POSTED ON FEB 05, 2022 BY ZAFFERAN & CO.
Learn more about Saffron, The magic spice we need to be eating more of.
The spice saffron is obtained from the pistils of a small purple flower (crocus) grown in Iran, Spain, Greece, and Kashmir. The highly prized red saffron threads are used widely, especially in Persian cooking. It also has a mystical quality, central to the myths of several countries. Saffron is very healthy and is used universally in all kind of foods, imparting its beautiful flavor. A small pinch of saffron gives brilliant color, aroma, and flavor to food. The saffron threads are used in many dishes with vegetables, meats, seafood, poultry, baked goods and even ice-cream.
How does saffron spice taste like?
Saffron is highly flavorful and aromatic, with a spicy, pungent and unique taste.
Why is saffron so expensive?
Harvesting saffron requires hand-picking of thousands of tiny flowers from the field to removing the pistils and then final packaging. It takes 200,000 hand-picked flowers to produce one kilo of dried saffron spice. The purple flowers only bloom over a 6-week period from late September to early December. Saffron is a very lightweight substance and a pinch goes a long way. As such, many recipes call for “a pinch” of saffron threads.
Is saffron good for your health?
Saffron has been the subject of study for the treatment of depression, Alzheimer, cholesterol control, cancer protection, neural health, and eye health.
Read more: Health Benefits of Saffron
Can I use saffron on my face?
It is being used from ancient times as a herb to enhance beauty. People face various skin issues like scars, acne, uneven skin tones, dull complexion, discoloured patches, etc. With the help of saffron, one can easily get rid of most of these skin issues and get flawless skin.
Where does saffron grow best?
Today, the main areas of cultivation of saffron spice are located in Iran. However, there it is also produced in Europe, especially around the Mediterranean such as in Greece, Spain, southern France, and Turkey, but also in Italy. Iran produces 85 percent of the world’s saffron according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
How to choose the best saffron?
When shopping for saffron, look for evenly colored, vivid red or deep orange threads. Lighter colored threads or a lot of pale streaks indicate lesser quality. Avoid powdered saffron, which is always cheaper but often inferior and adulterated with other flavorings. Take a look at our online shop and get your own genuine, high-quality Saffron.
Read more: Beware of Fake Saffron
How can I keep fresh saffron?
Store saffron in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from heat, moisture, and sunlight. Saffron, like other herbs and spices, is sensitive to light, so wrap the packet in foil to protect it further. Saffron will not spoil, but it will lose increasingly more and more of its flavor with age.
Can saffron expire?
Saffron eventually becomes unusable after three to four years. Like many spices, saffron eventually loses its flavor and potency and can be too old to use in cooking.
How to use saffron?
There are two methods for using saffron, outlined in the link below.
Read more: How to use Saffron?
What recipes are saffron used in?
We’ve rounded up the best Saffron recipes ever. They’re our most loved and rated 5-star recipes, all in one place.
© ZAFFERAN & CO.
Comments