Home›Dishes›Main Ingredient›SaffronIngredientSaffronSpices, Herbs and SeasoningsReference and ClassificationDevelopingSaffron is a spice derived from the sterile, autumn-blooming flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus; its vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads in the trade, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colorant in food. The saffron crocus was slowly propagated across much of Eurasia and later brought to parts of North Africa, North America and Oceania, and saffron's distinctive taste and hay-like fragrance result from the phytochemicals picrocrocin and safranal, while a carotenoid pigment called crocin gives dishes and textiles it colors a rich golden-yellow hue. Saffron quality is objectively measured under the ISO 3632 standard, which evaluates the concentration of these active phytochemicals by spectrophotometry.FactsSaffronConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsDisputedOrigin RegionScholarly debateIran, Greece, Mesopotamia or Kashmir (uncertain) 1Source lists Iran, Greece, Mesopotamia and Kashmir as candidates.Partially AttestedEarliest Documented Use, From (Year)Partially Attestedfrom 700 BCE 1Approximate: source dates the Assyrian botanical treatise only to the 7th century BC.SaffronFilter Results15 entriesDish FamilyAllConfections and Candies (1)Desserts and Sweet Puddings (1)European Breads and Pastries (1)European Noodles and Dumplings (1)Middle Eastern and North African Breads and Pastries (1)Middle Eastern and North African Noodles and Dumplings (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (4)Middle Eastern and North African Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)South Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Grain Dishes (1)CuisineAllAfghan Cuisine (3)Caribbean Cuisine (1)Filipino Cuisine (1)Greek Cuisine (1)Indian Cuisine (5)Indonesian Cuisine (1)Italian Cuisine (1)Middle Eastern Cuisine (2)Moroccan Cuisine (1)Pakistani Cuisine (1)Persian Cuisine (5)Peruvian Cuisine (1)Portuguese Cuisine (1)South African Cuisine (1)Sri Lankan Cuisine (1)Swedish Cuisine (1)Era (Origin Period)All-500 (1)1200 (1)1789 (1)1800 (1)TraditionAllBread Baking (1)Cheesemaking (1)Funeral and Memorial Foods (1)Hindu Festival Foods (2)Lenten Fasting Foods (2)New Year Feast Traditions (1)Ramadan and Eid Feasting Traditions (5)Wedding Feast Traditions (3)Format/TypeAllConfections and Candies (1)Desserts and Sweet Puddings (1)European Breads and Pastries (1)European Noodles and Dumplings (1)Middle Eastern and North African Breads and Pastries (1)Middle Eastern and North African Noodles and Dumplings (1)Middle Eastern and North African Rice and Grain Dishes (4)Middle Eastern and North African Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)Middle Eastern and North African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)South Asian Rice and Grain Dishes (1)South Asian Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Grain Dishes (1)CourseAllDessert (4)Dietary SuitabilityAllContains Dairy or Egg (6)Origin RegionAllIndia (3)Indonesia (1)Iran (7)Italy (1)Khorasan (1)Pakistan (1)Saudi Arabia (1)Sweden (1)The Persian Gulf (1)Yemen (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 15BalaleetSaffronBasundiSaffronChelo KababSaffronGhormeh SabziSaffronGulab JamunSaffronHalvaSaffronKabsaSaffronOstkakaSaffronPasta con le sardeSaffronSholezardSaffronTaftanSaffronTahchinSaffronYellow riceSaffronZardaSaffronZereshk PoloSaffronConnectionsUsed ByBalaleet, Dishes Well-attested Source Balaleet (Wikipedia)Basundi, Dishes Well-attested Source Basundi (Wikipedia)Chelo Kabab, Dishes Well-attested Fernet, Drinks Well-attested Source Wikipedia, FernetGhormeh Sabzi, Dishes Well-attested Source Ghormeh sabzi, WikipediaGulab Jamun, Dishes Well-attested Source Gulab jamun (Wikipedia)Halva, Dishes Well-attested Source Halva (Wikipedia)Kabsa, Dishes Well-attested Source Kabsa (Wikipedia)Kashmiri Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Kashmiri Cuisine (Wikipedia)Ostkaka, Dishes Well-attested Source Ostkaka (Wikipedia)Pasta con le sarde, Dishes Well-attested Source Pasta con le sarde (Wikipedia)Persian