Zaferan also known as Saffron in the English language, comes from a Crocus flowers stigma (part of the female reproductive organ of the plant). Iran is currently the largest Zaferan producer in the world, accounting for over 90 percent of the global output. The Crocus flower only blooms for about a week every year and the crimson stigmas are plucked from each flower, by hand. Being the most expensive spice in the world Zaferan is known as the “Red Gold”.