Iran
Roses, Tarragon, Malva and Saffron
We have been purchasing organic rose oil from Iran for many years. The Iranian rose oil is usually a so-called "first oil", which settles on top of the rose water as an oil film after the first distillation. The rose water has a great popularity in Iran and is used as such. This first oil is therefore to be considered as a "by-product" of rose water production. It has higher content of wax in compared to "second oil". Second rose oil extracted by a second distillation from the rose water and after mixing with the first oil results in classic rose oil, as known from Bulgaria, for example. However, the first oil also contains significantly less methyl. That’s why it is particularly interesting for our customers.
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Since 2020, we have converted several farmers from conventional to organic cultivation. From the region Malayer we source Roses, Saffron, Marshmallow and Yarrow, from Kerman we receive Tarragon, from Mashad Malva flowers. And we are collaborating with a licorice grower that produces roots with a particularily high GA content.
Rosenernte in Kashan
It is very challenging for us to obtain pesticide-free products. This is due to the ubiquitous conventional agriculture, which makes it increasingly difficult to produce clean organic products worldwide - including Iran. Pesticides can easily drift 1000 m away in the air and endanger the entire harvested crops on the organic areas, therefore the products meet no longer the strict requirements of our mostly German customers. We advise our partners in Iran intensively on how to avoid pesticide contamination. The strategies range from the choice of area to binding agreements with conventional neighbors to the creation of buffer areas that are not marketed as "organic". Planting hedges and rows of trees to protect against drift is also an effective measure.