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| Saffron, delicate plan with higher demand and usage. |
It’s not only the highest price of saffron that
drive me to find out more about saffron but actually the important role of this
unique spices sage throughout human histories. While its important roles will
never get lesser, many are start to find out ways to grow them widely even
plant it for their own usage.
Spices are usually use only for cooking and some
of them also use in medicines and perfume making. Saffron had been used across
all of the usage with many other benefits, make it one of the most important
spices to many cultures. Here, let see some of the facts about saffron that
shared through other website at finedininglover.com
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| It takes 150 flowers to produce 1 gram of saffron. |
Asia
The plant originally came from Asian countries
where it is still mainly produced: Iran alone accounts for 90 per cent of the
total quantity harvested worldwide. Saffron planted widely in Asia even though
it was said it originated from island of Crete.
Bitter
To remove its bitter aftertaste, here is a
chef’s tip: press the threads between two aluminium sheets before use. Well,
that something not all of us aware of. So this is something that we really need
to know to ensure our saffron dishes are palatable.
Curry
Together with turmeric, coriander, cumin,
chilli pepper and other spices, it is one of the star ingredients in this
Indian spice mix of worldwide fame. The other reason why it flourishing in Asia
is the wide usage of spices in curry as they used as many spices that young
generation not even know its name anymore.
Dishes
Among the most well-known dishes containing
saffron, French bouillabaisse, pilaf and Asian biryani, Spanish paella and,
last but not least, saffron cake from Britain are all experiences not to be
missed. Instead saffron is easy to use with any dishes by simply added it to any
cooking (you will master it very fast with some practices).
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| Saffron cake from Britain. |
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| Saffron tea, another way to enjoy saffron. |
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| Saffron also used in soap. |
Expensive
It takes 80,000 flowers to produce a pound of
saffron (453 grams), with a cost in the range of 600 to 2,000 dollars (a
pound), prices that make saffron the most expensive spice in the world Flower
Saffron stigmas were gathered when the violet-blue flowers open and every flower
produces 3, each one of which is about 25-30 millimetres long.
The limited production of saffron makes its
price so expensive. In fact the farmer or the workers in saffron production not
even making a good life. There is something to do in order to make sure this
spice to be available to more with reasonable price by involving more
technologies in its production.
Greece
Some writers claim, however, that it comes from
Greece, where it was found for the first time on the Island of Crete during the
bronze-age.
Over cultivation can change how some species
behave. One of the sign is the incapable to reproduce sexually even though it’s
flower producing plant (angiosperm).
No one exactly know for how long saffron had been cultivated by human.
Harvest
Harvest time is autumn, and the process must be
carried out by hand, usually by specialized pickers, almost always women, who
detach the 3 stigmas one by one.
The real reason why saffron become so
expensive. It’s like the real output is only 0.0001 percent from all the hard
works. The only thing that make the production possible is the cheap labour. If
there’s no changes soon, it will become more scarce and more manipulation of
its market.
Indian flag
The 3-coloured Indian flag is saffron (to
represent Hindus), white (for peace) and green (for growth).
Something interesting to know on how important
is saffron in some cultures. It’s not only to India, some other cultures shows
their respect in different ways.
Jingle§
In the hit song by Donovan entitled
"Mellow yellow" the most well-known jingle that everyone sings under
their breath is dedicated to this spice: "I'm just mad about Saffron,
Saffron's mad about me"
Something we all should find out! Perhaps there
are many other art works related to how important is saffron into someone else
lives.
Kashmir
Among the varieties hardest to find on the market
is the saffron coming from the Indo-Pakistani area of Kashmir. Here they
produce the darkest variety in the world which tends towards a purple-brown
colour, called Mongra or Lacha.
Another important thing to remember. Saffron is
produced by plants. Many factors will affects the quality of saffron according
to its geographical planting areas. Not two saffron from different areas have
same qualities.
La Mancha
During harvesting, on the Spanish plain of La
Mancha it is customary to burn some stigmas on a low fire to diffuse the spicy
aroma of saffron in the air.
