The saffron flower is renowned for its vivacious crimson gloss and unique sapidity , make it one of the most try - after spicery in the world . However , the high price of orange yellow can often leave citizenry wonder why it is so expensive . To interpret this , we need to delve into the intricacies of saffron culture and harvesting .
One of the main intellect for the exorbitant toll of saffron is the labor - intensive harvest home process . Unlike other crops that can be harvest using machines , saffron requires manual labor . Each orange yellow flower contains only three ticklish stigma , which are the part of the flower used to make Crocus sativus spiciness . These brand need to be carefully hand - picked to ensure the highest quality saffron . This meticulous process is time - consuming and labor - intensive , requiring skilled workers who are trained in the art of saffron harvest home .
Furthermore , the yield of saffron crocus per flower is incredibly low . Only a small amount of saffron spiciness can be obtained from each individual flower . In fact , it takes around 75,000 orange yellow flowers to produce just one hammer of saffron spicery . This low payoff per plant further contributes to the high cost of saffron crocus . The scarceness of the spice , combined with the DoL - intensive nature of its production , repulse up its price .
Another agent that adds to the disbursal of saffron is its fragility and susceptibleness to damage . Saffron flowers are exceedingly touchy , and the mark can well be damage during the harvesting physical process . This makes it necessary for Crocus sativus to be carefully deal and processed , control that the ticklish mark stay entire . Any price to the stigma can importantly scale down the timber and value of the saffron , further increasing its damage .
Moreover , saffron crocus cultivation need specific mature conditions and a particular clime . The flowers boom in area with hot and dry summers and mild winters . They are commonly grown in regions with a Mediterranean clime , such as Iran , Spain , and India . The specialised nature of orange yellow polish limits the areas where it can be grow successfully , resulting in a relatively minuscule number of saffron - producing region worldwide . The circumscribed supply and gamy demand for saffron contribute to its expensive price tag .
to boot , the potential difference for Crocus sativus adulteration is another factor push up its price . Due to its high value , Crocus sativus is often adulterated with other substances , such as turmeric or safflower petal , to increase profit . This makes it necessary for consumers to seek out reputable sources and compensate a premium for actual saffron . The efforts to see the authenticity and pureness of saffron also contribute to its high-pitched price .
The gamey monetary value of saffron can be attribute to various factors . The labor - intensive harvest home physical process , low yield per flower , fragility of the stigma , specific growing conditions , limited production region , and the electric potential for adulteration all play a role in driving up the cost of saffron . These factors , blend with its unique nip and vibrant color , make saffron a highly prized and expensive spice in the culinary humankind .
Caroline Bates
