The most expensive spice in the world
@allknowing (136799)
India
April 29, 2019 7:39pm CST
We have it growing in Kashmir. Saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world. I had the joy of looking at those fields in Kashmir and that's it. I possibly cannot afford to use it in my cuisine
There are some dishes that call for the use of this evasive spice. I make do with turmeric powder.
Who would go for this spice which is available at US Dollars 11,000 per kilo?? What is amazing is there is a market for it and I would be curious to know who buys it
Do you?
The chances are that saffron may soon become even rarer and therefore more of a luxury than ever!
14 people like this
15 responses
@much2say (55686)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Apr 19
I love saffron! I have a small jar of Spanish saffron . . . and I also use the thin plastic containers of saffron used in Persian (Iranian) cooking. I think Persians literally call it "gold" as it is rather expensive (the quality ones anyway). My Persian grandmother friend buys them in big envelopes!
2 people like this
@much2say (55686)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Apr 19
@allknowing I use it on a Persian chicken dish and Persian rice dishes. I do use turmeric too but I find it has a different taste.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
@much2say Turmeric in other dishes is used for its health properties but where we need a yellow colour which saffron does well I use turmeric.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471601)
• Switzerland
30 Apr 19
We have saffron fields in Italy, for what I have recently read the saffron price last year was 3,000$ per Kilo (no matter the country of provenience). I see that your article is an old one, may be the price dropped, as you can see in this recent article. I use saffron to make risotto and and a French fish soup.
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2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471601)
• Switzerland
30 Apr 19
@allknowing 
Yes, it is expensive, but you need a very little quantity. The small saffron sachets contain 0.10 grams, the pure stems are more expensive, but one stem is enough.
Yes, it is expensive, but you need a very little quantity. The small saffron sachets contain 0.10 grams, the pure stems are more expensive, but one stem is enough.2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23405)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 19
We use saffron in our cooking. You only need a very minute amount perhaps a few strands and that will flavour and colour your rice. You only buy it in very minute quantities not even a gram I should imagine!
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
Even the minimum quantity that is available in the market would cost quite a bomb. Assuming it is 10 grams that will cost 110 dollars which is about Rs. 7700/-
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340530)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Apr 19
@allknowing It would seem that way but we wouldn't have paid the earth for saffron. We don't believe in paying the earth for anything.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
As @amitkokiladitya says you have to be sure what you buy is genuine stuff.
3 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
30 Apr 19
@allknowing yes...and it is hard to figure out especially if you are a tourist
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
30 Apr 19
Yes...but it is hard to get the authentic ones. Moat of the people there sell the fake ones at a very high price.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
In that case it is best that it is not bought
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
1 May 19
@lyndakerby It is always not easy to know what is fake
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
1 May 19
@allknowing very true. People easily fool the tourists
1 person likes this
@hexeduser22 (7419)
• Philippines
30 Apr 19
I don't think I will ever use such a spice. If you accidentally burn your dish, it's like burning money too
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
And there will be mourning for a few days
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
Better that way than go for spurious stuff
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80052)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Apr 19
I have always known that saffron is terribly expensive and I also cannot afford to use it. I also use turmeric. Most likely restaurants and catering services use saffron.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
One has to be careful as spurious stuff is doing the rounds.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
4 May 19
That's an interesting spice so expensive 
maybe hard to produce this kind.
maybe hard to produce this kind.@allknowing (136799)
• India
4 May 19
Atleast we can taste the dish that has a touch of it while eating at good restaurants.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
4 May 19
@allknowing I'd try to inquire here in a class resto in Cagayan de Oro City if they add saffron to their food to know the smell if there is
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Apr 19
No but I have had saffron rice.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
When I was a kid I remember mother adding it to some concoction that was made for my sister when she had her first baby
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
4 May 19
@allknowing wow, that spice has lots of benefits.
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
30 Apr 19
No like you I make do with turmeric which is very good for your health and brain power. You know what? I'm running short of nutmeg and was so surprised it's so expensive too! a .9 oz of it is 2.99 the cheapest I found at Target Store.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136799)
• India
30 Apr 19
We have a nutmeg tree and we sell both the nut and the mace. Mace is expensive but the nut is not so expensive
@eLsMarie (4345)
• Philippines
30 Apr 19
It is expensive and at the same time, worth it. We use it whenever we want to make Paella; however, it's so hard to find an authentic one. From what I know, it is considered expensive because there's only a certain area that can produce a saffron plant or whatever. And you need to plant a lot in order to even weigh into a kilo.
It's a pretty delicate plant/spice.
1 person likes this
