What Flower Does Saffron Come From?
The saffron crocus, known scientifically as Crocus sativa, produces one of the world's most expensive spices. The flowering plant likely originated in Persia and was transported to India by the Mongols. Historically, saffron was used to dye cloth to a bright yellow-orange and flavor food. Does this Spark an idea?
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Description
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The saffron crocus produces large lavender-tinted blossoms with three red stigma per bloom. It flowers in the fall, unlike other types of crocuses. According to the University of Illinois, it takes 75,000 flowers to harvest one pound of saffron.
Processing
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Saffron must be processed by hand, resulting in a cost nearly equivalent to gold. The red stigma is removed from the lavender-colored flower using a pair of tweezers. Then the stigma is air-dried and stored in a glass vial to preserve its scent and potency.
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Cultivation
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According to Washington State University, the saffron crocus grows easily in dry, alkaline soil and survives temperatures down to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. Harvest the stigma from the lavender flowers at the end of September. According to the University of Illinois, Spain produces 70 percent of the world's saffron, and it is primarily the Pennsylvania Dutch in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who produce the United States' commercial saffron.
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