Saffron ! The Spice Costlier Than Gold !

Saffron is a small, red threaded flower petal, which is a highly prized spice. You might know saffron by the moniker “the world’s most expensive spice.” It’s true — wholesale prices can cost $1,500 per pound and up.

But why is it so pricey? Harvesting of saffron threads for sale is a very cumbersome and intensive process. The threads are the stigma of a flower called the saffron crocus and each crocus contains only three threads. Each thread is very delicate and is removed by hand and by carefully roasted so that they dry out.

1/24 of an ounce of saffron can contain as many 500 threads and it can take up to 70,000 crocuses to produce just one pound of saffron — That is the reason why they are more expensive than gold.

Saffron may be expensive, but its flavor justifies the high price tag for those who can afford it. It has been described as having a subtle, aromatic, but complex flavor that is difficult to describe if you have never tried it. It can be floral, but not overpowering.

Earthy, but not pungent. Smooth, yet distinct. With just a small pinch of saffron you can bring forth its unmistakeable flavor in any dish, yet it is never overpowering.

When buying saffron buy those which are unifor in length and unbroken and ones that are vibrantly colored. Some times these saffron spices are adulterated with other flower part so that they can be sold at very high prices — these are often old saffron threads that are mixed with other parts of the flower or marigold stigmas. The flavor will not be the same.

beaware that ] no one can eat an entire ounce of saffron in one sitting, studies have shown that saffron is a good source of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, iron, and potassium.

This spice is also filled with antioxidants such as crocin, a carotenoid which gives saffron its bright color. In traditional medicines, saffron has been used to treat depression, asthma, and cancer.

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