Saffron (Crocus sativus) costs more per gram than gold. The labour required to harvest it — each stigma hand-picked from the flower, then dried — makes mass production impossible and keeps prices high regardless of market forces. A gram of quality saffron costs £8–£15 in the UK; in India, where the finest saffron comes from Kashmir's Pampore region, a kilogram trades at ₹300,000–500,000.
And yet the evidence for its benefits — particularly for mood, depression, and anxiety — is some of the most robust of any food ingredient in the psychiatric literature.
The Clinical Evidence for Saffron and Depression
A 2019 meta-analysis in the Journal of Integrative Medicine reviewed 23 randomised controlled trials involving saffron supplementation for depression and anxiety. The findings were striking: saffron was significantly more effective than placebo for depressive symptoms across all trials, with an effect size comparable to standard antidepressant medications (SSRIs and TCAs) in the direct comparison studies.
Key trials within this meta-analysis:
- A 6-week trial comparing 30mg saffron extract to 20mg fluoxetine (Prozac): no statistically significant difference between the two treatments in depression symptom reduction
- A 2005 trial at Tehran University of Medical Sciences: 30mg saffron daily was more effective than placebo and comparable to imipramine for major depressive disorder
- Multiple trials showing significant improvement in anxiety and mood alongside depression outcomes
The mechanism: Saffron's active compounds — safranal and crocin — appear to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain, similar (though weaker) to the mechanism of SSRIs. They also have documented effects on the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, the stress response system.
How to Make Kesar Chai
Per two cups:
- 400ml whole milk + 100ml water
- 1.5 tsp light Assam orthodox or Darjeeling second flush
- 4 green cardamom pods, cracked
- 8–10 saffron threads, bloomed in 2 tbsp warm milk for 10 minutes before brewing
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- Honey or raw sugar to taste (honey's flavour harmonises best with saffron)
Add the bloomed saffron (liquid and threads) after straining. The chai turns a pale gold — the colour alone is mood-lifting in a synesthetic way that needs no clinical explanation.
Beyond Depression: The Additional Evidence
Saffron's crocin compound has also shown:
- Memory and cognitive protection: Multiple studies demonstrate crocin's protective effect against oxidative damage in hippocampal neurons — the brain region central to memory formation
- PMS symptom relief: A 2008 trial found 30mg saffron daily significantly reduced emotional and physical PMS symptoms compared to placebo
- Appetite regulation: A 2010 study found saffron extract reduced snacking and increased satiety in mildly overweight women — potentially relevant for the link between mood and emotional eating
“The most expensive spice in the world turns out to be worth it. The evidence for kesar chai as a mood practice is not folklore. It is the most clinically supported cup on this site.