Table of Contents
- The Tiny Threads with a Big Story: What is Saffron Exactly Anyway?
- Saffron’s Ancient Adventures: It ain’t No New Thing
- From Bloom to Jar: The Drama of Harvest: It Gets Pretty Messy
- Decoding Saffron’s Flavor: It Ain’t All Sunshine (But mostly it is.)
- Cooking With Saffron: Where the magic really happens – My fav recepies are included!!
- More than Flavor: Why Saffron is Totally Extra. Health Stuff! (Sort Of)
- Saffron Alternatives: When Your Wallet Screams NO.
- Real Talk: Is it Worth The Hype (& The Price)? – Personal Feelings Ahead.
- Questions to keep in mind: The FAQs from your cousion, or your grandmother.
- Conclusion: My Saffron love letter or Why we Should all be buying Saffron .
The Tiny Threads with a Big Story: What is Saffron Exactly Anyway?
Okay so, like, lets get technical, for like, a minuite or something. You probably already know, we talkin’ ‘bout safron right? not the bad, low quality knockoffs that make a sad yellowish meal ,no! safron – real stuff . It aint no powder from some fake market stall. We talkin’ little red string, very deliacte flowers from what people call crocus sativus. yes i googled it, feel cool about that information.
Saffron are those tiny little stigmats, (yeah, its really that botanical) which looks kinda funny but who the hell carees! . You know those little thread-y part at the flower center. The stuff they say worth more then gold . Kinda impressive to a lil thingy. Like who would thought this tiny threads are so cool? Each one is like its own lil universe. Each string holding on the secrets of taste and colors and I dunno probably somethinf i don’t know . Saffron’s like that rare indie record find, you know? Everyone goes crazy when find one! The only differents is you cant dance to it… i guess you could move your spoon? anyway.
And those thread when it gets wet! wow its just incredible to witness the magic when the yellow color start spilling everywhere. its a like paint for meals or even water!!
Those threads don’t grow just anywhere, oh no, and they need to be pampered.
Saffron’s Ancient Adventures: It Ain’t No New Thing
So yeah, safron isn’t no fad for millenials (which i’m not, im gen-z duh). The guys at history class probably talk to you more about ancient greeks or old Persians than me. So i will make this quick. This stuff has history way older then most of my tinder dates lol. I’m saying, we talkin’ thousands of years. Kings were obsessed, maybe the pharaoh were too? idon’t remembmer . Everyone was hooked up to the “gold” . This stuff made people nuts, in a good, rich people kind of way . It aint just a fancy thing, man!
Old paintings in museums shows safron in all sort of ancient stuff. I think even those old medical text i remember i try to look onece, mentioned its power, (I’ll probably talk about that soon-ish). You know how like your mom is saying all time old thing is better, in the case with saffron, i feel like, she is totally right!. So if is ancient that stuff got me a lil intrigued. Is there so more for these threads ? It kinda feels i have a lot more to learn about them! But for now we have the basics! Lets goo!.
From Bloom to Jar: The Drama of Harvest: It Gets Pretty Messy
Okay so, like, the harvesting stuff? A major pain. Imagine, having to pick this things very carefully with hands ! No big machines like i use in some random farm videos i found on yt . All by people, at 3am? like i am gonna die sleeping at that time lol . This tiny little stigmats or “threads” I keep calling are the best thing ever. You have to hand pick, not only at sunrise – yes its not my kind of fun time for doing this things – so i’m gonna have some problems with it ,for sure if i would work at saffron fields, but also, they need to be all the time gentle . So basically i cant drink my extra large iced-latté during this, not my scene tbh! If i was gonna work there. its tedious as all hell man . It just blow my mind, imagine, doing that work everyday.. no thanks.
But, there are good reasons, you see. It aint cheap work , for starters, they only produce so much – like 7kg of those golden string out of 2 million, (you can thank my calculator app for those exact numbers, yeah i googled it). Its like one small box from huge amount of flowers! so many work needed ,it should be an extreme price. . Every tiny jar of the good quality safron that u purchase is the pure result of all this process and its pretty awesome , it is a like super tiny piece of an amazing story.
Then after all this stress picking stigmats there some drying steps that take all the “fresh” part of the saffron that people call it, for this, the workers uses a oven ( i do know they do the same for dry all my plants, the small ones not the big huge ones)
Or sun dry it which it more old school way .
