Nuts, Dried Fruits, and Date. Saffron

Nuts

Seeds like Pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, and walnuts are categorized as Nuts. Products such as Raisins, Gheysi, Prune, Dried Figs, Date, etc. are categorized as Dried Fruits.

In addition to the varied and popular taste, Nuts and Dried Fruits also have high levels of nutritional value. Many types of Dried Fruits, Nuts, and Saffron are used as a cure in Iranian traditional medicine. It is specified that seeds (Nuts) contain a wide range of proteins, Antioxidants, and Selenium studies. The selenium in the seeds could decrease the risks of catching some cancers like Prostate cancer, Lung cancer, and Intestine cancer down to 50% and avoid the progress of breast cancer in women and detection of Prostate disease in men. There is a lot of Phosphor in Nuts which helps to recreate bones and teeth and large values of Magnesium inside the nuts stabilize the operation of muscles and nerves. Also, there are many items to describe and explain about Nuts and Dried Fruits of each type which you can find in the Blog section of the current website.

Variety and amount of Nuts and Dried Fruits production in Iran

Iran has a suitable and wide variety of Production because of its unique climate. It produces about 200,000 tons of Pistachios, 160,000 tons of Raisins, 150,000 tons of Walnuts, 1,200,000 tons of Date, 35 tons of Fig, 50,000 tons of Almond, 330 tons of Beans, 90,000 tons of Lentils, 300,000 tons of Pea and 270,000 tons of Saffron in Iran yearly.

The industry of Nuts and Dried Fruits in Iran is known because of having products such as Pistachios (2nd rank of production worldwide), Date (2nd rank in production worldwide), Almond (4th rank in production worldwide), Raisins (4th rank production worldwide) and Hazelnut (5th rank of production worldwide).

Pistachio

Iran is the largest producer of pistachios in the world. Iranian pistachios are very delicious and are available in many varieties and flavors.

Saffron

Iran harvests about 80% of the world’s production of saffron. Despite its small size, this spice is quite expensive, and is suitable for many applications.

Raisin

Grapes and Raisins are nature’s pharmacy. Raisin is organic energetic and quite beneficial for our bodies. Iran is second in the exporting of raisins, and rising demand for Iranian raisins proves their quality.

Dried fig

According to laboratory analysis, there are about 20% more calories in an Iranian dried fig compare to figs from the U.S.A. or Turkey. The FAO recognizes the Iranian city, Fars, as being the best region in the world for the cultivation of figs.

Date

Dates are one of man’s best friends and the date palm is probably one of the oldest trees to be cultivated in the world. Iran is one of major date producer and exporter; there are more than hundred kind of date in Iran.

Almond

There are three main varieties of almond, Mamra, sweet and bitter. Mamra almond is a unique product specified by its crunchy texture, attractive appearance and very sweet taste. Bitter almonds are actually the kernels which are commonly used in Chinese medicine while the sweet almonds are creamy white, smooth nuts with a brown skin and encased in a shell.

Iran exports more than 2 billion US dollars of Nuts such as Walnut, Pistachios, Hazelnuts, and Raisins and Saffron, to 50 countries yearly, as Iran is considered the producer of high-quality Nuts and Dried Fruits, and the main producer of Saffron, most countries ask to buy Iranian products.

Iranian Saffron, nuts, and Dried Fruits were exported to Europe in past years but today China is the biggest importer of them.

There are a lot of opportunities to register new brands and/or invest in existing brands to export nuts and Dried Fruits from Iran to all around the world considering the guarantee of appropriate benefits and low risks.

TEA

Tea has been being cultivated in Iran for more than 115 years and turned into an industry singly. It is cultivated in two Northern provinces Gilan and Mazandaran. About 65000 families in the north of Iran are tea farmers and make a living through it. More than 90% of Iran’s tea is produced in Gilan Province in the following towns Lahijan, Langrood, Roodsar, Some Sara, Fooman, Amlash, Siyahal, Rahimabad, Vajargah, and less than 10% in Mazandaran province mainly in Ramsar and ToneKabon. 80% of people’s economy and income is provided by producing tea in some abovementioned towns. There are nearly 32000 hectares of tea farms throughout the country and about 90% of tea farmers are single-product producers and earn a living just through the cultivation and production of tea.

