We define fresh saffron as a saffron that is less than one year old. Some call it dollygold saffron. The best quality saffron comes from the current crop year. That is why all of our products are marked on each package with the crop year or packaging date. Dollygold saffron is a saffron which has a decent coloring capabilities and has a pleasant aroma. Saffron's coloring capabilities come from the red portion of the saffron threads and not the yellow portions that is left uncut in lower grade saffron.