It must smell amazing i imagine in all the dry rooms.. it would make me wanna eat cookies though. Not sure, why but I’m thinking a hot drink too , while i try all this magical recipes that all the fancy cook are cooking
Decoding Saffron’s Flavor: It Ain’t All Sunshine (But mostly it is)
Let’s talk taste, the part we really care for right? I know , the process of the harvest part was just me learning some interesting random stuff but lets get to the “food”. Its not some over-powering spices you buy on that mall down my house! not that stuff . Saffron ain’t yelling flavor at u. More like whispering in the ear , it’s that little thing on each dish you gonna have.. like that final touch of art! You are adding the cool part that makes your guest or just you, in front of dinner plate so excited!. It’s, kinda floral, a lil’ sweet , it does make me wonder about honey but it is so so unique i cant pin down. Sometimes when im too hungry and eat it by itself. yeah. i know i told my grand mother i don’t but now im feeling brave. Is has this bitter thing you have but at the end that warm sweet part. Its totally unique flavor it cant be matched or replace it.
Its also why everyone can agree its “different” flavor each time. Its the real life surprise me but food version , or it the randomness the same flavor it give . Sometimes is sweet like in the deserts i did try sometime . and sometimes spicy and warm ,like that soup recipe from youtube, you need to try later!
And of course we are going to talk about color, come on . No safron talk it over without talking the yellow , oh my beautiful yellow-orange color. Thats like my art friend paint but for a chef!! So yeah if you want to make food feel alive use safron and everything is good in the end. The golden magic that happen with every single drop is incredible to see. Is almost like a tiny fire inside the dish.. wow im such poet lately, lol.
Cooking With Saffron: Where the Magic really Happens-My fav Recepies are included!!
Right lets gooo. Now the exciting bit. My experience at kitchen, well i use all sort of kitchen gadgets i saw in random food shows . But also simple things are the key so no big fancy cook work need for great results here. Saffron aint no fussy ingredient, not in my eyes.
Ok number one recepie: Risotto. Saffron is god in this case I make a standard risotto- kinda by luck. The safron it just takes the flavor over 100 levels .I like it very buttery, (but who doesn’t lol ). And i don’t care if its not the proper way. It’s like making food gold on a bowl, (yep still thinking as artist.)
Okay number 2 recepie Saffron Tea! I don’t even have to cook. Ok this thing when your brain is burning with ideas? Or just a normal stressed days. This thing does it all. . Saffron, some hot water, let it chill for a little , maybe a slice lemon! And everything seems fine. Maybe my grandmother has right, maybe the flowers have magic!
Lets Go recipe number three. This one a tiny secret of mine (just in the family) , and the third one it my go too, anytime – Saffron eggs, scrambled. Okay hear me out , all eggs recipe will look cooler with some of this yellow stuff!. Just some basic scrambed eggs are enough!. It has this very good golden color too.
Another Idea is adding a touch of saffron on anything sweet or not!. i made some yellow muffins last week , looked great taste ok!.
Or maybe you are like those guys in yt that want a unique look . add saffron in sauces or whatever to makes looks super nice!
The secret with saffron, it isnt about over using. You will feel bad after lol. its a just pinch, a lil threads ( I still think its some sort of gold ), this is how it must feel being rich! haha. Its really the special thing on everything! . So when u think: should i? Yes, for sure ,you wont regret!
More Than Flavor: Why Saffron is Totally Extra. Health Stuff! (Sort Of)
Okay, So ,here the health bit that we are kinda interested. But yeah, let’s keep it chill ,we dont need more drama in the kitchen, lol . Saffron aint going to turn me into that hulk looking-guys in my gym . No it has this kinda antioxidant thing which is that the fancy work for “good things” for the body.. also, in my old google searches i saw also some of them said ” it’s an mood-booster ” – I could used some more days. It could be better instead a chocolate right?, i dunno it’s a 50-50 thing to me!. It make a happy feeling so im all for it! And yeah. Some study in yt said maybe a better sleeping quality for the next morning? If i remember what i eat yesterday for sure I try the tea in those “long nights”, you know what im talking about!
I think, this is also another secret why everyone go bananas with safron since a while? Yeah it feels cool eat something good that actually help, instead some nasty vitamin pills. I know everyone gonna go into safron diets but , calm down folks, im the one who should sell the rights here. haha!
I just can say it help me with mood or i’m doing some serious placebo right there. (maybe both lol).
