ISO 3632 Saffron Grades Explained (Category I, II, III)
The quick answer: ISO 3632 is the international lab standard that grades saffron by three measurements: color (crocin), aroma (safranal), and flavor (picrocrocin). Higher numbers are better. Category I is the top band; a crocin color value above 190 qualifies, and premium saffron tests well beyond that. Raihan Saffron tests at 270+ crocin, firmly in Category I.
What does ISO 3632 actually measure?
An independent lab runs a sample through spectrophotometry and reports three values:
- Crocin (color): how deep and golden the color is. The headline number.
- Picrocrocin (flavor): the earthy, slightly bitter taste.
- Safranal (aroma): the honey-and-hay fragrance.
The three categories
- Category I: highest grade, crocin above ~190. The grade chefs reach for.
- Category II: mid-grade, crocin roughly 150 to 190.
- Category III: lowest standard grade, crocin roughly 110 to 150.
Why a 270+ crocin value matters
Color value is the truest single test of saffron quality, and it drives how little you need per dish. At 270+ crocin, Raihan's all-red Super Negin sits well inside Category I, so a small pinch delivers full color and aroma. That is the practical payoff of a high grade: you use less.
Why does grade affect price?
Top-grade saffron uses only the red stigma, hand-separated from each flower, with no yellow style padding the weight. More hand labor and less filler per gram means a higher grade costs more, and performs better.
See it in practice: how to spot fake saffron, then shop lab-graded Super Negin.
Category I, verified
Our current lot tested 296.5 crocin — far above the Category I line.
Shop the harvest Saffron calculatorISO 3632 Category I · harvest-dated · free U.S. shipping over $49
The harvest bottles
Lab-graded Super Negin — pick your size
Frequently asked questions
What is ISO 3632?
ISO 3632 is the international laboratory standard for saffron. It measures three things by spectrophotometer: crocin (colouring strength), picrocrocin (flavour) and safranal (aroma).
What is Category I saffron?
Category I is the top grade, requiring a crocin colouring strength of roughly 190 to 200 or above. Category II sits around 150 to 190, and Category III below that.
What crocin number should I look for?
Anything at 200 or above is genuine Category I. Higher means more colour and aroma per gram, so you use less. Raihan’s current lot tested 296.5.
Is Super Negin the same as Category I?
No, and this trips up most buyers. Super Negin describes the physical cut — long, unbroken, all-red threads with no yellow style. ISO 3632 Category I is a laboratory measurement. A saffron can be one without the other; good saffron is both.
Does a higher ISO category mean better flavour?
It means measurably more colouring and aroma compounds per gram. In practice you need fewer threads for the same result, which makes a stronger grade cheaper per dish even at a higher price per gram.
