Tehran, 2007 Nov 22, Press TV
 
Iran's central Province of Qom celebrates as saffron crops begin flourishing after a hiatus of 1000 years, since the Mongol invasion.

"Qom was the habitat for the flora before the invasion of the Mongols," said Reza Sayyar from Agricultural Jihad in Qom.

Saffron used to be prolific in the Qom area. Its production ceased when scores of saffron farmers abandoned their lands and livelihoods during the Mongol raids and sought refuge in Iran's northeastern Province of Khorasan.

Farmers in Qom have now planted saffron on a 2.5 hectare plot in a bid to regain the Province's long lost fame as a hub for the 'red gold'.

Saffron, which is derived from the dried reddish-purple stigmas of Crocus Sativus, is considered to be the world's most expensive spice.

The delicate flowers can only be harvested in mid-autumn. The flowers begin to bloom after the first rains and the blooming period is usually mid-October, when the temperature is just right.

Iran's saffron production has been steadily increasing in the past decade. Most of the crop is exported, to the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Japan, Turkmenistan, France, Italy and even the US.