2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world of cooking herbs. The reason is that its preparation takes a long time and is extremely time consuming. In addition, its taste is so specific that it cannot be replaced by another. In general, a pinch of luxury and character in the food.
The origin of this spice is very ancient, it is highly valued and sought after for millennia in Asia, the Middle East and many Mediterranean countries. Saffron is called red gold because it takes more than 150,000 colors to make a pound of the spice. It is produced from the leaves of the saffron crocus, which is cultivated and is not found in the wild. It is propagated only by bulbs.
Recent botanical studies show that saffron crocus was obtained through various selections of producers as early as 3500 BC in Crete. There are ancient frescoes depicting women collecting saffron on the Greek island of Santorini.
The Greeks and Romans knew saffron well and often used it in various activities. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, saffron cultivation became an isolated case for Europe, and the Moorish invasion of the Iberian Peninsula had to wait until it began to be produced again, first in southern Spain and then in France.
During the great plague epidemics that literally ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1350, saffron became one of the most sought after commodities because people believed it could cure them.
Today, Iran is a major producer of saffron, followed by India, Greece and Spain. One of the main problems facing the production and consumption of expensive spices is its counterfeiting. Precisely because of its high price, saffron is the most counterfeit cooking herb in the world.
It must have happened to you that many sellers offer you saffron at low prices, but the only reason for this is that it is not real, but very often a mixture of various other spices with similar colors such as turmeric or paprika. Sometimes it also contains dust from crushed bricks, colored corn and anything that might look more or less like the famous red spice.
C saffronAs with most famous foods of the past, there are various legends associated with it.
One of them comes from Greek mythology: A long time ago on Mount Olympus, Hermes and a friend named Crocus played by throwing a discus. However, Crocus was mortally wounded in the head by the disc, which was a flat sharp stone. His blood, flowing on the fertile land, gave life to a small purple flower with blood-red stamens, which symbolized life and resurrection. It is from these stamens that saffron is made.
Another legend leads us in the footsteps of Alexander the Great in 326 BC. One autumn evening, in the valley of Kashmir, which he was preparing to conquer, Alexander the Great set up camp.
The next morning he found himself with his army in the middle of fields with purple flowers that had blossomed through the night as if by magic. This carpet of purple flowers resembled a shroud, startling this vast army of 120,000 men who believed it was a sign that they refused to continue. Alexander the Great had no choice but to issue a withdrawal order.
Saffron is also grown in Bulgaria. One of the places where most of it is produced is Slavyanovo.
It is an indispensable spice in many dishes, the most popular of which are paella, risotto, pasta, as well as fish, chicken, lamb.
Recommended:
The Most Expensive Spices In The World
In the Middle Ages spices they play an important role in economic and political life, and the value of some of them is similar to gold. Spices were considered rare and valuable not only because of their aroma, but also because of their use in medicine and in food preservation.
Saffron - A Cheap Alternative To Saffron
Saffron (Carthamus tinctorius) is a herbaceous plant resembling thistle. This herb is one of the oldest crops grown. Its color can be yellow, orange or red. Saffron is used both for flavoring and coloring dishes, and for the production of oil.
Saffron Is The Most Expensive Spice In The World
Saffron is considered the most exquisite and expensive spice in the world. The fragrant bright orange supplement costs about $ 1,000 per pound. There are also cheaper varieties. But keep in mind that too low prices are a sign of forgery.
Purple Gold: Why Is Saffron The Most Expensive Spice?
The fragrant saffron is the most expensive spice in the world - the price per kilogram of it today varies in the range of 5-6 thousand dollars. In addition, saffron is the only spice from the Middle Ages, for which to this day connoisseurs of culinary art are willing to pay such a huge price.
We Lived To See It! The Bacon Diet Is Among The Most Effective
The bacon diet is the latest hit weight loss regimen. This low-carb diet with natural fats and bacon breaks stereotypes and takes the pursuit of a lean body to a new level. The idea came from the Bulgarian Atanas Uzunov. He shares his experience on social networks, and his followers have increased by 30,000 in just one day.
