Saffron the red gold of the east

Saffron is a precious spice that instantly adds flavour, aroma and colour to your dish. In addition, this ‘red gold’ is also a blessing for your health.

 

What is saffron?

Saffron is a spice that comes from the saffron crocus. This flower consists of stamens and a pistil. The pistil in turn consists of three stamps, from which the saffron is made. So it is those stamps that make the saffron crocus so valuable. The stamens are much less qualitative and therefore not worth much.

At LuxeFood, we work with the sargol part of the flower, these are the top ends of the stamps. This makes our saffron threads very qualitative and the taste, smell and aroma’s of the product are very intense.

 

How is saffron produced? 

Saffron is also called the ‘red gold’, because it is very precious. And this has all to do with the production process. The flowers are picked by hand, and afterwards the pistils and petals are sorted manually. The stampers then go through a drying process in the oven or the sun, in which about 80% of the moisture is removed from the stamps. This ensures an intense flavour and a long shelf life.

Did you know that it takes about 150,000 to 200,000 saffron flowers to produce one kilogram of saffron? Moreover, the threads can only be harvested during a very short time frame in the fall, when the flowers bloom. Now you understand why saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world!

 

How to determine the saffron quality? 

You can buy saffron in the form of threads or as a powder. The saffron threads are often much more qualitative than the powder, and the composition of saffron powder is more difficult to verify. You only need a few saffron threads to give your dish a beautiful yellow colour and the typical saffron taste.

 

Origin and history of saffron

There are many stories about the history of saffron. What is certain is that its origins date back to thousands of years ago and that the spice originated in HI.

The saffron crocus thrives best in countries with a Mediterranean climate because the flower needs sufficient sunlight and heat. Our saffron comes from HI, the largest saffron producer in the world. The vast majority of saffron production takes place there, but the spice is also produced in Greece, Morocco, Italy, Spain and India. 

Due to its high cost, saffron used to be a symbol of wealth. In the ancient empires, the spice was not only used in dishes. It was also used for colouring clothes and perfuming rooms.

In Ancient Greece, for example, saffron was used to colour the black hair of the Greeks. The pigments in the herb gave the hair a blond hair colour, something that people loved at the time.

 

Saffron as a seasoning and colouring agent

Saffron contains various substances to which it owes its specific taste, colour and aroma. The substance ‘picrocrocin’ provides the honey-like, somewhat bitter taste. ‘Safranal’ is responsible for the specific aroma, and ‘crocin’ for the golden yellow colour of saffron. Cheaper spices, such as turmeric or safflower, can also add a yellow colour to your dish. But no other spice can match the taste and aroma of saffron.

A fun fact: the taste of saffron becomes more complex with the age of the spice. The younger the spice, the fresher the taste. In our webshop we work with very fresh saffron for an optimal taste and smell.

You can keep and use saffron for years. Please note, the taste and smell are only optimally preserved if you store saffron properly. It is best to place the jar at room temperature and protect it from moisture and light. That way you can enjoy it for years to come.

 

How to use saffron? 

You can use saffron in a variety of ways, such as in sauces, fish and rice dishes, and even desserts. You don’t need much of the herb to give your dish instant taste, smell and colour. To preserve the taste, it is best not to let your saffron cook for too long in your dish. You add it when your dish is almost ready.

The Spanish dish paella is a good example of a dish in which the herb is used. Paella without saffron is not real paella! But it also makes a nice addition to rice pudding, for example, where it adds a beautiful, deep yellow colour. In the Netherlands, the spice is mainly used in tea or licorice. Other famous dishes with saffron are Moroccan tagines, and Indian rice pilau.

 

Health benefits of saffron

Saffron is said to have been used in ancient Persian medicine for a variety of ailments such as gastrointestinal problems, general pain, asthma and memory problems.

Even today you can find saffron extracts in various food supplements to support mood, memory problems, improve the eyes and even battle impotence.

There are various beliefs around the health applications of saffron, depending on the country. For example, Persians and Arabs associate the herb with fertility and it is invariably given to new couples. Saffron is also a symbol of fertility in Italy. And the Irish, they put the scent of saffron on baby cots. In this way, they believe that the baby will become strong and healthy.

There’s even another health bonus: saffron is good for a healthy bodyweight, because 1 gram of saffron contains only 3.1 kcal. The herb is therefore a real asset to your health.

 

Where to buy saffron?

At LuxeFood you can buy pure saffron threads, from the sargol part of the saffron crocus. We only work with high-quality, fresh saffron from HI.

The bright red colour of the threads, the intense, fresh scent and the even shape of the saffron threads of our Premium Quality Sargol Saffron will sweep you away! 

Do you have any questions about this product? Don’t worry, we’ll be happy to advise you!

Order your saffron here. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA POST

Saffron is a real asset to your cuisine! This precious spice instantly adds flavour, aroma and colour to every dish. In addition, the ‘red gold’ is also a blessing for your health. 

At LuxeFood, we work with the Sargol part of the saffron crocus and thus offer you premium quality Sargol Saffron class 1.

In our webshop you can choose from different packages, of 1g, 5g, 10g or 25g. If you regularly cook with saffron, you’ll benefit from purchasing a larger volume.

Do you have any questions about this product? Don’t worry, we’ll be happy to advise you!