| It's been a long time since spice has been considered a | | | | Because of its bitter, hay-like quality, the flower is |
| valued commodity. However, when it is taken into | | | | common in cheeses, curries, liquors, meat dishes and |
| consideration that a soccer field's worth of flowers is | | | | soups. In India and Spain, it's also a popular condiment |
| necessary to produce one pound of spice, it is far | | | | for rice; the famous Spanish dish paella relies heavily |
| easier to conceptualize its value. | | | | on saffron. French food connoisseurs can also find the |
| Saffron is almost worth its weight in gold. Its increased | | | | flavor in bouillabaisse, which is a spicy fish stew from |
| demand and sensitivity to growing conditions has | | | | Marseilles |
| rendered this spice one of the rarest, most | | | | The medicinal use of the flower is also |
| sought-after items in the world. | | | | highly-celebrated in many cultures. During medieval |
| Saffron comes from the dried stigma of the saffron | | | | times, Europeans used saffron to treat respiratory |
| crocus flower. Once dried, it is often used as a flavor | | | | infections like asthma, smallpox and common colds. |
| in Mediterranean dishes and a fabric-coloring agent. It | | | | Ancient Egyptians, one of the major proponents of the |
| has also been used medicinally for thousands of years | | | | spice, used it as an aphrodisiac and tonic to battle |
| by ancient civilizations. The word has ties with the | | | | dysentery. In modern times, saffron is used as an |
| Arabic word as far, which means "yellow"; the dye | | | | anticarcinogenic, or cancer-suppressing, agent. Extract |
| found in the spice is what gives many foods their | | | | from the spice has also been known to delay ascites |
| distinct, yellow coloring. The taste of saffron is | | | | tumor growth. Finally, it is used widely as an |
| described as bitter with a hay-like fragrance. | | | | antioxidant- An anti-aging agent known to prevent |
| Cultivating the plant is difficult, which causes its | | | | neurological damage and cell deterioration. |
| extraordinarily high price. The minute stigmas are the | | | | The flower's stamens have been used extensively for |
| only part of the flower that produces the aroma and | | | | fabric dye, especially in such countries as China and |
| flavor desired for cooking, which makes farming | | | | India. Even though its instability as a coloring agent |
| incredibly difficult. Between 50,000-75,000 flowers are | | | | results as quick-fading articles, the dye is still very |
| required to produce one pound of dry saffron, which | | | | popular for its vibrant-orange quality. More stamens |
| becomes an even direr situation considering the | | | | added will produce a brilliant shade of red. Because of |
| flowers' simultaneous blooming; 40 hours of intense | | | | the high cost and arduous method of cultivation, |
| labor is required to cultivate a marketable amount of | | | | saffron-dyed clothing is something of a luxury, often |
| saffron during the blooming season. In Kashmir, one of | | | | reserved for royalty and high-class. The vermillion and |
| the most prolific areas, thousands of farmers work in | | | | ochre hues of robes worn by Hindu and Buddhist |
| relays, day and night, to two weeks to earn a | | | | monks are produced by saffron dye. In Europe, the |
| substantial amount of stigmas. | | | | spice is used in aromatic oil called crocinum, which is |
| Indian, Arab, Iranian, Central Asian, European and | | | | used in wine and air fresheners. |
| Moroccan dishes are often spiced with saffron. | | | | |