Saffron

Crocus sativus

spice · flower

Scarlet stigmas, three per flower, of a lilac crocus that blooms only in October; they are picked by hand, and premium saffron often exceeds 5,000 dollars a kilo. Its colour comes from crocin, its scent from safranal.

Origin

Greece and Iran

Season (United States)

imported · all year round

Preparation

A few threads are enough for a dish: they are steeped for twenty minutes in a little hot water or milk, then everything is poured into the dish — rice, paella, bouillabaisse.

Molecules

Crocin and safranal

Did you know?

Sterile and unknown in the wild, the saffron crocus exists only because people grow it.