TEHRAN: Once cultivated by Persian kings and believed to have healing powers, saffron is now fuelling the growth of a small German business that imports tons of the spice from Iran to make fine food products for sale in Europe and the Gulf. “We try to capture the soul of saffron and the magic it contains,” says Michael Sabet, an Iranian-German business executive who quit his banking job six years ago to found Miasa GmbH, which is now doubling its revenues every year.
Sabet is one of many German business leaders who see great business opportunities opening up in Iran after the end of sanctions related to its nuclear weapons programme. Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel heads to Iran next week with a planeful of executives keen to rebuild trade ties. “Germany has always had a good relationship with Iran and I think it will continue to expand,” Sabet said. “I hope the end of sanctions will allow exports to rise and have a positive effect on the import business as well.”
Miasa delivers large quantities of high quality saffron to industrial users, but also produces 20 different products ranging from saffron-infused sea salt, honey, rice and even coffee that are sold via the company’s website or at luxury stores like Berlin’s famous Kaufhaus des Westens, or KaDeWe. It also produces a liquor infused with elderberry, lychees and saffron that sells for nearly 40 euros ($44.90) a bottle, and even comes in a non-alcoholic version for sale to Muslim countries.
