NUUS | BROKKIES
Local saffron can compete with best in the world
recent organoleptic testing done by a prominent south african multinational retailer has awarded the products of local saffron producer saffricon a top rating . the benchmarking exercise included the retailer ’ s own branded imported saffron as well as saffron products imported from spain and iran , the latter being the world ’ s largest producer with a market share in excess of 90 %.
The assessment criteria were visual appeal , the balance between taste and flavour , flavour intensity , texture and mouth feel . Saffricon ’ s product was the only contender scoring eight or more out of ten in each of these categories .
Saffricon founder and director Bennie Engelbrecht says the benchmarking results corroborate what they have said all along . “ The saffron we grow in South Africa has a distinctive flavour and aroma . Along with our recently acquired ISO 3632 classification , it provides further evidence of our consistent commitment to exceptional quality ,” he explains .
Engelbrecht points out that Saffricon ’ s aim has always been to become a significant player in the world market , in terms of both quantity and quality . “ The testing clearly demonstrates that our quality is tops . In terms of volume , we are set to start producing serious amounts of saffron within the next eight to ten years ,” he says .
Corné Liebenberg , marketing director of Saffricon partner Laeveld Agrochem ( LAC ), says the testing
26 GROND TOT MOND FEB | MRT 2023