Saffron Alternatives: When Your Wallet Screams NO.
Alright, alright. The cost of safron. Yeah I got you, It aint no secret to us it not the most “budget friendly” spices of all, It is the tiny red gold.
Look if i win that big lotto prize all i buy is the biggest jar i found. For me and you and your family.. and dogs… and all of earth basically. Okay okay, lets not buy the plane or something but lets be realistic ( i cant buy the biggest boat too?)
SO, If not the fancy thing right now you still have options. There always “cheaper version” from supermarket!. They still work right? ok, most of the time they kinda of, almost the same… but the truth is not for flavor. Just color. They usually are made with different food colors in order to get the gold look, yeah.. sneaky food manufactures! its more an yellow look then orange! . If u need just color for a dish.. this things are ok . But lets not fool our feelings. It the color with out the feeling of real stuff! you know! that “gold touch” .
If we are being reals here is a fake comparison to compare, like a coke to a cheap cola you bought in the old supermarket at bad area from the street.
You dont fell cool with fake cola!. Same stuff with cheap “saffron” you feel shame lol
so my main take is to not fool you, for the cheap color i rather eat with out it, i think?. Anyway my advise here : get the safron!. The original good quality threads will do all you need.. just plan a little . You deserve it too
Real Talk: Is it Worth The Hype (& The Price)? – Personal Feelings Ahead.
Look, this where i’m going to show my true heart! I am no master chef!. I just use this orange strings at some times and love the way it tastes.
Is safron crazy-over-hyped? probably , yes . Is it too expensive?. Hell, yes too.. Like you want that concert tickets! or your favorite shirt but at double the price . it hurt the pocket a little yes , but the feels, all the emotions and all that happiness is all the worth in my book!.
Yes it has amazing health stuff that will do wonderfull stuff on you (if they work!). Yes, its super tasty in food.. even simple water!. But there’s something… that’s its magic . Its those lil gold thread making a full universe at my table or plate or bowl… you feel good . Thats why i’m hooked . its kinda the whole experience more than some cooking ingredient, right?
I do, really really believe so! . So yes even if im a random guy from a street . My recommendation it always buying. Just to fell good
Questions to keep in mind : The FAQs from your cousion or your grandmother.
- How much saffron do I really need?: not much really, a pinch is fine.. really. Don’t put all your life savigs in one dish . Just tiny string.. think gold here.
- Can i do tea too?: Yeah the saffron tea is so nice that it calms you in many things so i strongly recommended
- Where can i buy the best saffron: Ok this stuff will never end . always look online from well trusted people that you really sure from the safron , avoid fake market stuff its better safe! and real, for a few bucks more!
- Can safron get me high: dude. Not even near .. it just calms. And it a not weed, if thats what u were thinking!. Go watch netflix or somthing.. better!.
- How can i avoid fakes??: oh here we can talk so much… look closely, taste carefully.. dont get scammed. Check your trusted store or ask friends!. No rush to buy!. I know how fun is but yeah!
- Saffron recipes from the Internet. i just said it now the most awesome. but yes there a tons if you really look at! check some stuff for cooking beginners too, like i am , and then add your spice too! its so good when you know how to personalize!.
- Where i store saffron : Ah this was i totally messed up the first time lol. you need an air thing.. just keep that stuff with your other good quality spices!. out the sun and good dry, and yes far from the bathroom stuff too lol
Conclusion: My Saffron Love letter, or Why We Should all Be Buying Saffron
Ok, I’ll level with ya here, i didnt even think much about safron before my grandmother talking so much about her tea at the past weeks , before. Then i thought.. this stuff sounds fancy maybe its something here .
Saffron, it’s a little strange and expensive spice that gives us that good stuff to be very real ( at least with all my life experience with it so far). And Yeah it makes sense for its price . It’s work, color and taste with out matching.
It’s a piece of some ancient story on my everyday life!. It feels i have my grandma’s secret ingredient of making good dishes. So why i need more reason?
It gives food more depth more color it changes everything and makes more personal
I say: ditch your dull dinner recipes! get a small jar and change all.. is just life upgrade. Yes is extra expensive .. but who needs money when i have all these yellow gold on the food?. It not only an expensive herb it is like magic . Its magic to our meal to your bad day. .
Go ahead and add more magic on you days . If not me just listen what grandma says (she is a wishe person for real) .
So go and buy it!