Saffron is a very costly spice, used to flavor and color food.

Saffron, the yellow-orange stigmas from a small purple saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), is the world’s most expensive spice. That’s because each flower provides only three (3) red stigmas. One (1) ounce of saffron = approximately 14,000 of these tiny saffron threads.

The tiny red threads of saffron must be handpicked from the center of the crocus flower. They leave behind the yellow stamens which have no taste. This spice comes either powdered or in threads (the whole stigmas).