About Us

Growing up as an Afghan in America, I often found myself wondering what life would have been like if my parents never left their homeland. My parents fled from Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980's. They immigrated to America in search of a safer life and brighter future for our family. As a child, I remember hearing stories and seeing pictures of what my family's life was like back home, before the war. I would always ask my father to take me back to visit. I was born in America and I felt short changed because I never had the chance to meet my family back home, see where my parents grew up, or experience life in Afghanistan.

In 2019, my wish finally came true. My father took me to visit Afghanistan for the first time. I had every emotion running through my body from the moment we took off from San Francisco until we landed safely in Afghanistan. I was 26 years old and even though I felt like this trip was well overdue, it was as if I was at the right place at the right time.

Family and friends greeted my father and I with open arms and hospitality. As we settled in, I began to quickly realize that day-to-day life in Afghanistan was much different than what I was used to in America. The majority of families are living in extreme poverty and very harsh conditions. I never realized how lucky and privileged I was to have basic necessities like electricity and water. Right away, I knew I wanted to find a way to help these poor families and children in Afghanistan — but how?

After a few weeks of traveling around Afghanistan, from Kabul to Herat, I fell in love with the tradition, the people, and most of all the food and Afghan tea. Everywhere we went we were shown the utmost hospitality — people wouldn't take no for an answer when offering food or tea. The tea had a rich golden-yellow color with a beautiful aroma and a soothing taste. The food was mouth-watering, from the white and yellow rice to the tender kabobs and sweet yellow desserts. I asked my father what the secret ingredient was to all of these amazing dishes. He answered with one word: "Saffron."

The next day, my father took me to Ghoryan — our family's home in Western Afghanistan's Herat Province, just 13 hours from the Iranian border. He showed me acres upon acres of land that has been in our family for generations, where farmers were preparing for the saffron harvest season. It was at that moment I realized how I was going to give back to the people of Afghanistan.

As I researched saffron, I discovered it has numerous health benefits — it's a natural antidepressant, helps with PMS symptoms, and has been prized for centuries. Cleopatra bathed in saffron before intimacy. Alexander the Great used it to heal his wounds. Saffron has been around for millennia, and its benefits are as rich as its flavor.

Finally, it hit me. I could help give back to the people of Afghanistan by exporting saffron to America. This not only provides jobs for Afghan farmers, women, and their families — it also gives farmers a positive alternative to growing poppy plants used to produce opium and heroin.

That's when Afghan Saffron Co. was born. After plenty of research and discussions with my wife, we saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between third-world poverty and economic opportunity. With every purchase you make, at least 13% of every sale is donated directly to Afghan farmers, women, and their families in Ghoryan.

Every order you purchase is more than a spice or a helpful kitchen tool — it's a lifeline for a farming family in Afghanistan, and a connection to one of the world's oldest and most treasured culinary traditions. Thank you for being part of our story.