Saffron harvest starts in Saxony and Thuringia

Experts in Saxony and Thuringia have started harvesting saffron. Horticultural expert Harald Alex from Döbrichau (North Saxony) reports that "real work" awaits saffron growers until the beginning of November. The purple crocuses have coped well with the snow and frost this year.

Alex grows saffron crocuses in his own garden in Döbrichau and carefully plucks their flowers by hand. Then, according to Alex, "the really time-consuming part begins", as the orange-red saffron threads have to be snipped from the flowers one by one. "You have to be patient," says the pensioner. This year, he is receiving help from Lebenshilfe Torgau. After harvesting, the threads are dried and packed in airtight packaging.

According to Alex, around one gram of saffron can be obtained from around 200 flowers. Last year, he harvested around 40 grams of the luxury spice, this year it is expected to be significantly more.

"Saffron Road" aims to revive old cultivation sites

The saffron experts Andrea Wagner and Frank Spieth grow the spice on a larger scale: In Altenburg, the purple crocuses grow on 2,000 square meters. Every year, with the help of volunteers, they harvest around one kilo of the expensive spice - and, according to their own figures, provide around a quarter of Germany's total harvest. They are expecting the same amount this year: "It looks like the saffron is doing well," reports Spieth.

Saffron cultivation in Germany is still "definitely rare" and the spice is an exotic product, says Wagner. But centuries ago, there were already saffron gardens in the former Principality of Altenburg, among other places. With a "Saffron Road" through Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the experts are planning to revive the old cultivation sites and attract tourists. Spieth, Wagner and Alex are aiming for implementation in 2026.