Every batch we sell is tested to ISO 3632 and classified before it is offered. As an ISO 3632 saffron supplier we publish the numbers, attach the Certificate of Analysis to your lot, and let the data argue.
Our Super Negin runs crocin 260–290+ and safranal 40–55. That is the top of Category I, not the entry point.
What ISO 3632 Actually Measures
ISO 3632 is the international standard for saffron. It uses UV-visible spectrophotometry to score three compounds, then sorts the result into Categories I, II, and III.
It is the only objective measure of saffron quality. Everything else is a photograph and a promise.
Crocin — Coloring Strength
Measured as absorbance at 440 nm. Crocin governs how much colour a gram of saffron delivers into a dish, and it is the number most buyers price against.
Higher crocin means you use less saffron for the same result. Cost per gram matters less than cost per unit of colour.
Safranal — Aroma
Measured at 330 nm. Safranal is volatile, which is exactly why drying discipline decides it. Rushed heat drives it off.
The standard sets a band rather than a floor. Too little means a flat spice; too much can indicate over-drying or age.
Picrocrocin — Flavour
Measured at 257 nm. Picrocrocin carries the bitter, hay-like taste that makes saffron recognisable on the palate.
It degrades into safranal over time, which is one reason an old lot can test oddly on both readings at once.
The ISO 3632 Category Thresholds
Three categories, scored on the same three compounds. Category I is the top band.
| Category | Crocin (440 nm) | Picrocrocin (257 nm) | Safranal (330 nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | ≥ 190 | ≥ 70 | 20 – 50 |
| Category II | ≥ 150 | ≥ 55 | 20 – 50 |
| Category III | ≥ 100 | ≥ 40 | 20 – 50 |
| Aqiq Super Negin | 260 – 290+ | Category I verified | 40 – 55 |
ISO 3632 also caps moisture and volatile matter at 12% for filaments and 10% for powder, and limits extraneous floral waste. Figures above follow ISO 3632-1:2011; confirm against the revision your laboratory works to.
Note the gap. A lot can sit inside Category I at crocin 191 or at crocin 285, and both are sold as “Category I saffron.”
This is why the category alone is a weak specification. Ask for the actual figures.
A Note on the Phrase “ISO 3632 Certified”
Worth being precise, because your technical team will notice.
ISO 3632 is a testing and classification standard, not a certification scheme. No body audits a company and awards it an ISO 3632 badge. Saffron is tested against the standard and classified by it, batch by batch.
So when a supplier calls itself “ISO 3632 certified,” they mean their saffron has been tested to the standard. We say tested and classified, because that is what happens.
A supplier who blurs this is telling you something about how carefully they read their own paperwork.
How to Read a Saffron Certificate of Analysis
A pure saffron certificate of analysis should let you reconstruct the lot without calling anyone. Check these fields.
- Lot or batch identifier — it must match the code on the carton you received, not a generic product code
- Sampling and test dates — a COA from three harvests ago describes saffron you are not buying
- The three absorbance values — crocin, picrocrocin, safranal, each with its wavelength stated
- Moisture and volatile matter — excess moisture inflates weight and shortens shelf life
- Testing laboratory and method — the issuing lab named, with the ISO method referenced
- Floral waste and extraneous matter — how much of what you bought is not stigma
If a COA arrives without a lot number, it is marketing collateral. Ask again.
Three Layers of Verification
We check the crop three times, and the last check is not ours.
In-Field
Our team grades at the point of separation in Herat, while the stigma is still fresh and the harvest date is certain.
In-House
Every batch is re-graded after drying, when the compounds have settled and the true colour of the lot is visible.
Independent Laboratory
An outside lab runs the ISO 3632 spectrophotometry and issues the Certificate of Analysis. We do not self-certify the number we sell against.
The full sequence is set out on our saffron harvesting process page.
Category 1 Saffron in Bulk
Every grade we ship is Category I classified. The grades differ in appearance and application, not in whether they passed.
- Super Negin — crocin 260–290+, all-red stigma, no style. Luxury retail and cosmetics formulation.
- Negin — all-red threads, Category I performance at a lower cost per gram.
- Pushal — red stigma with a short style portion. Strong aroma, value at volume.
- Sargol — all-red cut threads, fast colour release for beverage and extract work.
Full specifications for all six grades sit on our saffron grades page, and commercial terms on the wholesale saffron supplier page.
What ISO 3632 Does Not Catch
Testing is necessary and not sufficient. Be aware of the gaps.
The standard measures the three compounds and physical characteristics. It is not, by itself, an adulteration screen.
- Safflower, marigold, and dyed corn silk are caught by inspection and microscopy, not by absorbance alone
- Added colourants can push a crocin reading upward, which is why a suspiciously high number deserves scrutiny rather than applause
- Powder hides everything visual, so powder demands a declared source grade and full traceability
- Country of origin is not a test result. It is a paperwork claim, and it needs a chain to back it
We ship tested saffron wholesale with a lot code that resolves to the farm, the harvest date, the grade, and the COA. Origin you can check beats origin you are told.
For the visual and kitchen-level checks, see our guide on how to identify real saffron.
For provenance detail see our Afghan saffron wholesale hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ISO 3632 Category 1 mean?
Category I is the top classification band under ISO 3632, requiring crocin of at least 190, picrocrocin of at least 70, and safranal within the 20 to 50 range. It is a floor, not a score, so ask for the actual measured figures rather than the category alone.
Can a supplier be ISO 3632 certified?
Not strictly. ISO 3632 is a testing and classification standard for the product, not an audited certification scheme for a company. Saffron is tested against the standard and classified by it, batch by batch. Suppliers who claim company-level certification are being loose with the language.
What is a pure saffron certificate of analysis?
A lot-specific lab report giving crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal absorbance values with their wavelengths, plus moisture, extraneous matter, the testing laboratory, and the test date. It must carry the lot code printed on your carton.
Does a high crocin number always mean better saffron?
Usually, but not automatically. Added colourants can inflate a crocin reading, so an unusually high figure deserves scrutiny alongside visual inspection and a traceable chain rather than being taken at face value.
Do you test every batch or a sample of batches?
Every harvest batch is tested and classified before it is offered for sale, and the resulting Certificate of Analysis travels with the lot.
Talk to the People Who Read the Lab Reports
Send us your specification and we will tell you which grade meets it, with the Certificate of Analysis for the lot we are quoting.
If the numbers do not suit your application, we will say so.