanitary Tests
  • - Lab Analysis
  • - Pesticide Analysis

Packaging

Each lot is packaged firstly in special plastic storage bags, which maintain humidity standards during the exportation; and secondly in paper boxed on which clients can find the following information:

  • - The type of Saffron contained
  • - The net Weight
  • - The Production and expiry date
  • - How to preserve it

Shipping

Shipping is committed to special couriers, firstly from Iran to our Italian Warehouses, and then directly to our clients' storehouses.
We guarantee the reliability and punctuality of these vectors, with which we've been cooperating for ages.
All custom pocedures are handled by our staff, and clients will receive all documents directly at their offices.

Saffron Qualities

Saffron Qualities depend on the part of the saffron plant used.

Look at the picture beside to identify the qualities
related to the corresponding part of the plant.

  • - The most precoius variety is Sargol, which contains only the final part of the red stigmas. It has a very intense colour.

  • - Then there is the Negin, which corresponds to the entire stigma. These filaments are longer than those of Sargol quality.

  • - Less precious is the Pushal, which contains also 3-5mm of style. It can easily be recognized from Sargol and Negin because it is yellow in its final part.

  • - A Bunch (called also Dasteh) contains instead the stigmas and the whole styles. All its filaments are fastened toghether and the look exactly like a bunch.

Types of Saffron - Saffron Qualities
Sargol - Saffron Quality

Sargol

Sargol literally means "top of the flower". This variety is made up just by the upper part of the red stigmas.

Negin - Saffron Quality

Negin

Negin is thicker and longer than Sargol because it it the full red stigma. It has no style.

Pushal - Saffron Quality

Pushal

This variety contains the stigma and 3-5 mm of the style. Pushal is not as pure as the previous ones.

Bunch - Saffron quality

Bunch

A Saffron Bunch contains the stigma with the whole style, so it includes also the yellow part.

Orders

Saffron stigmas are sold in packages containing 500 g. each.

Minimum quantity per order is 8 kg (16 packages)

Would you like to taste our saffron?

We're absolutely sure our clients will really appreciate our products, so we are willing to give them the opportunity to taste them.

Some samples of each variety are available, so, if interested, please contact us using the dedicated form.