- Title: Jordanian man plants first saffron farm in Jordan
- Date: 3rd December 2020
- Summary: JERASH, JORDAN (NOVEMBER 29, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAFFRON CROCUS FLOWER AT FARM VARIOUS OF EMPLOYEE AT FARM PICKING FLOWERS SAFFRON FLOWERS PLACED IN BASKET EMPLOYEE PICKING UP BASKET AND WALKING AWAY VARIOUS OF OWNER OF SAFFRON FARM, ADEL SUBOH, AND EMPLOYEE SEPARATING FLOWER FROM RED THREADS, ALSO CALLED STIGMAS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF SAFFRON FARM, ADEL SUBO
- Embargoed: 17th December 2020 13:18
- Keywords: Beauty Environment Farm Jordan Saffron Wildlife
- Location: JERASH AND ZARQA, JORDAN
- City: JERASH AND ZARQA, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Environment,Middle East,Nature/Wildlife
- Reuters ID: LVA001D7GDMQD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In a small farm in the Jordanian city of Jerash, small purple flowers that produce the most costly spice in the world are scattered across the terrain.
Adel Suboh, owner of what he says is the first saffron farm in the country, was inspired to cultivate the flower after noticing it occurring naturally in the area.
"I came up with the idea of importing saffron flowers from Italy and to plant these flowers in the farm. The climate was very appropriate for this," he said.
Over a period of three years, Suboh experimented with agricultural conditions, finally coming up with the perfect circumstances to produce enough flowers for public consumption this year.
He now cultivates three donums of land, and sells each gram of saffron threads, also known as Stigmas, for 10 Jordanian Dinars ($14).
Saffron is expensive due to the fact that the process of making it is labour intensive. Planting and collecting the crocus plant, and separating and drying the red threads, have to be done by hand, and are processes which influence quality.
Some 50,000 stigmas, are required to make just 100 grams of saffron. There are about three stigmas on average in every plant.
Iran is the leading producer of saffron globally, followed by India.
But Suboh is hoping to create a thriving industry for the plant in the country.
One of his clients, Lana Al-Titi, said she was excited to finally be able to source fresh saffron for her line of beauty products.
"There's a huge difference between getting dry or old, and between getting it fresh and to use it for your skin," she said.
Saffron is often used as a spice in certain cuisines, but also included in herbal remedies and beauty products. Because of its expensive price and many benefits, it is commonly known as the "red gold."
(Production: Jehad Abu Shalbak, Mohammed Abu Qutai, Muath Freij, Bushra Shakhshir) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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