![\"Saffron](\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/GettyImages-1351631940.jpg?fit=700,467\")
\r\n\r\nSaffron is a type of herb<\/a> made from the saffron crocus, a purple flower that blooms in autumn. The plants are very particular: the flowers only bloom for one to three weeks each year and must be hand-picked.\r\nWhy is saffron so expensive?<\/h2>\r\nProducing a single gram of saffron requires roughly 150 flowers and a significant amount of labor. That pushes up the price. Luckily, a gram of saffron goes a very<\/em> long way. For instance, this shrimp and cod stew in saffron broth<\/a> calls for only 1\/4 teaspoon of saffron threads.\r\nWhere is saffron grown?<\/h2>\r\nThe saffron crocus can grow almost anywhere in the world, though it loves hot, dry climates. The highest quality saffron comes from the Middle East and Asia\u2014today, most grows in Iran. It's a common Indian spice<\/a>, and you'll also find it in Mediterranean and European cuisine, like Spanish paella<\/a> or Italian rice dishes. If you like to dabble with different regional dishes, saffron is an essential spice<\/a> to have on hand.\r\nWhat does saffron taste like?<\/h2>\r\nSaffron has a blend of grassy and floral flavors, and it adds sweetness and depth to a variety of dishes. Elevate your cooking and complement the use of saffron with other Middle Eastern spices<\/a>.\r\nWhat is saffron used for?<\/h2>\r\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kulfi-FT23_242404_ST_0824_6.jpg?fit=700,467\")
\r\n\r\nSaffron is at the top of its game in rice dishes, but it can be a delicious addition to sweets or even tea. Add it to a hearty meat dish like this rhubarb beef<\/a> or a dessert like kulfi<\/a>. Here's a good rule of thumb: If vanilla is included, saffron will thrive! Even a small amount adds fragrant flavor and a burst of golden color, and it plays well with other spices.\r\n\r\nTo get the most color and taste, soak the saffron threads in water or broth before cooking for at least thirty minutes, and add the infused liquid right before you serve.\r\n\r\nAlong with adding complex flavors to a wide variety of dishes, saffron has also been celebrated for its health benefits. In the 14th century, the herb was used as a remedy against the Black Death. Now, researchers say saffron delivers many benefits to your body, improving everything from insomnia to digestive discomfort and immune function.\r\n\r\nEditor's Tip: <\/em>Avoid using wooden utensils when cooking with saffron, which can absorb some of the flavor.\r\nWhat is the best saffron substitute?<\/h3>\r\nLuckily, the most popular saffron spice substitute<\/a> is much less expensive: turmeric<\/a>. The golden root\u2014a member of the ginger family\u2014can brighten up dishes with a similar vibrant hue and delivers anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting benefits.\r\n\r\nUse turmeric more sparingly than saffron, though. Saffron has a subtler flavor, and you want to make sure turmeric's acrid notes are in perfect proportion to the other flavors in your dish. Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian recommends combining 1\/4 teaspoon turmeric with 1\/2 teaspoon paprika to achieve a taste as close to saffron as possible.\r\n\r\n[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[\/cf]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What is saffron? It’s a spice adored by royalty\u2014and it can bring vibrant floral flavors to your home cooking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7006,"featured_media":1943520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[340638,306848,340656,303883,303897],"categories-v2":[340804,309603,340840,308476,308490],"coauthors":[51494],"acf":{"long_pin_file":false,"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_moat_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"long_pin":""},"yoast_head":"\n
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She has written about food and wine for top brands, including Hilton, Marriott and KitchenAid. Kim also writes about health and wellness topics, home decor and baking. For<em> Taste Recipes<\/em>, she\u2019s tackled all kinds of recipes, plus articles about canned wines, cocktail kits, wine Advent calendars and much more. Kim\u2019s passion is bringing together nutrition and joy in every meal, and she\u2019s always on the hunt for the perfect gluten-free cinnamon roll. Her first series, <em>The Princess Swap<\/em>, is forthcoming from Penguin Random House in 2025.<\/p>","twitter":"","instagram":"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kimbussing\/?hl=en","facebook":"","public_email":"","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kim-bussing-5b8b1253\/","tiktok":"","youtube":"","location":"Tucson, AZ","school_and_year":"University of Arizona","education":"<ul>\r\n<li>Georgetown University, bachelor's degrees in English, psychology and business administration<\/li>\r\n<li>University of Arizona, master's in fiction<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","highlights":"<ul>\r\n<li>10 years of experience covering food and drink with an emphasis on wine and cocktails<\/li>\r\n<li>Written numerous guides about gift baskets and care packages for all occasions, interviewing gift experts and relationship experts to find the perfect present<\/li>\r\n<li>Written