What is saffron?

Saffron is actually the dried stigmas of the flower Crocus Sativus Linnaeus, which belongs to the Iradaceae family.
The word “saffron” is derived from the Arabic word za’faran, which translates to “yellow.”

The saffron crocus is a small bulbous perennial — 6-to 10-inches high , that produces up to five violet-colored flowers from each bulb. Each flower holds three, dark-orange-red, funnel-shaped, 1-inches stigmas with lacy, pale tips. These stigmas are removed, or stripped, and when dried, they are the saffron prized by chefs all over the world.

These stigmas have to be hand picked from each flower and more then 75000 flowers are needed to produce just one pound of saffron filament.