Spice of Life (clip)

The most expensive spice in the world
is saffron, and honestly, for good reason.

It takes a thousand flowers to
produce just one ounce,

but now, if you can believe it harvesting,

the magical stuff is getting even
more complicated.

SPICE OF LIFE

(Mohammad) We sow these seeds
that we take from the old stock.

4 or 5-year old seeds.

We take seeds when they have thickened.

Then we distribute and sow them in rows.

Then, by the second year,
it starts producing in good numbers.

Flower by flower,
this is the world's most expensive spice.

And Mohammad Yusuf has picked these
saffron buds since he was 10 years old

on a one-acre farm that's been
in his family for generations.

This is the season of flowers,
and we're now collecting them.

Whatever we harvest in in our fate.

Saffron is harvested
in a two-week window each fall.

It only grows at a specific altitude,
which in India means Kashmir,

a territory at the foothills
of the Himalayas,

where about 32,000 people
cultivate the spice.

See, this is a flower.

When we reach home,
we will open and separate it like this.

Those red strings, once dried,
sell for up to $4,000 a kilogram,

and a few of those
will pay the bills for the year.

We work until late night.

Yes.

There is no disturbances at night.

Kashmir saffron is wildly popular
across India for its use in basic cuisines,

*Ayurvedic medicine,

and is a dye,

which is used for Hindu religious garments
and the Indian flag.

Saffron is also the color of
the Hindu nationalist movement

that's pledged its undying support
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

who has long sought more control
over Kashmir,

a majority Muslim area that's dealt with
the Pakistani-backed separatist movement

for decades.

In August 2019,
Modi changed the Constitution

to take away Kashmir's Special Autonomy.

One nation, one constitution.

He imposed a lockdown

and cut off phone
and internet services for months

to prevent a mass uprising.

The political lockdown has since
been replaced by a COVID-19 one,

but Kashmiris still haven't gotten
their internet freedoms back,

which has stunted the saffron trade
and hit growers hard.

And on top of all that,

farmers are facing an additional threat.

Climate change.

Since global warming,

we've been facing a great loss.

Before, we had rain
during our times of need.

But since that rain disappeared,
we've been badly affected.

Close to a third of Kashmir saffron fields
have disappeared since 1997,

a crisis which prompted the government
to invest 54 million dollars in 2010

into reviving the industry.

They dug wells, placed pipes, et cetera,

by they failed to deliver the water.

Whatever they show,
it is far from reality.

After nine years, only about 15%
of the sprinkler systems

meant to help farmers have been built.

Though the government has been slow

to set up the infrastructure
meant to boost production,

it has come up with a plan
to sell future harvests at a better price.

Our saffron qualitatively
is the best in the world.

In terms of aroma, taste, and flavor.

We decided that we'd campaign
before the authorities

that we must get to the GI tag.

GI stands for "Geographical Indication,"

a status the World Trade Organization,
gave to Kashmiri saffron in July 2020

to certify its superior traits.

Farmers can now get their harvest GI tag

at a brand-new government
processing facility.

The adulteration which
otherwise used to be done

or repacking the saffron
from the other countries

on the name of
the Kashmiri saffron will stop,

and it will generate huge revenues
and a premium price for the farmers.

Compared to Iranian saffron,
which makes up 90% of the world supply,

The kashmiri variant has
almost 30%, more croson,

a compound that gives the spice, its
Rich, redness pain, relieving properties,

and a taste. So, unique that kashmiri
chefs won't stand for using anything else.

Mitchell, longest one in left off, with
the icy point, is collectors, fungus.

Yeah. We all will see,
you don't talk to no one.

To which the one culture,

you much knowledge with Nana in
San Jose with Althea costume.

Bilal Ahmed oversees the
preparation of wasman,

traditional feast made for weddings
family, gatherings, even funeral.

Saffron is a key ingredient in
several main dishes of the meal

that can stretch for dozens of courses such
as you. Let's go on lockdown while Bona

but I am good idea.

Yeah, but just behind in diamond watches.
What PH to use woman, our pH photoshopped.

A proper wazwan typically requires
two to three dozen shafts.

One ton of meat in about 50
grams or $200 worth of saffron.

But wise ones have been smaller than
usual for more than a year. Now,

as the political and pandemic, lockdowns
have limited the size of gatherings

as items argue, most modest language.
My mother bought pointer to a pointer.

You wanted more just like went up.

Life in Kashmir isn't just
changing because of the pandemic,

a political crisis or global warming,

the kids who grew up here are
now making different choices

looking for opportunities outside the
saffron fields and the kitchens of

their Homeland for Chef Ahmed,

that means working harder

to keep his culture thriving guys
alone while you go little buddy.