TEHRAN –On Friday, Raviz village in Rafsanjan county, southern province of Kerman, hosted its first-ever saffron festival, a local tourism official has announced.
Farmers in the area have been cultivating the crop for some time and are looking to expand its coverage, Hassan Hosseini said.
Increased cultivation could attract tourism to the region, in addition to creating employment opportunities, he added.
He also noted that Raviz's climate was particularly conducive to producing high-quality saffron, and expressed his hope that the festival would become an annual event.
Iranian saffron is known as the “red gold”. Saffron is a magical ingredient in Persian culture, from aromatic foods and colorful desserts to physical and spiritual medicine. Every year, the saffron harvest season begins in early November. While most other vegetation is gone, the bright purple flowers cover the fields and create an outstanding landscape in dry regions in Iran.
Major saffron producers of Iran are located on the east side of the country. If you would like to see the biggest market, head to Mashhad, which is also known for its religious importance.
Big and sprawling Kerman province is something of a cultural melting pot, blending various regional cultures over time. It is also home to rich tourist spots and historical sites including bazaars, mosques, caravanserais, and ruins of ancient urban areas.
Kerman province is bounded by the provinces of Fars on the west, Yazd on the north, South Khorasan on the northeast, Sistan-Baluchestan on the east, and Hormozgan on the south. It includes the southern part of the central Iranian desert, the Dasht-e Lut.