Premium features of Iranian tea in comparison with the world

Iran has the best green leaf of tea in the world considering constitutive organic materials. Iran’s tea is one of the healthiest and most organic agricultural products in the world due to the residue of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. While there is a congregation of pests and diseases in other tea-producer countries such as Sri Lanka, India, China, Japan, Kenya, and Vietnam because of weather conditions and annual harvest. For instance, according to the latest available information from foreign sources at least 10 types of fungicides, 9 types of insecticides, and 8 types of herbicides are used in Sri Lanka. About 1-ton chemical fertilizer is used for each hectare in Japan this amount for Sri Lanka is 550 kg, for china 750 kg, and in India 550 kg. It deserves to mention that mentioned the amounts of fertilizer usage in different countries are most probably calculated based on agrochemical and tea leaf tests. There are 3 important pests in Iran including root lesion nematode, kind of weevil, and greenfly which have been totally controlled since 1999 and as per research done by Iran’s tea research center since then, no poisons have been used for tea cultivation.

If Iranian tea is infused perfectly without adding any essence has no competitor in odor, color, and taste. Iranian tea in terms of intorsion, uniformity, and blackness of dried tea and having pekoe (tip) which resulted in the existence of bud in foliage and the nonexistence of wastage has high standards and quality. Gilan Spring tea or the first harvest of tea has excellent quality and is very popular. The nonexistence of unpleasant tastes like staleness, burn, moldiness, and rancidity, and the existence of a favorable acerb taste instead is the bold feature of Gilan spring tea.

Trade of Iranian Tea

Iran has moved toward producing healthy and organic tea and blessed events have recently happened in Iran's tea research center. According to the respectable head of the tea research center in 2016 production of organic linseed without using chemical fertilizers and poisons (pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides) has been started and it could be really promising for Iranian tea. Attention to mentioned matter and giving special look to the production of Iranian tea and considering its all special unique features will provide a proper bed to think about the trade of tea beyond the border. The nuts and tea division of Sepehr Meshqat Caspian Co. has a vast relationship with international markets. Our specialized team in the tea department knows the target market well. We are familiar with people’s tastes and interests all across the world and have done comprehensive research concerning the tea trade. We have got good relations with Iranian tea experts. The nuts and tea division is able to manage the process of tea exportation to target countries in the best way by giving advice and consultation.

Saffron

Saffron is a plant in the category of lilies. Long experience of Iranians in Saffron cultivation, many studies of Iranian races in different eras until today, perfect weather and amazing proper farming lands to grow Saffron, etc. caused Iran to be recognized as the greatest producer and exporter of Saffron worldwide and leads any competitor by the production of 80% of produced Saffron of the world.

Iranians are familiar with Saffron since long time ago. Saffron is a plant in category of lilies (kind of Garden Asparagus with underground stem). Saffron onion has long life and will remain in soil about 5 to 7 years. Saffron stem is grown out of soil from middle of its onion and a beautiful violet flower with chromatic violet and lilac midribs grows at the end of stem and finally the height of Saffron plant reaches between 10cm to 30 cm. At most 3 flowers grow from single Saffron onion and every flower has 6 petals. There are different tones of Saffron petal colors in different weather conditions and it is variable between lilac, light violet and dark violet. All of the explanation above was structure of Saffron plant but the main section, which is known as flavors and colorific for great range of foods and also contains many medicinal properties, is end of style and trifid stigma with aromatic odor and bitter flavor (Every Saffron flower has 3 stamens and one pistil leading to trifid stigma in red-orange color).

Saffron extraction is very difficult and a smidgen product will be extracted from many Saffron flowers, therefor, this situation increases price of Saffron.
Saffron plant is very resistant against weather conditions. Implant Saffron onion into depth of 20cm to survive from exhausting heat and ice cold weather. Saffron farm needs to be irrigated once until harvesting. Saffron will grow in the tropics which has conditions such as mild climate, warm and dry summer with fulltime sunshine and andante weather in fall and winter. Best type of soil to grow Saffron is sandy clay containing modicum lime. East of Iran (Khorasan province) and center of Iran are best places for growing Saffron in the world.

At historical view of Zarparan plant (Actually Saffron comes from Arabic equivalent of Persian word Zarparan which means flower with golden feathers) is using as spice, flavor and medicine in Iran since 3500 years ago.
Long experience of Iranians in Saffron cultivation, many studies of Iranian races in different eras until today, perfect weather and amazing proper farming lands to grow Saffron, etc. caused to Iran to be recognized as greatest producer and exporter of Saffron to worldwide and leads without any competitor by production of 80% of produced Saffron of the world.

Saffron Nutrition Facts

There are nutrition facts of Saffron in every 100 grams (5.3 ounce) listed below. Percent amounts are comparative.