numerous holiday guides on food, wine, Advent calendars, and more<\/li>\r\n<li>Creative consultant for hospitality and food companies including a vegan meal delivery company and a small cookie bakery<\/li>\r\n<li>Former editor at <em>Queensland Magazines<\/em><\/li>\r\n<li>Writer for <em>Taste Recipes<\/em>, <em>Clean Plates<\/em>, <em>Modern Farmer<\/em>, <em>Reader's Digest <\/em>and\u00a0<em>Seattle Refined<\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","expertise":"Baking; beer, wine & cocktails; product testing; cleaning & organizing; home decor; health & wellness; food news; grocery shopping; restaurants; travel","short_bio":"<p>Kim is a food and beverage writer and creative consultant with 10 years of experience working with brands from Hilton and Marriott to small cookie bakeries. 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Here's what to know about the world's most expensive spice."],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7006"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=741433"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1943217,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741433\/revisions\/1943217"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1943520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=741433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=741433"},{"taxonomy":"categories-v2","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-v2?post=741433"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=741433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
What does saffron taste like?<\/h2>\r\nSaffron has a blend of grassy and floral flavors, and it adds sweetness and depth to a variety of dishes. Elevate your cooking and complement the use of saffron with other Middle Eastern spices<\/a>.\r\nWhat is saffron used for?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\nSaffron is at the top of its game in rice dishes, but it can be a delicious addition to sweets or even tea. Add it to a hearty meat dish like this rhubarb beef<\/a> or a dessert like kulfi<\/a>. Here's a good rule of thumb: If vanilla is included, saffron will thrive! Even a small amount adds fragrant flavor and a burst of golden color, and it plays well with other spices.\r\n\r\nTo get the most color and taste, soak the saffron threads in water or broth before cooking for at least thirty minutes, and add the infused liquid right before you serve.\r\n\r\nAlong with adding complex flavors to a wide variety of dishes, saffron has also been celebrated for its health benefits. In the 14th century, the herb was used as a remedy against the Black Death. Now, researchers say saffron delivers many benefits to your body, improving everything from insomnia to digestive discomfort and immune function.\r\n\r\nEditor's Tip: <\/em>Avoid using wooden utensils when cooking with saffron, which can absorb some of the flavor.\r\nWhat is the best saffron substitute?<\/h3>\r\nLuckily, the most popular saffron spice substitute<\/a> is much less expensive: turmeric<\/a>. The golden root\u2014a member of the ginger family\u2014can brighten up dishes with a similar vibrant hue and delivers anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting benefits.\r\n\r\nUse turmeric more sparingly than saffron, though. Saffron has a subtler flavor, and you want to make sure turmeric's acrid notes are in perfect proportion to the other flavors in your dish. Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian recommends combining 1\/4 teaspoon turmeric with 1\/2 teaspoon paprika to achieve a taste as close to saffron as possible.\r\n\r\n[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[\/cf]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What is saffron? It’s a spice adored by royalty\u2014and it can bring vibrant floral flavors to your home cooking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7006,"featured_media":1943520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[340638,306848,340656,303883,303897],"categories-v2":[340804,309603,340840,308476,308490],"coauthors":[51494],"acf":{"long_pin_file":false,"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_moat_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"long_pin":""},"yoast_head":"\n
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\r\n\r\nSaffron is at the top of its game in rice dishes, but it can be a delicious addition to sweets or even tea. Add it to a hearty meat dish like this rhubarb beef<\/a> or a dessert like kulfi<\/a>. Here's a good rule of thumb: If vanilla is included, saffron will thrive! Even a small amount adds fragrant flavor and a burst of golden color, and it plays well with other spices.\r\n\r\nTo get the most color and taste, soak the saffron threads in water or broth before cooking for at least thirty minutes, and add the infused liquid right before you serve.\r\n\r\nAlong with adding complex flavors to a wide variety of dishes, saffron has also been celebrated for its health benefits. In the 14th century, the herb was used as a remedy against the Black Death. Now, researchers say saffron delivers many benefits to your body, improving everything from insomnia to digestive discomfort and immune function.\r\n\r\nEditor's Tip: <\/em>Avoid using wooden utensils when cooking with saffron, which can absorb some of the flavor.\r\n