Appearing as tiny red-gold threads, saffron is regarded as the world’s most sought-after culinary ingredient. Throughout the history of mankind, there is no other spice like this, which was cherished equally by emperors, kings, and chefs alike for medicinal and culinary uses. This irresistible and exotic condiment is really rare, and here is why!
Saffron essentially is the reddish-yellow color flower stigma harvested from the plant Crocus sativus and has been in use for ages as a seasoning and coloring agent in food.
Being such a delicate end product, the making of Saffron involves so much work, all done by hand. When it comes to harvesting, only the fine thread-like flower stigma is harvested by hand-picking, and a single flower contains only a few stigmas. This intensive process and the relatively smaller harvest make it extremely premium, rare, and expensive. This exquisite delicacy is grown in many parts of the world, including Greece, India, and Spain.
There are 4 grades of Saffron, the lowest Saffron is bunch pulled from flower from dark tips base to yellow base, however in higher level grade the yellow stand removes, leaving only the long strands of pure red.
When it comes to Saffron, be very cautious as can be made from corn silks,
coconut fiber or ever horse hair, synthetic coloring rose to die low rates threads to make it looks real!
The real Saffron comes from top of stigma, and each flower has only 3 threads.
Saffron essentially is the reddish-yellow color flower stigma harvested from the plant Crocus Sativus and has been in use for ages as a seasoning and coloring agent in food. It picked only by hand and its harvested end of October to mid November each year early in morning.
Now, the most important part. The flavor of Saffron!
Being such a rare delicacy this magnificent spice is valued for both its color and flavor. When added into foods and beverages, Saffron could import a transforming rich and golden hue to the entire dish, making it so much appealing for consumption. When it comes to the flavor, Saffron could confer a lavish earthy character to the food along with a characteristic pungency.
However, the flavor is not the only fact that makes Saffron exceptional. This divine condiment comes with loads of health benefits too. According to scientific literature, Saffron is a rich source of antioxidants and a known ingredient to improve depressive symptoms such as depression or anxiety. Seems like the spice could brighten up your mood, as same as it lights up your dish.
The specialty of Saffron lies not only with its flavor, aroma, and benefits but with its ingenious nature. This spice works magically with many other ingredients, and even when the saffron flavor is not prominent, it could elevate the flavor of every other ingredient around it. This is the very reason why gourmet chefs are falling in love with this exquisite ingredient. It is not just another spice but a heavenly gift of nature designed for our enjoyment as well as our well-being.