Learn how to add flavor to your meals using pure saffron powder, the most expensive spice in the world. Discover how to purchase, store, and prepare original saffron saffron to give your food a distinctive flavor and vivid color. What’s the world’s most expensive food? Surprisingly, it’s not wagyu beef or caviar. Ounce for ounce, saffron claims the title.
This vibrant yellow spice, essential in Mediterranean, North African, and Middle Eastern dishes, can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per pound. For perspective, Japanese wagyu averages just over $100 per pound, and even the finest Osetra caviar maxes out around $2,000 per pound. Luckily, you only need a pinch of saffron to bring a rich, bold flavor to your dishes. Though its price tag in the spice aisle might be a shock, once you taste it, the cost feels worth it for the luxury and depth it adds.
Here’s a guide on how to use saffron powder for cooking as well as saffron powder price and some tips to buy!
What is Saffron Powder?
Saffron threads are the stamens of the crocus sativus flower, which grows best in hot climates. The high price of saffron isn’t due to the rarity of the flowers, but rather to the short blooming season, the small amount each flower produces, and the intense labor required to collect the delicate stamens.
Harvesting Pure Saffron Powder is meticulous work, often done by hand with tweezers. After being picked, the crocus stamens are dried and packaged. They should appear as fine, deep red trumpet-like strands with a delicate yellow tip attached, resembling tiny red sea anemones.
What Does Pure Saffron Powder Taste Like?
Original Saffron Powder has a unique, hard-to-describe flavor that’s unlike anything else, making it truly special. Some might call its taste smoky, floral, or earthy, with a hint of sweetness. It’s complex yet versatile, pairing beautifully with a wide range of foods, from rice and pasta to vegetables, meats, and even desserts.
In Persian cooking, saffron appears in both savory and sweet dishes. It’s used to add flavor to rice dishes like polow, the crispy-bottomed tahdig, and various stews (khoresh). Grilled chicken, sholeh zard (a saffron rice pudding), and saffron sherbet or tea also showcase its rich flavor. Original Saffron Powder has a biological similarity to vanilla, sharing a similar floral element. This lets it boost the depth of every ingredient it touches, without needing to be the star of the dish.
How to Use Saffron Powder for Cooking?
Original Saffron Powder works well with almost any dish and enhances the flavors around it beautifully. A great way to use saffron powder for cooking is in rice-based, warm, and comforting recipes.
To use saffron, take a small pinch of the strands and grind them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Place the powdered saffron in a small bowl, add 2–3 tablespoons of hot water (or hot broth), stir gently, cover, and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. This helps release its color and aroma before you add it to your dish. For a richer flavor, try toasting the saffron powder for cooking in a bit of olive oil over low heat. This will infuse its taste throughout your savory dish.
Where To Buy Original Saffron Powder?
The good news is that, wherever you reside, you probably won’t have to search very far for pure saffron powder. Just be aware that genuine, pure saffron powder will cost a small amount of money.
If you come across anything that looks like a fantastic offer, it’s most likely not real. Even better, look for reputable spice stores or internet merchants where you can confirm the saffron’s lineage. Although it is more difficult to find, Iranian saffron is of the best grade and is widely sought after.
Afghan and Spanish are still of excellent quality and are more widely accessible. You don’t have to worry as Baba Hakeem has every variety you need! Saffron powder price in Pakistan is also given very next. Don’t forget to check it! Look for a rich red hue, a faint flowery scent, and a somewhat sweet flavor when buying saffron for cooking say most of the experts.
What’s The Saffron Powder Price?
Saffron Powder price in Pakistan may vary depending upon the variety of original saffron powder you want or depending upon the quality of it. Don’t worry as Baba Hakeem has the affordable Saffron Powder Price yet best in quality overall.
Here are the packages:
- 5 Grams Rs 3000
- 5 Grams Rs 5500
- 10 Grams Rs 10000
The Ultimate Line
Indeed, pure saffron powder is among the most expensive foods in the world, ounce for ounce. However, it does not exclude you from using it in your cuisine, even if you are on a tight budget. You only need a pinch to make a ton of incredible meals. Feel free to utilize its crimson blossom power and add saffron to all culinary.