Title	Nutrition facts in 100 grams Saffron
Energy	1298 KJ
Carbohydrate	65.37 gr
Fat	5.85 gr
Saturated Fat	1.586 gr
Monounsaturated Fat	0.429 gr
Multiunsaturated Fat	2.067 gr
Protein	11.43
Water	11.49 gr
Vitmain A	530 IU
Thiamine (vitamin B1)	0.115 mg (9%)
Riboflavin (Vitamin B12)	0.267 mg (18%)
Niacin (Vitamin B3)	1.460 mg (10%)
Vitamin C	80.8mg (135%)
Calcium	80.8 mg (135%)
Iron	11.10 mg (89%)
Magnesium	264 mg (71%)
Phosphorus	252 mg (36%)
Potassium	1724 mg (37%)
Sodium	148 mg (6%)
Zinc	1.09 mg (11%)
Selenium	5.6 µg
Fulic Acid	93 µg
Vitamin B6	1.010 mg
Ash	5.45 gr

Saffron is used as flavor and colorific in many foods, pastries, etc. According to above table and being rich of foodstuff in Saffron, this plant has many medicinal benefits which I mention in the following:

Saffron is against depression: Being pleasurable and laughable of Saffron always were mentioned in traditional medicine of Iran. These topics were enough for scientists to research and find out that Saffron is an appropriate medicine against common depression disease. So it is recommended to drink at least one glass of Saffron every day to gain relaxation.

Saffron is against neurological disease: Daily consumption of Saffron causes mindfulness and prevents diseases outbreak such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. Also consumption of Saffron is decreasing neuralgia and will prevent from disorders caused by lack of sleep.
Saffron is anticancer: Studies in molecular structure of Saffron is shown that this plant has anticancer nature and acts as an antitumor medicine and a free radical scavenger.
Saffron prevents from loss of vision in old age: Official website of University of Sydney announced significant results on 2010 February 5th, about golden herbal medicine of Saffron based on researches from researchers of Italy branch of University of Sydney. Professor Silvia Bisti expressed that a few months using of Saffron Pills will improve loss of division caused by old age considerably. Even at most times you can see complete improvement of Presbyopia and the eyesight will to normal just because of taking Saffron Pills. But she also notes that the improvement remains effective while taking Saffron Pills and it will disappear after leaving pills. Also there is no need to be concerned for taking Saffron Pills permanently, because the Saffron Pills are herbal and won't be harmful for human's body.
Avicenna perspective for medical properties of Saffron: Avicenna mentioned to many useful effects for Saffron herbal medicine in his most famous book The Canon of Medicine, including: anti fever, facilitating birth for pregnant women in last month of pregnancy, clearance of mucus, joy bringer, sexual reinforcement, face color improvement, pain killer, anti-inflammation, anti-depression, amblyopia improvement, emetic, stomach and liver improvement, helper for loss of appetite and removing infection.

Important note: Although Saffron can effect on menstrual disorders and helps pregnant women to birth in last months of pregnancy, but if there is no problem in giving birth for pregnant women, it is better to not to use of Saffron during pregnancy to avoid abortion.

Saffron Business

Iran is the biggest country as Saffron producer; Iranians heard this sentence too many times. Beyond the title of being the biggest producer of Saffron in the world for Iran, there is always a question which: "Why Iranians are not greatest Saffron businessmen in the world?" The answer is clear. It is enough to look at how to export other kind of products from Iran, you will see Iran export many type of products as row material to the world and there is benefits for other countries from processing and production of new products (The main comparison is oil or petroleum). Iranian Saffron as a raw material exchanges between 1200$ to 1800$ for 1 kg in international markets. Countries like Spain and UAE import Iranian Saffron as raw material and just with packing under their names could gain up to 30% net profit.

According to description above, there are some ways for businessmen to profit more in export and import Saffron:

Packing:A simple way which could be beneficial up to 30% is packing raw material of Saffron. There are a lot of investment opportunities in Iran to establish installation for packing factories.
Entrepreneurship and produce beneficial and popular products based on Saffron:Products such as Saffron gum, milk and boiling water soluble pills, Saffron tea, Saffron flavors for yogurt and salad, etc. are derivatives of Saffron which could set up in Iran considering easy access to Saffron farms.
Saffron is herbal medicine: Frenches took advantage of medical properties of Saffron more than contemporary Iranians. Frenches are produced kind of Saffron pill and sell in their pharmacies. According to explanations in current article and a brief research in Iranian traditional medicine (like Avicenna books) there are many medical properties in Saffron which could be noticed. So Iran is best place to produce herbal medicine based on Saffron because of availability, easy access and knowledge of Saffron.