All about Saffron and How to Make Saffron Tea
2012
Saffron is a spice that comes from the small purple saffron crocus. Each flower on the plant has 3 vivid crimson stigmas which are the part used as the spice. Saffron is used in various Indian, Persian and European cuisines, and sometimes Arab and Turkish cuisines as well, as a seasoning and coloring agent.
Saffron is the most expensive spice on Earth. It is so expensive due to short annual growing seasons and to the high labor involved in growing and harvesting it. Each flower’s stigmas need to be collected by hand and there are only a few per flower.
Very little saffron is needed for cooking, and actually too much can make food taste bitter.
Imitation saffron is sold all over the world, so beware of inexpensive saffron. The most common look alike is safflower, which looks somewhat like, and is often sold as, saffron but is nearly tasteless.
Fresh saffron has a distinctive earthy smell and flavor and imparts a bright orange color to food. Saffron is often used in paellas, sometimes risottos and makes a beautiful and healthful tea. It is wonderful added to basmati rice when preparing Indian dishes and will give the rice a beautiful golden color.
In cooking add a little liquid to the saffron threads first to draw out the golden color. Adding early to cooking gives more color but adding later in cooking gives more flavor.
Saffron has a long medicinal history as part of traditional healing. Recent studies have shown it to have anti-carcinogenic (cancer-suppressing) properties, anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing) and antioxidant properties. It may also be helpful for depression and protect the eyes and slow down macular degeneration, It is often used to reduce fevers, cramps and to calm the nerves.
Interesting fact: In Edgar Cayce’s readings he recommended saffron 250 times. Of these, 200 of them were recommended to be taken as a tea. This is more than any other tea mentioned, and saffron ranked 5th among the herbs named. ..from here.
Saffron Tea Recipe
3 to 4 strands of Saffron
a little Honey
Water
Put the saffron in a cup with a little warm water and leave for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, pour boiling water over it and add a little honey to taste.
To your optimal health!
photo source fishki.com via trasyy.livejournal.com/
