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Security has been stepped up around saffron fields in Safranbolu, a district of Karabuk province in northern Türkiye's Black Sea region, where the spice sells for up to ₺900,000 ($18,163) per kilogram.
Gendarmerie teams have begun guarding the fields to protect the crop against theft. The gendarmerie is a branch of Türkiye’s security forces responsible for policing rural areas.
Known as “red gold," saffron ranks among the world’s most expensive spices and is harvested in October and November. Prices currently range from ₺600,000 to ₺900,000 per kilogram, prompting tighter security in the fields where it is grown.
Thermal cameras and drones monitor the fields 24 hours a day, while gendarmerie teams have started standing guard in the area. Producers also take turns watching the fields with the gendarmerie.
Saffron comes from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, which workers hand-pick after the flowers bloom in autumn.
People usually pick the flowers early in the morning, before sunlight causes them to wither.
Estimates of the number of flowers needed for 1 kilogram of saffron range from about 150,000 to 170,000, and the labor involved is a main reason for the high price.
Safranbolu is widely said to take its name from the spice, and its historic old town has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. The European Union has also registered Safranbolu saffron.
Saffron contains compounds such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal, which have strong antioxidant properties and attract interest in the food and health sectors.
It is also used in traditional medicine, and scientists are researching its possible effects on mood, memory, and premenstrual symptoms.
However, evidence for health benefits in these areas remains limited.
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