Olivier Poels 5:40 p.m., April 21, 2022
It is the most expensive spice in the world.
Its price per kilo is around €35,000!
It must be said that to obtain 1 kilo of saffron, you need between 150,000 and 200,000 flowers.
Because saffron comes from the stigmas of saffron flowers that have been dried.
This spice has been consumed by humans for at least 3500 years.
According to the latest botanical studies, saffron originates from Crete.
Frescoes dating back to 1500 BC showing the harvesting of saffron have been discovered in Greece.
We know that this spice was present in many Mediterranean countries including Egypt (it had its own hieroglyph).
The Romans cultivated it in many parts of Europe, but with the fall of the Empire, it disappeared almost without explanation.
The reintroduction of saffron to us is done with the return of the Crusaders and the development of exchanges with the Middle East.
It is planted in Périgord, Quercy, Vaucluse or even Orléans.
For 5 centuries, France developed its production of saffron and became one of the main producers in the world.
The French Revolution and the harsher winters of the 19th century brought a new halt to this production, which ended after the First World War.
In recent years, there has been a small tricolor production which only reaches about ten kilos.
The recipe for saffron risotto:
Ingredients:
- 100 g of Carnaroli rice
- 600 g of broth (poultry or vegetables)
- 50 g of butter
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 glass of white wine
- 100 g of parmesan cheese
- 1 pinch of saffron
1. Brown the onion in the half the butter
2. Add rice and stir until translucent
3. Add white wine
4. Add the broth gradually, ladle by ladle / after 21 minutes add the rest of the cold butter off the heat / add the parmesan and saffron.