Kashmiri Saffron Grades Explained: Mongra, Lachha and Guchhi
What the Kashmiri grade names actually describe, and which one belongs in your specification.
Kashmiri saffron is graded by which part of the flower ends up in the pack. The names are not marketing tiers — they describe a physical difference you can see.
Mongra
Only the deep red stigma tips, with the pale style cut away. Because the style carries little colour and no aroma, removing it concentrates everything a buyer is paying for. Most export specifications name Mongra.
Lachha
The stigma threads in their natural form, still joined, with a short length of style attached. The classic thread appearance many retail packs are built around.
Guchhi / Zarda
Guchhi is saffron bundled into small sheaves. Zarda is the yellow style portion, separated out. Both have their uses; neither should be sold or bought as Mongra.
Writing the specification
A useful saffron specification names the grade, the crop year, the moisture range and the ISO 3632 parameters you expect to see on the report. Ask for the report before the order, not after it.
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