What is saffron

Saffron is a spice derived from the three dry stigmas of the flower pistil Crocus sativus , a species of the genus Crocus within the family iridaceas .

Saffron is characterized by its flavor, aroma and color, these come from of its chemical components picrocrocina and > safranal , also contains a carotenoid dye called crocin , which gives food a yellow color.

This makes saffron an appreciated component in many dishes around the world. In Spain it is used as an indispensable component of paellas, it is also used in other rice dishes, stews of meat or fish, soups, creams, sauces, pasta, pastries, desserts, etc.

Saffron has also applications in medicine Saffron reaches high prices because its cultivation, harvesting and handling, since they are very expensive tasks both in effort and economically. Because of its high economic value it has been called " The Red Gold " or " The gold of the poor " since having saffron was like having money, in the 50s - 60, the azafránras families had a great help to their normal income with the saffron, with the spice they could buy important goods like houses, rigs of the field and even the saffron was sold when the children married to be able to make the celebrations.

The Flower of Saffron

Saffron is obtained from a flower commonly called " The Rose of the Saffron ", is very beautiful since it has some colors not common in the nature, the tepalos are of color lilac, the intense yellow stamens and the bright red pistils, this composition makes of the flower of the saffron a wonderful to be able to enjoy your sight.

The flower is born from a bulb , each bulb can give several flowers per year always in the period of October - November , the plant consists of the following parts:

Bulb, grillón, stem, tépalos, stamen, pistil and espartillo (leaf)

In the actuality only the dehydrated pistils (saffron briznes) and the bulb are used, the rest of the flower is discarded once extracted the saffron and is returned to the field to take advantage of the organic matter that will become with time, the leaf grows from October until April when it dries and it seems that the plant has died, but it is not, the bulb is lethargic waiting for its new stage of development and multiplication to begin from the month of September 

The saffron flower is a reason for several celebrations in the places where it is produced and there are also photographic contests in its honor as the one that c every year the City Council of Monreal del Campo and the Museo del Azafrán of the same locality.