Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world.
150 flowers and substantial labor are needed to produce a single gram of saffron it's only as affordable as it is because harvesters aren't paid much at all.
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower Crocus Sativus, commonly known as Saffron Crocus.
Saffron crocus grows to 8-12 in and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are the distal end of a carpel.
More than 100,000 of these are needed for one pound of the spice.
Saffron's aroma is often described by connoisseurs as reminiscent of metallic honey with grassy or hay-like notes, while its taste has also been noted as hay-like and sweet.
The crocus sativus stayed in bloom only for about three to four weeks.
The stigmas have to be harvested by hand, when the stigmas are dried, they are called saffron. The higher the coloring strength of the saffron, the less you have to use in a dish to achieve the required effect.
The flowering period of saffron starts during middle of late October and lasts until the second week of November. However, the number of saffron flowers and the time of blooming in any year are dependent upon the temperature prevalent in spring and autumn and upon the amount of rainfall.
Health Benefits of Saffron:
1. Radiant Skin: Saffron is excellent for the skin. It is known to treat acne and blemishes and can also give you smooth and radiant skin, when used as a face pack.
To prepare saffron face pack, mix 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder, 2 to 3 strands of saffron and 2 spoons of milk.
Wash and face and apply it when face is still wet. Massage the face pack in circular motions and then leave it on for 20 minutes. Use once a week, to see the difference.
2. Treats Depression: The NYU Langone Medical Centre explains that saffron can be very effective in treating depression. >br>The active components in the saffron make our body lose its depressing characteristics making it a dietary necessity sometimes.
3. Prevents Cancer: Another miraculous benefit of Saffron is that it has anti-cancerous properties and can very helpful in preventing cancer. It is composed of crocin and safranal that inhibit the growth of tumors and is useful for preventing colon, liver, and ovarian cancer.
4. Insomnia: If you're dealing with insomnia, you must try having a glass of milk with a pinch of Saffron before going to bed.
Saffron is a mild sedative, which can help you counter insomnia. It helps regulate hormones which lead to good sleep.
5. Therapeutic Uses: Saffron is also used for body healing, detoxification and other spa therapies.
6. Arthritis: Saffron can reduce inflammation of arthritis and can be beneficial for joint pain. It can also help ease fatigue and muscle inflammation, and helps the tissues get rid of lactic acid which generally builds up after exercise.
There are several other uses of saffron like preventing vision loss, boosting memory, improves digestion, effective for fever, helps with PMS and more.
This novel spice is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium.
Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
Manganese and copper are used by the human body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.
Additionally, it is also rich in many vital vitamins, including vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C that is essential for optimum health.
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