What exactly is saffron? I know that it is a herb, but whats it come from and where?

It's an herb that is used for cooking, and I thought that they said on the show that it comes from a flower, but am not sure I would like to know more about it please.
What exactly is saffron? I know that it is a herb, but whats it come from and where?
the most precious and most expensive spice in the world: Saffron.

The Saffron filaments, or threads, are actually the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, "Crocus Sativus Linneaus". Each flower contains only three stigmas. These threads must be picked from each flower by hand, and more than 75,000 of these flowers are needed to produce just one pound of Saffron filaments, making it the world's most precious spice.

But, because of saffron's strong coloring power and intense flavor, it can be used sparingly. Saffron is used both for its bright orange-yellow color and for its strong, intense flavor and aroma.



crocus Sativus Linneaus contains crocin, the source of its strong coloring property, bitter-crocin, which offers the distinctive aroma and taste and essential oils which are responsible for its therapeutic properties.

Saffron is available both in filaments and powder, though the long, deep red filaments are usually preferable to the powder as the latter can be easily adulterated.

Today, the greatest saffron producing countries are Greece, Spain, Turkey, Iran, India, and Morocco.

The largest saffron importers are Germany, Italy, U.S.A., Switzerland, U.K., and France
Reply:Saffron comes from the pollen of Crocus flower.

It's V potent %26amp; should B used sparingly.
Reply:Used to make rice dish and it is VERY expensive!
Reply:what Ingmar said .did you know pound for pound it is dearer than gold
Reply:saffron is crocus pollen
Reply:it's a flower, looks a bit like a tulip, grows in Spain
Reply:exactly what ingmar said
Reply:Saffron is a herb, the best saffron you can find is from kashmir, India. It is a flower....purple color and orange saffron stamen. a flower contains 4 saffron stamens and it is damn costely....it is used in special dishes or as a mediciene.
Reply:al you need is on the link below...
Reply:Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), a species of crocus in the family Iridaceae. The flower has three stigmas, which are the distal ends of the plant's carpels. Together with its style, the stalk connecting the stigmas to the rest of the plant, these components are often dried and used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, which has for decades been the world's most expensive spice by weight,is native to Southwest Asia. It was first cultivated in the vicinity of Greece.



Saffron is characterised by a bitter taste and an iodoform- or hay-like fragrance; these are caused by the chemicals picrocrocin and safranal It also contains a carotenoid dye, crocin, that gives food a rich golden-yellow hue. These traits make saffron a much-sought ingredient in many foods worldwide. Saffron also has medicinal applications.
Reply:The Saffron filaments, or threads, are actually the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, "Crocus Sativus Linneaus". Each flower contains only three stigmas. These threads must be picked from each flower by hand, and more than 75,000 of these flowers are needed to produce just one pound of Saffron filaments, making it the world's most precious spice.
Reply:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron
Reply:To start it is not a herb but a portion of a flower,produced in Europeans countries,very expensive,higher than gold prices have reached in a long time.
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