Thenext time you want to buy 'Kesar' (saffron), do try Kashmiri saffron, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi said on Sunday in his monthly radio programme 'Mann KiBaat', while stressing that "we want Kashmiri saffron to be a globallypopular brand".
Notingthat saffron is attached with Kashmir for centuries and it is produced inPulwama, Budgam and Kishtwar regions of the Union territory, the Prime Ministersaid "Kashmiri saffron has been given Geographical Indication (GI) tagthis year".
"Throughthe GI tag, we want to make Kashmiri saffron as a globally popular brand."
Goingback in history, the Prime Minister mentioned how Abul Fazl, a prominent memberof Akbar's court, described the saffron after his visit to Kashmir for thefirst time.
Modisaid that Kashmiri saffron is globally famous as a spice which has a variety ofmedicinal properties. "It is very fragrant, its colour is thick. Kashmirisaffron represents the cultural heritage of Jammu & Kashmir. Kashmirisaffron is very unique when it comes to its quality. It is also different fromsaffron in other countries. Kashmiri saffron has been distinguished by its GItag."