Saffron, which is regarded as the world’s most expensive spice by weight, is actually the stigmas of the purple crocus flower (Crocus sativus), which blooms once a year. Due to the fragile stigmas needing to be picked by hand, harvesting saffron is a labor-intensive job. As mentioned in the featured video, given the fact each saffron crocus plant contains just three stigmas it takes about 170,000 flowers to produce a single pound of this costly spice.

Notably, about 90 percent of the world’s supply of saffron is grown in arid fields across Iran. Most of the crop is harvested by women who earn about $5 per day picking saffron threads by hand. Other countries producing saffron include Afghanistan, Italy, Morocco, Spain, the Netherlands and the U.S. Saffron gives many rice dishes, including paella, its characteristic taste and golden-yellow color. In addition, this prized herb is featured in bouillabaisse, a traditional French fish stew.

When buying saffron, it’s best to choose the thread form over the ground spice because it has a longer shelf life. Beware of look-alike ingredients that may be mixed in including red marigold petals, stigmas from lilies or turmeric. None of these “fakes” will impart the distinctive color or flavor of saffron. To ensure you have access to high-quality saffron, you may want to consider growing your own.

What Makes Saffron Special?

If you are not familiar with this prized spice, which is a member of the iris family of plants, you may wonder what makes the bright orange-red stigmas of the saffron crocus so special. According to National Geographic:¹

• The delicate purple crocus is a sterile triploid, meaning it cannot grow in the wild, nor can it reproduce without human intervention
• Being sterile, the plants are unable to produce viable seeds, which means reproduction can only take place when clusters of “corms” (bulbs) are dug up, divided and replanted
• Each plant produces just three stigmas/threads; as mentioned above, about 170,000 flowers are needed to produce 1 pound of saffron threads
• Saffron is a labor-intensive crop — the plants must be painstakingly propagated and harvested by hand — which explains why high-quality saffron sells for upward of $16 per gram

While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where the cultivation of saffron began, according to one source² it can be traced back to the Persian word zarparān, which means “having golden stigmas.” Ancient texts, dating back thousands of years, also refer to saffron. The offering of adulterated saffron has been a long-standing problem, so much so that the “Safranschou code” was implemented in the Middle Ages to fine, imprison and sometimes even execute those suspected of putting forth fake saffron.³

For millennia, pharaohs, monks, kings and queens have bathed in saffron-scented water, consumed food and drink laced with saffron, offered prayers and sacrifices involving saffron, slept in beds adorned with saffron threads and wore saffron perfumes and saffron-dyed clothing.⁴ At various times in history, saffron was in such great demand and so highly prized that various thefts and wars have been noted. According to the Independent:⁵

• In the mid-1300s, the Black Death, a global epidemic of bubonic plague, caused the demand for medicinal saffron in Europe to outpace supply; at the time, the spice also was used to alleviate illnesses such as insomnia and stomach ailments
• In 1374, the theft of a shipment of saffron resulted in a 14-week “Saffron War” between Basel and Austria
• Pirates were said to value saffron more than gold and it was equally prized by American colonists after it was adopted for cultivation by the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 16th century

Tips on Buying Saffron

Because saffron is famously expensive, you may be shocked at the price of it at your local grocery store. You can often find it somewhat more affordably in halal or Middle Eastern markets. Below are some tips on buying saffron:⁶

For a longer shelf life, choose saffron threads over the ground spice

Select a high-quality brand, or if purchasing it loose from a spice vendor, always buy from a reputable seller

Beware of the many saffron look-alikes, including red marigold petals, lily stigmas and turmeric

Due to its short shelf life, purchase saffron threads in small quantities and commit to use it within a six-month period

Look for saffron threads of deep-red shades and avoid varieties mixed with the yellow styles; the styles, which are attached to the stigmas, add no value or flavor

Choose threads uniform in appearance — wide and flat on one end and tapered at the other

When buying them loose, select saffron threads with a pleasant, fragrant aroma and avoid any with a musty odor

Pick threads that are dry to the touch and a little brittle; keep in mind moisture will cause the threads to become spongy and less fragrant