The most costly spice on the market is Saffron. Six purple petals, three golden-yellow stamens, and one red pistil with three stigmas make up the saffron flower (filaments). The spice saffron is made from the dried stigma of the flower. It is costly because it is made from Crocus sativus, a purple flower blooming in autumn and native to Greece. Saffron is a highly sought-after spice used to enhance dishes in a variety of cuisines. It is not a spice that the average cook keeps in their kitchen.
Saffron’s price is consistently high for this reason and others.
1.Requires a large number of stigmas
Saffron is made up of an unusually large number of thread-like stigmas.
In fact, between 15,000 and 20,000 stigmas are required to make one pound of this premium spice.
Stigmas are produced by a unique flower.
Each bloom produces only three threads.
The stigma-producing flower must be hand-picked, which takes a long time.
2.It's a Crop That Takes A Long Time To Grow
Saffron reproduction is a lengthy process.
Saffron can only be picked for a brief period of time.
Only in the fall, and even then, only very early in the morning, does it happen.
It can only be harvested for two weeks in a row, in the early mornings.
3.Saffron Is A Delicate Flower
If you don’t select Saffron as soon as it blossoms, it will wilt before you can use it.
This flower is recognized for its delicate nature.
It is a member of the Crocus family, which includes flowers native to the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region.
While all of the flowers in this family are delicate, Saffron is the most delicate of them all.
4.Extreme caution must be exercised.
Saffron must not be exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight, water, or even frigid temperatures.
The only way to keep them from wilting is to do so.
A single mother bulb is used to grow Saffron.
The bulb will then split in half, resulting in a clone.
The only way Saffron can reproduce is this way.
Some spices are mass-produced in vast quantities, while Saffron requires one acre of land to produce one pound of the spice.
In comparison, 300 pounds of cumin may be grown on one acre of land.
As a result, many growers would instead plant spices other than Saffron.
5.It's Constructed of Expensive Materials
The saffron flower contains three different compounds.
Crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal are the three compounds in question, and each is costly in its own way.
On the other hand, Saffron would not have the flavor, smell, or color that makes it so appealing to people worldwide if these chemicals weren’t there.
6.The climate
Saffron cultivation is difficult. It flourishes in severe temperatures, both cold and hot. Thus any change in the weather can have an impact on its development. It thrives in climates with chilly winters and hot, dry summers.
Perhaps you’ll appreciate that small jar at the supermarket a lot more now that you know what goes into it. Plus, an ounce will last a long time, so it’s a no-brainer purchase.
