# Has Anybody Synthesized Saffron (Spice)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 23, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147 "2010-02-23T18:11:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/21 "2010-02-26T16:02:48Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Are there grades of saffron threads? I have some that I bought in Pittsburgh’s strip district. I’ve used them a few times and they did color the food, but didn’t add any flavor that I could discern. There are different kinds of [of saffron and different grades](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyssaffron.html). But the flavor should be pretty discernible. It’s kind of floral/slightly medicinal. In what weight was your saffron sold in, and how much did you pay for it? What you describe sounds just like false saffron, aka safflower. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/22 "2010-02-26T17:44:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There are different kinds of [of saffron and different grades](http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeyssaffron.html). But the flavor should be pretty discernible. It’s kind of floral/slightly medicinal. In what weight was your saffron sold in, and how much did you pay for it? What you describe sounds just like false saffron, aka safflower. Yeah, the best stuff is just threads: no twigs or other crap. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/23 "2010-02-26T18:04:07Z")
It was a little vial of threads. The threads are a reddish color and I paid about six or seven dollars for it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/24 "2010-02-26T18:30:27Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > It was a little vial of threads. The threads are a reddish color and I paid about six or seven dollars for it. Sounds like probably lower quality saffron, then. At any rate [here’s a picture of both](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0fj0ctMGNd0/ShSAia6V5LI/AAAAAAAAE-4/kyKcZLi5TS4/s400/Arroz+Caldo+2009.JPG). False saffron (safflower) on left, saffron on right. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/25 "2010-02-26T18:39:47Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > They were mad for it. I think I go through about a half-ounce of saffron a year in the SCA, and that doesn’t include our biggest feast that I buy saffron just for. > Still, there’s nothing like chicken endor’d (glazed with egg yolk and saffron - yes, the Star Wars geeks all laugh), or lovely saffron cake for 12th Night. Could you please send me the recipe? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/26 "2010-02-26T19:02:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Sounds like probably lower quality saffron, then. At any rate [here’s a picture of both](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0fj0ctMGNd0/ShSAia6V5LI/AAAAAAAAE-4/kyKcZLi5TS4/s400/Arroz+Caldo+2009.JPG). False saffron (safflower) on left, saffron on right. I can see how someone could be easily fooled. [Red Spanish saffron](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NSN6X2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00250KN9Q&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BWDX7K0ZF2P4MNTMTTC)looks a lot like the stuff on the left. [Here](http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Saffron-1-gram-tin/dp/B00250KN9Q) is the stuff I bought, only in the 1oz size. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147/27 "2010-02-27T15:59:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Could you please send me the recipe? I use Digby’s recipe. Here’s a good [redaction](http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/elizabethan/fetch-recipe.php?rid=eliz-excellent-cake). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-synthesized-saffron-spice/530147.md?page=1)