Saffron not only used for its taste and
colouring property but also as incense to improve moods and also as an offering
to the long lost ancestors (or spirits).
Make up
Owing to its colouring properties, in ancient
times it was used as a cosmetic, as well as for dyeing fabric and leather.
Nuremberg
In the Middle-Ages in Nuremberg, whoever
adulterated saffron with the addition of less precious ingredients, was burnt
alive.
There’s another code that practiced in Europe
Middle-age that known as Safranschou code.
There must be many other undocumented practice in order to keep the adulteration
of saffron in check. It also shows how important it is to human societies
throughout the world.
Opium
To combat drug trafficking, in Afghanistan a
project has been set up to replace illegal opium poppy plantations with
saffron.
Good moves in order to increase income for
farmers. Changing the source of income to more valuable that give more positive
result not only for the farmers but also to the saffron market.
Properties
A natural medicinal, it has been used since
time immemorial for its antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is
excellent for treating stomach-ache, coughs and bronchitis.
While more studies to be carried out, the usage
of saffron as remedies had been long in practiced for various purposes.
Qualities
There are international norms (ISO) which
define its qualities, dividing saffron into 4 different categories according to
its colour, aroma and taste.
The standardization of quality is important
even though the qualities of saffron varies by areas it’s produced. These
standards will keep some ranges ton ensure the acceptable quality and to
control their market values.
Risotto
The most famous dish in the world is saffron
risotto, using stock made from bowling fowl, which comes from the Italian city
of Milan and is known worldwide.
One of example of popular dish using saffron as
one of its ingredients. There are many other dishes that using saffron as one
of its important ingredients – even though it’s only used small amount of it.
Sunrise
The stigmas of Crocus sativum (the Latin name for saffron) are only picked at
dawn, before its flowers open, in order to preserve its aroma and properties.
Part of the reasons why handling saffron production
process is so delicate. Perhaps many other smaller things that only known by
the farmers in order to produce good quality of saffron.
Taster
On a par with sommeliers and cheese tasters,
saffron too has its specialists, who decree which varieties are the best.
It’s good to know there are some experts in
this area for saffron. Without an expert, the quality of saffron might be decreases
without anyone noticing it.
Unusual habits
The main ingredient of magic potions in ancient
times, it used to be sprinkled between the sheets and brewed in tea to make a
man fall in love or to dispel melancholic thoughts.
Something interesting to know. Well not all of
us will fall to it, but sure it’s practiced in some societies.
Virgins
In the region of Oxiana, between Iran and
Afghanistan, little girls only are allowed to pick saffron. They have to be
virgins or under 13, or so the legend goes.
Another reason to make saffron become rarer. No
one knows, how this will help with the quality. Anyway to make sure this plants
taken care of during all of its production process is the good start to make
sure successful production.
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| Saffron aroma's and colour improve food's quality. |
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| Saffron risotto, one of popular dishes using saffron. |
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| May it someday more available to everyone. |
Wine and spirits
It is possible to buy wines aromatized with
saffron, as well as many liqueurs, comprising vodka and gin, which are renowned
for their digestive properties.
Yes, saffron had been used for so many
purposes, so this is not so surprising.
Xxx
From Cleopatra onwards, it is said that the
aroma lingering on the skin after a hot saffron bath is enough to make any
lover go mad with desire. Yellow Also named "angel hair" because of
its colour, the word saffron derives from Arabic: Za'feran and da asfar,
meaning yellow.
Even though it’s no longer practice today that’s
something interesting to know. Maybe not all of us agreed that saffron aroma and
tint are the sexiest, but still it can be part of the contributor by mix it
with other ingredients in perfume making.
Zafferana Etnea, Sicily A very rare variety of
saffron is produced in this tiny Italian village, while the most precious
saffron in the country comes from the valleys close to the city of L’Aquila in
Abruzzo
Well you know there are many other things we
need to know about this expensive spices. Sure it’s wonderful that finedininglovers.com
had listed some of wonderful things about saffron that we should know.
Hopefully someday, saffron will be more available to others same as coffee and
tea today.
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