Saffron, whose Latin name is crocus, is a plant belonging to the Iris family that grows in forests, steppes, and meadows. The culture is considered the most expensive spice in the world. Only the stigmas of the flower are spices. Everything about saffron application and history of occurrence will be described in this article.

What is saffron

The plant grows ten centimeters tall. The culture consists of leaves and three flowers with orange stigmas on the pistil. Flowers grow directly from the bulb. Saffron blooms from October to November, depending on the variety, it can bloom in spring. Flowers can be white, orange, blue and purple. Fruits are capsules with small angular seeds.

In the natural environment, there are no less than eighty species of this culture. Most of them are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.

Saffron

The most common varieties:

  • Alatavsky;
  • Banatsky;
  • Spring;
  • Nigro Fight;
  • Pallas;
  • Remebrans;
  • Geifel;
  • Golden-flowered;
  • Reticulate;
  • Imeretian;
  • Indian;
  • Turkish;
  • Narrow-leaved.

The reader should find out where the ground saffron is added.

What is useful, how to use

Apple tree Saffron

Saffron is a spice that has been used since ancient times. It was mentioned as early as 1500 BC. in Egyptian medical texts. In Chinese medicine, this plant was remembered as early as 2600 BC, you can also find a description of this spice in the Old Testament.

The spice was used for:

  • giving energy and love power;
  • with a cataract disease;
  • as an antidote;
  • as incense for fighting evil spirits.

Saffron has been used since ancient times

Saffron in those days was an excellent gift for high-ranking nobles. In addition, it was considered chic to wear things that were dyed with saffron.

The homeland of the plant is:

  • India,
  • Asia Minor,
  • Iran.

Later, the plant migrated to Turkey and Greece. Later, this plant was forgotten, only in the ninth and tenth centuries the spice trade was resumed by the Arabs. Thus, the plant began to travel across countries. First to Spain, then to France and Italy.

The plant now grows in:

  • Greece,
  • Iran,
  • India,
  • Pakistan,
  • China,
  • Japan,
  • Portugal,
  • Transcaucasia,
  • Crimea.

Growing saffron

Only in the wild does this plant grow. However, the spice is only made in India, Iran and Spain. Many people are interested in how to use saffron correctly.

Saffron is used in cooking, in perfumery, as a medicine, and also as a dye.

It should be noted! This is a very expensive spice, the cost is due to the fact that it is not easy to collect, since there are only three stigmas in each flower. In order to collect as little as half a kilogram of saffron, you need to collect stigmas from 70,000 or even 250,000 flowers. The collection is carried out by hand after the flower has fully opened.

What it smells like, what it tastes like

Saffron (crocus)

When buying a spice, you first need to pay attention to the color and smell. Saffron has a distinct red color, sometimes with an orange tint. It is sold in the form of powder or threads, which, in fact, are dried stigmas. So what does saffron smell like? The smell of the spice is very strong, slightly intoxicating. Saffron has a bitter taste. Many people are interested in how to use saffron and how to use it correctly.

To paint a liquid with a capacity of three liters, it will be enough to throw only two strings into it. The aroma will fully unfold during the cooking process and will not disappear even after prolonged cooking. In order for the spice to show its full bouquet, it is best to pre-soak it in warm water or milk. When preparing meals, it is important to know what saffron goes with. The addition of the spice gives the food an amazing flavor. It is best to use an alcoholic tincture of this spice. Add it in liquid form to dishes in a few drops.

The smell of the spice is very strong, slightly intoxicating.

Where can I add saffron spice? Flower stigmas are added to desserts cooked in milk, for cream cakes, ice cream, mousses, jellies. In oriental cuisine, saffron is included in recipes for meat dishes, pilaf, seafood, served with tea and coffee.

The most popular dish to which saffron is added is risotto.

To prepare it you will need:

  • two hundred and fifty grams of arborio;
  • half a liter of water;
  • two small spoons of lobster meat;
  • two stigmas of saffron;
  • Red pepper;
  • bulb;
  • two cloves of garlic;
  • two hundred and fifty grams of parmesan cheese;
  • two hundred and fifty grams of basil;
  • lemon.

