Uses of Saffron

People have used saffron for many reasons throughout the centuries. Of course, the main reason people use saffron is to add that special something to their food and drinks.

Saffron is can be used to add flavour to an assortment of foods and beverages. Some of the most popular foods that saffron is added to are rice, risottos and paellas. However, saffron goes well with pasta dishes, curries, biryianis, soups, sauces, milkshakes and even cakes. Saffron can also be used to aromatize wines. Please visit our recipe section for more interesting ways to cook with saffron.

Besides adding saffron to dishes in the kitchen, the intoxicating and unique spice has been used for other applications throughout the years. For example, in India, people used crushed saffron to create a deep and intensely yellow dye. Saffron gives of a yellow dye color despite the fact that the stigmas are crimson.

Saffron has also been used for medicinal purposes, in modern times it has been shown to be a cancer and mutation suppressing agent. It is also coveted for its anti-oxidant properties.

In Asia, the Chinese use saffron in perfumery and in Roman times many people believed saffron to hold aphrodisiac qualities. In fact, many civilizations feared that the Persians used saffron to cast spells of lust upon their armies.