One of the most expensive spices in the world, the use of saffron dates back at least 3,000 years. Its taste is almost bitter with the metallic aftertaste and smells like grass, and is used to season food, color food and dye textiles, among other things. Saffron is also used for its medicinal qualities, given its natural antioxidant qualities, etc.
In food, saffron is usually soaked in lukewarm water first. You can also add saffron to warm milk, either as a flavoring agent for food or to drink the milk. Called kesar in Hindi, saffron is used quite extensively in Indian sweets as well. This gorgeous spice is also great for one’s skin. The list of its benefits is endless. So here’s a list of a few of the best quality saffron you can find online.
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5 Best Saffron available to buy online
Lion Saffron, 5g, Original Kashmiri Mongra Saffron
This Kashmiri saffron is naturally grown and harvested by hand. It comes in a transparent, spill-proof, resealable user-friendly container. If you like to cook biryani, this saffron can help you to enhance flavor. It is also used in beauty products, especially if you want to make face or body packs at home.
Keynote Kashmir Saffron
This Kashmir-made saffron is natural and pure, with no additives in it. It has some of the highest levels of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin. It’s a vegetarian product and suitable for vegans too. It comes in a vacuum-packed glass bottle. It has no acidity regulators, no artificial colors and flavors, no thickeners.
UPAKARMA Pure, Natural and Finest A++ Grade Kashmiri Kesar
Kashmiri kesar also has Ayurvedic properties that come with a lot of health benefits. This saffron is non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan with no preservatives and additives. It can be used to make different face packs such as saffron and rose water, saffron and sweet almond oil, among others.
Baby 100% Saffron
This is a 1-gm pack of saffron strands. The taste and aroma of this box of saffron are exceptional due to the hygienic packaging the company follows. These hand-picked saffron strands can be consumed with milk or water.
Fitness Mantra Saffron Jar
This is a 1-gm jar of premium quality saffron strands. These saffron threads are 100% organic and devoid of additives and preservatives. These saffron strands can be added to sweet as well as savory dishes.
Despite it being native to Asia, saffron was first harvested in Greece. The Greco-Roman period between 8 BC and 3 AD, depicted young girls and monkeys picking saffron flowers. Saffron-based pigments have been found in the prehistoric paints used to depict beasts in 50,000-year-old cave art in what is today’s Iraq. As far as its entrance in South and East Asia is concerned, there are quite a few theories. Some academicians state it came from Persia will others claim that after ancient Persians came to Kashmir, Persian saffron crocus corms were transplanted to Kashmiri soil. The first harvest then occurred sometime prior to 500 BC.
