Saffron, as one of the best-selling and most popular spices in the world, is called “the red gold” due to its high price. Actually, saffron is thin red strands of a plant manually harvested from agricultural lands without any equipment or machinery.
One of the most important factors that makes saffron very expensive and valuable is that no devices have been invented to separate saffron from its flowers without damaging the stigmas.
“Saffron is harvested from a light purple flower called Crocus sativus plant. Saffron is taken from the middle stigmas of this flower.”
Saffron is thin, dark crimson strands existing in the middle of a saffron crocus (flower). Some of these strands are golden yellow.
Saffron is a tasty and fragrant spice which gives a special color to all foods and is widely used all over the world. Actually, saffron is of the most demanded goods for export and import.
knowing where saffron comes from, you may still ask yourself why it is so costly. To find the answer, you can see how tricky it is to harvest.
Saffron harvest is very sensitive, difficult, and precise.
saffron growers, moving between the rows of saffron crocus and separating them from the ground, must be careful not to damage other saffron crocus and destroy the crop by the slightest disturbance or inconsistency between their movement in the identified areas.
The saffron crocus blossoms during a short period in the autumn. After blooming, the flower needs to be harvested on the same day, otherwise they will wither.
Since each saffron flower has only three stigmas, a large amount of these stigmas must be collected to have one kilogram of saffron. Harvesting over 50,000 flowers yield several kilograms of saffron.
Considering these explanations, it is easy to see why saffron is so expensive.
As many people know, saffron is mainly used for cooking. Saffron is famous for its color and flavor. As well as making their foods tastier, it is good for people’s health.
Many people all over the world use saffron because of its unique aroma. Saffron is used to make cakes, pastries, cookies, desserts, puddings, rice, and some local stews and dishes.
In general, the saffron crocus exist in all countries in a way; but it is just grown in some countries, such as Iran, Greece, and Spain around the world.