Key Points
Kolkata: Saffron from the Kashmir Valley is giving tough competition this year on price to silver varq (edible silver foil) used to decorate sweets..
The best-quality, pure saffron is being sold at 4,950 per 10 gm whereas 10 gm of silver varq costs 800..
Saffron and silver varq are essential to give Indian sweets a premium feel.. . "Both are used in sweets and give a special taste and look which are preferred by the customers," said Arik Jain, director of Ahmedabad-based Jainam Silver Products, which manufactures both silver and gold varq...
That's one of the reasons it has a superior quality award from Brussels-based International Taste Institute, he said.. "Prices of saffron have jumped by 40% compared to last year," said Mehta, whose family has been in the business for the last 60 years...
Every year we float a tender for purchasing saffron and the GI tag has given a special purity to the product that we offer to God," said Radha (who uses one name), deputy administrator of Guruvayur Devaswom...
