ISO Quality Evaluation
The saffron filament samples supplied by Tas-Saff Pty.Ltd. where analysed
as described in ISO 3632-2:1993,
Saffron-Part 2:Test methods. The results obtained are shown below.
| ISO Test Method | Characteristic | Sample 1 | Sample 2 | ISO Requirement |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 5 | Identification Test | Samples identified as stigmas and other plant parts of Crocus sativus and not other species | Samples identified as stigmas and other plant parts of Crocus sativus and not other species | No other vegetable matter to be found other than from Crocus sativus Linnaeus. |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 6 | Floral Waste Content | 0.13% | 0.11% | Category Extra 1 = < 0.5% |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 7 | Extraneous Matter Content | 0.02% | 0.01% | Category Extra 1 = < 0.1% |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 9 | Moisture and Volatile Matter Content | 11.7% | 11.41% | < 12% |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 10 | Total Ash Content | 5.01% | 4.75% | < 8% |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 11 | Acid Insoluble Ash Content | 0.29% | 0.39% | Categories 1 & 2 = < 1.0% Categories 3 & 4 = < 1.5% |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 12 | Crushing and Sieving | 0.98% | 0.95% | More than 95% of the crushed material passes through 500mm sieve |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 13 | Bitterness (Picricrocin content) | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 57nm) = 91.7 | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 257nm) = 89.7 | For Category 1, Absorbance Reading E1%(1cm, 257nm) = > 70 |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 13 | Fragrance (Safranal Content) | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 30nm) = 27.9 | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 330nm) = 23.7 | All Categories, Absorbance Reading E1%(1cm, 257nm) = 20-50 |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 13 | Colour (Crocins Content) | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 440nm) = 198.3 | Absorbance E1%(1cm, 440nm) = 229.5 | For Category 1, Absorbance Reading E1%(1cm, 257nm) = > 190 |
| ISO 3632-2 clause 14 | Identification of Main Characteristics (Thin-layer Chromatography) | No extraneous bands evident | No extraneous bands evident | Observation of the chromatogram in daylight and UV light shows bands for the main components and no other unidentified bands |