The tag has been issued by the Geographical Indications Registry.

Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Dr Devansh Yadav announced the development on X and wrote: "Kishtwar Saffron brand gets GI tagged for the first time."

"Tagged along with Kashmiri saffron - multiple FPO brands coming up now!! " he said.

"Icing on the cake - certified as grade1," he said.

The spice is grown in several parts of Kishtwar.

The legendary most expensive harvest of saffron, popularly known as Kumkum, is also a key cash crop in Jammu’s isolated mountainous district of Kishtwar, reports Greater Kashmir.