The World's Most Labour-Intensive Spice
Each saffron crocus produces only three stigmas. Those stigmas are hand-picked at dawn, before the flower fully opens. It takes 150 flowers to produce a single gram of dried saffron. This is why it costs more per gram than gold.
What Saffron Does to Chai
Saffron contains two compounds that transform tea: crocin (which gives the golden colour) and safranal (which gives the distinctive aroma). When steeped in hot milk, saffron releases both slowly, creating a layered flavour profile — floral at first, then earthy, then slightly honey-sweet on the finish.
FiLLi's Saffron Sourcing
FiLLi sources its saffron from Kashmir and Iran, selecting only Grade 1 (Sargol) threads with the highest crocin content. Every batch is tested for colour strength before being approved for the signature Zafran blend. The result: a consistently golden, aromatic cup that has become the defining flavour of the brand since 1991.