Saffron Extract 3–10% Crocins

Saffron extract is prepared from the red stigmas of Crocus sativus, the autumn-flowering saffron crocus, and not from the petals, the yellow style or the stamens. Ethanol extraction takes up the water-soluble carotenoid pigments of the stigma, and the liquor is dried to an orange-red powder.

The grade range is 3–10% crocins by HPLC, and the primary grade is the 10% end. The powder is 80 mesh and water soluble. The 3% grade suits drink powders and blended premixes, while the 10% grade carries a higher pigment load for capsules and tablets.

SKU: BOT-STX-0034 Category: Standardized Extracts Tags: Ethanol Extracted, Flower, Gummies & Chews, Saffron, Standardized Extracts, Water Soluble

Crocin Standardization & Grades

Crocins are the pigments of saffron. They are esters of the carotenoid crocetin with the sugars gentiobiose and glucose, and unlike most carotenoids they dissolve in water, which gives saffron its orange-red color. They are the standardization target because they define the color strength and because HPLC can quantify them as a group. Saffron also holds picrocrocin, which gives the bitter taste, and safranal, the volatile that forms from picrocrocin during drying and carries the aroma. The botanical entity is Crocus sativus L., and the part used is the stigma.

Grade	Assay & Method	Where It Fits
3% Crocins	HPLC	Drink powders and blended premixes
10% Crocins	HPLC	Capsules and tablets with small fill

The two grades differ in concentration and in the material around the pigment. The 10% grade is a pigment concentrate that reaches a target dose from a small fill. The 3% grade keeps more of the sugars, picrocrocin and other solids of the stigma, so saffron extract at this level has a rounder flavor and suits drink powders and blends. The stigma is also supplied as a 10:1 ratio extract, the Saffron Extract Powder, as a milled stigma, the Saffron Powder, and as the aglycone Crocetin. Each flower yields only three stigmas, which is why saffron is a costly raw material and why identity matters. The plant is a sterile triploid that is propagated by dividing corms, so there is no seed-grown variation, and the quality of a lot depends on the picking, drying and extraction steps rather than on cultivar.

Crocin Analysis & Purity Risks

Both grades are measured by HPLC, which separates the individual crocins by their sugar chains and adds up the named members against a reference standard. The pigments absorb strongly near 440 nm, so a UV or visible detector gives clean peaks. A spectrophotometric color figure at that wavelength counts every compound that absorbs there, and it cannot be converted into an HPLC crocin result.

The data for this product lists safranal as a secondary marker. Safranal is a volatile compound that forms from picrocrocin as the stigma dries, and it is quantified by a separate method from the pigments. The three markers together describe color, taste and aroma, and a full-profile saffron extract shows all of them in the chromatogram. A pigment-only figure can come from material that lacks the other two.

Sample preparation must protect the pigments. Crocins are sensitive to light, heat, oxygen and acid, so the powder is dissolved in a cold diluent, shielded from light, and injected promptly. A prepared sample that stands in light will show a falling crocin peak.

Purity risks are among the best documented of any botanical because saffron is costly. Safflower, marigold, turmeric and dyed corn silk are used to extend or imitate it, and the yellow style or the stamens of the same flower can be added to increase weight. Only the red stigma is used, and a fixed part, a stated species and a full chromatographic profile are more reliable than a color reading.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Latin Name	Crocus sativus
Plant Part	Flower
Processing	Ethanol Extraction
Compound Class	Carotenoids
Common Name	Saffron, Crocus
Ingredient Type	Standardized Extract
Marker Compound(s)	Crocins (crocetin glycosyl esters)
Primary Grade	10% Crocins (HPLC)
Available Grades	3% · 10% Crocins (HPLC)
Appearance	Orange-Red powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Water Soluble
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Particle Size	80 mesh
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

Applications by Grade

10% Grade for Compact Capsules

The 10% grade delivers a pigment load from a small fill, which suits capsules and tablets. The orange-red powder is hygroscopic and stains equipment, so fill in a dry room, use an opaque bottle and keep a desiccant in the closure.

10% Grade in Tablet Blends

Tablets of the 10% grade need a dry binder and a moisture-tolerant filler, because the soluble pigment powder softens compacts under humidity. Protect the tablet from light, since crocins fade quickly in clear blister packs.

3% Grade in Drink Powders

The 3% grade dissolves in water to a clear golden-orange solution with a honey-like, slightly bitter flavor. It suits drink powders and instant mixes with citrus, honey or milk, and the color fades if the drink sits in light.

3% Grade in Gummy Premixes

Gummy premixes use the 3% grade for color and flavor. Add the powder after the main cook, keep the pH near neutral to mildly acidic, and test the color after storage, since crocins fade in heat, acid and bright light.

3% Grade in Stick Packs

Stick packs carry the 3% grade with a flow agent and a sweet carrier. Seal the packs in light- and moisture-barrier film, because the soluble pigment powder clumps at the seal and fades quickly if the film is clear.

10% Grade in Effervescent Tablets

Effervescent tablets work with a water-soluble pigment. The acid in the tablet can bleach crocins over time, so test the color after storage, use light-protective packaging, and keep the compression room dry to prevent early reaction.

Technical & Quality Considerations

The extract is an orange-red powder with a honey-like, hay-like odor and a slightly bitter taste. It is water soluble, and solutions are golden orange. Crocins are sensitive to light, heat, oxygen and acid, and the extract fades in clear packs, in acidic bases held hot, and in the presence of oxidizing agents. Neutral to mildly acidic systems protected from light keep the color best.

For production, control humidity in weighing and filling, because the soluble powder gains water and cakes. For saffron, sieve before blending to break up soft lumps, and pre-blend with a portion of the carrier so that the pigment disperses evenly. The powder stains plastic and steel, so use dedicated scoops and clean the line after a run.

Keep the drum sealed and shielded from light, and store it in a cool place. Compare each lot with a retained sample for color strength, odor and the crocin peaks in the chromatogram. In liquids, add the powder under agitation to a base at a moderate pH, and run a light-stability test in the final pack before scale-up, because color loss in shelf life is the main risk for saffron extract in clear containers. The bitter taste of picrocrocin and the hay-like note of safranal are part of the character of a full-profile extract, so flavor trials should be done with the intended dose and not with a color-matched substitute. Opaque containers and a sealed liner extend the useful life of the powder.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.