24 Saffron Recipes to Showcase the World's Most Expensive Spice (2024)

FAQs

How much is a pound of saffron cost? ›

It is also used a lot in medicine. But saffron is also very expensive. It can cost $5,000 per pound. That is more expensive than gold.

Saffron can only be harvested and processed by hand as its petals must be peeled away gently to collect the delicate saffron threads. Consequently, an ounce of saffron is valued at more than an ounce of gold. It is unknown exactly where this precious spice originated, but many believe it came from Greece.

You might also see a recipe call for a "pinch" of saffron. Not all pinches are equal but in standard recipes, a pinch of saffron roughly equates to 20 threads. If your recipe calls for "a large pinch" is about double that.

Saffron is a common ingredient in Indian, Moroccan and Iranian cuisines. In India, it's added to curries or used to infuse syrups for desserts such as Gulab Jamun or Malpua.

There are only three stigmata in each saffron flower. Once the stigmata (and their red pistils) have been separated from the plant, they are dried to preserve their color and flavor. Since such a small part of the flower is used, it takes 75,000 saffron flowers to make one pound of saffron spice.

The culinary benefits of this hard-to-harvest spice, however, are worth every penny. A little saffron goes a long way—just a few crushed threads can completely elevate a dish. Bloom the threads in warm water or broth, or lightly crush and sprinkle them into soups, sauces, batters, etc.

Saffron is a brightly-colored spice that's high in health-promoting compounds, such as carotenoid antioxidants. Research findings suggest saffron has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and may improve heart health, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve sleep, and protect eye health.

Super Negin: The most expensive and rare trim of Saffron. Super Negin saffron is known not only for being the most potent but also for its aesthetically pleasing features. Super Negin threads are longer in length and contain no yellow or orange threads.

1. Saffron. Saffron is derived from the stigmas of the crocus flower and is known for its intense, earthy flavor. It is also the most expensive spice in the world, with a pound of saffron costing thousands of dollars.

Chefs may use safflower—colloquially known as the “poor man's saffron”—as an affordable saffron substitute since the two spices have a similar color. 4.

Can you eat raw saffron? ›

Taking large amounts of saffron by mouth is possibly unsafe. High doses of 5 grams or more can cause poisoning. Doses of 12-20 grams can cause death. When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if saffron is safe or what the side effects might be.

Takeaway Advice. Saffron threads should not be consumed in excess. 2-3 strands consumed per day are enough for you.

While there is no one herb that can replace saffron, using several herbs and spices in combination can help create a similar taste profile and colour. Turmeric and Paprika are the most common substitute combinations.

In terms of quality, saffron produced in Iran is the best saffron in the world. This is mainly due to the existence of ideal weather and soil conditions in Great Khorasan. Iran produces various types of saffron including Super Negin, Negin, Sargol, Poushal, Bunch, and Ground (Powder) (All-Red, Filaments grades 1-4).

Largest Producer of Saffron in the World – Iran

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices worldwide. Among the various nations involved in saffron cultivation worldwide, Iran stands as the largest saffron-producing country owing to its massive scale of production volumes.

Though it takes ~75,000 blossoms to grow one pound of saffron, you can easily grow plenty for your own enjoyment with a handful of corms, and I hope that you do! Saffron crocus bloom in fall with lusciously long ochre-orange stigmas (saffron!) emerging alongside yellow, pollen-rich anthers.

Saffron is often referred to as "red gold," for good reason—it's the world's most expensive spice, retailing for anywhere from $10 to $20 for a gram of the real stuff. It has a subtly sweet, hard-to-pin-down flavor and is a natural food dye.

Saffron, the tiny red thread-like spice that comes in jars too big for it, will cost you or over $200 per ounce on Amazon (sold in 0.035-ounce portions, for about $9 each). At a local grocery store, it might run to $1,000 per ounce.

Nussbaum says it's expensive because of how it's harvested. “It's super, super expensive and that's because it's actually from the stigma of a flower, and it's really difficult to harvest,” she explains. “You need people to actually pull it (the saffron threads) off individually,” she adds.