What Is Saffron—and Why Is It So Expensive? marthastewart.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from marthastewart.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Already have an account? Photo: Anne Kim
Growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tahmina Ghaffer recalls a childhood surrounded by young families coming together to share meals. In the warm evenings, the families would enjoy long, communal dinners of korma and always plenty of rice. They would sip cardamom tea with sugared almonds and cookies.
But in 1993, warring factions in Afghanistan forced Ghaffer and her family to flee, crossing through central Asia and eventually finding a new home in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The violence in Afghanistan has made it impossible for Ghaffer to return to her homeland, but thanks to family connections in the region, she was able to connect with two farming families who could supply saffron for her new company, Moonflowers Co. The brand sells premium saffron, all picked by female farmers in the country’s Herat region.