Risotto with saffron

To prepare the dish, first make a solution of water, saffron and lobster meat. Onions, garlic and peppers are fried in a pan, and rice is added here. The mixture is poured over with saffron liquid and Parmesan and basil are added.

For those who care about their health, pearl barley porridge is perfect, where you can also add saffron.

To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Two hundred grams of pearl barley;
  • Two hundred grams of broth;
  • Carrot;
  • Bow;
  • Salt;
  • A spoonful of vegetable oil;

For porridge, you need to prepare an oil extract:

  • two tablespoons of vegetable oil;
  • a pinch of allspice,
  • black pepper,
  • coriander and cilantro,
  • ginger,
  • saffron,
  • carnations,
  • cinnamon,
  • dill.

Barley porridge

The pearl barley is sorted out, washed and soaked for 12 hours. After that, the water is drained, the cereal is washed and poured into the pan. For several minutes, the barley is fried and poured into a boiling broth. The vegetable oil is heated in a pan and all the seasonings are added there. Fry for a few minutes and add to the porridge. Passing from onions and carrots is prepared separately. After the porridge is ready, add onions and carrots to it and continue simmering over low heat for another five or six minutes.

Fans of oriental sweets are interested in how to soak saffron for praise. The recipe is pretty simple. A pinch of powder or threads of stigmas should be poured with a small glass of boiling water and a couple of drops of red beet juice should be added there.

Interesting! Turmeric is a substitute for saffron. This substitute is slightly cheaper but has similar properties, smell and taste.

Saffron medicinal properties

Imeretian saffron

Saffron contains a large amount of vitamins and other nutrients. Therefore, you should know what saffron is used for, other than cooking.

The spice is used to treat the following diseases:

  • Asthma;
  • Whooping cough;
  • Phlegm;
  • Atherosclerosis;
  • Meteorism;
  • Cough;
  • Insomnia;
  • Depression;
  • Alzheimer's disease;
  • Hemoptysis;
  • Heartburn;
  • Premenstrual syndrome;
  • Premature ejaculation;
  • Infertility;
  • Alopecia.

The spice is used to treat many diseases

In addition, this plant is an excellent aphrodesiac for men.

After conducting most of the experiments, its medicinal properties have been proven in the following diseases:

  • Anxiety disorders;
  • Asthenozoospermia;
  • Heart hypertrophy;
  • Toxic liver damage;
  • Colorectal cancer;
  • Diabetic neuropathy;
  • Dysmenorrhea;
  • Erectile dysfunction;
  • Hypertension;
  • Liver cancer;
  • Middle cerebral artery occlusion;
  • Multiple sclerosis;
  • Pancreatic cancer;
  • Psoriasis;
  • Respiratory system diseases;
  • Healing wounds.

Important! For men, saffron will be a panacea during the hangover period, since it tends to remove the remains of alcohol from the body.

Saffron has more than just positive qualities. There are a number of contraindications for the use of this plant. The use of spices is contraindicated for children who are not yet twelve years old. It is forbidden to accept women who are preparing to become a mother and those who are breastfeeding. In addition, saffron is a toxic plant and should not be consumed more than one gram. An increased dose can be fatal and the person will die.

Saffron is a toxic plant

The outlined prospects are not bright, but, nevertheless, this spice has been used for five thousand years, and it is still popular today. Most likely, in the future, saffron will occupy the top position among spices.

Saffron water

Saffron water is used in cosmetology. It has been used by women for centuries. This substance is used in order to:

  • relieve skin inflammation,
  • remove fatty secretions,
  • unclog pores,
  • moisturize the skin,
  • cleanse the skin from rashes,
  • stop itching
  • remove blackheads,
  • has a tonic effect,
  • relieves eye fatigue.

Saffron water

In addition, saffron extract has a rejuvenating effect as it tightens pores and makes the skin firm. Therefore, it is applicable for preparing masks. It is especially important to use this tool for people who spend a lot of time at the computer. The use of this substance makes the face look fresh.

Saffron is considered the king of spices by right. It has been successfully used in different directions. The only upset is the high cost. But, given the useful qualities and the difficulty with which workers collect each stigma of a flower, the price fully justifies itself.