Cuisine, Cuisines Well-attested Source Larousse Gastronomiquetier 1Sholezard, Dishes Well-attested Source Sholezard (Wikipedia)Taftan, Dishes Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Taftan (bread)Tahchin, Dishes Well-attested Source Tahchin, WikipediaYellow rice, Dishes Well-attested Source Yellow rice (Wikipedia)Zarda, Dishes Well-attested Source Zarda (food) (Wikipedia)Zereshk Polo, Dishes Well-attested Source Zereshk polo - WikipediaIn the Other AtlasesOriginated InGreeceAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Saffron, WikipediaIranAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Saffron, WikipediaKashmirAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Saffron, WikipediaMesopotamiaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Saffron, WikipediaSources1. Saffron, WikipediaSpecies, originSaffron likely originated in Iran, Greece, Mesopotamia, or Kashmir.West Asia, recorded historyIts recorded history is attested as early as a 7th-century BC Assyrian botanical treatise.View the SourceLarousse Gastronomiquetier 1Hamlyn, 2009Used By: Persian Cuisine, entry: SaffronTahchin, WikipediaUsed By: Tahchin, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice, chicken fillet, yogurt, saffron, eggView the SourceBalaleet (Wikipedia)Used By: Balaleet, Infobox main_ingredient field: vermicelli, cardamom, rose water and saffronView the SourceWikipedia: Taftan (bread)Used By: Taftan, Infobox main_ingredient field: Flour, saffron, cardamomView the SourceGulab jamun (Wikipedia)Used By: Gulab Jamun, Infobox main_ingredient field: Khoa, saffron, maida, sugarView the SourceSholezard (Wikipedia)Used By: Sholezard, Infobox main_ingredient field: Rice, saffron, sugar, rose water and cinnamon powderView the SourceOstkaka (Wikipedia)Used By: Ostkaka, Infobox main_ingredient field: milk, cream, flour, rennet (sugar, eggs, almonds, bitter almond, saffron)View the SourceBasundi (Wikipedia)Used By: Basundi, Infobox main_ingredient field: Milk, sugar, cardamom, saffronView the SourcePasta con le sarde (Wikipedia)Used By: Pasta con le sarde, Infobox main_ingredient field: Sardines, anchovy, wild fennel, saffron, pine nuts, raisins, breadcrumbsView the SourceKabsa (Wikipedia)Used By: Kabsa, Infobox food/dish main_ingredient fieldView the SourceGhormeh sabzi, WikipediaUsed By: Ghormeh Sabzi, infobox main_ingredient fieldQuote, Used By: Ghormeh Sabzi, infobox main_ingredient fieldherbs, red kidney beans, dried lime, lemons, turmeric, saffron, lamb; served with Persian saffron riceView the SourceZereshk polo - WikipediaUsed By: Zereshk Polo, infobox main_ingredient fieldQuote, Used By: Zereshk Polo, infobox main_ingredient fieldBasmati rice, barberries, chicken (or lamb), saffron, rosewater, AdviehView the SourceKashmiri Cuisine (Wikipedia)Used By: Kashmiri Cuisine, Wikipedia article textQuote, Used By: Kashmiri Cuisine, Wikipedia article textThe saffron of Pampore town is considered to be of superior quality with 8.72% crocin content as compared to the Iranian variety which contains 6.82%.View the SourceWikipedia, FernetUsed By: Fernet, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Fernet, Lead sectionmade from a number of herbs and spices which vary according to the brand, but usually include myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and especially saffron, with aView the SourceYellow rice (Wikipedia)Used By: Yellow rice, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Yellow rice, Lead sectionmade using white rice turned yellow by annatto, saffron or turmericView the SourceZarda (food) (Wikipedia)Used By: Zarda, Lead sectionQuote, Used By: Zarda, Lead sectionboiled sweet rice dish, native to the Indian subcontinent, made with saffron, milk and sugar, and flavoured with cardamom, raisins, pistachios or almondsView the SourceHalva (Wikipedia)Used By: Halva, Lead paragraphQuote, Used By: Halva, Lead paragraphThe name refers to a broad variety of recipes, generally a thick paste made from flour, butter, oil, saffron, rosewater, milk, turmeric powder, and sugar.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. 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