Where to buy Saffron?

Old May 26th, 2015, 11:07 AM
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Where to buy Saffron?

This may be off -the -wall question. The only thing I would like to buy is Spain is saffron.

Is it readily available in supermarkets or should I look for special stores/markets?
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:11 AM
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I expect it is available in supermarkets, though I haven't bought it there. I bought some from a little neighborhood cafe/market. You can also buy it in the airports.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:26 AM
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It is legal to be imported into the U.S. with agricultural policies?
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:29 AM
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El Corte Ingles has it--it is a large department store with excellent food halls. We found this store in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Granada so probably you will find one where ever you go in Spain--in the larger cities at least.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:37 AM
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We have brought saffron back or el azafrán in Spanish. Be careful where you buy it as there are numerous countries of origin and quality. As a rule of thumb the redder the better and the more consistent the color the better.

The powder will be cheaper and does not have as rich a flavor but is excellent for coloring.

As Nini noted El Cortes Ingles is most reputable and there prices are usually competitive. Just avoid the tourist shops.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:55 AM
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Palenq, am sure it is legal, because it is a dried 'spice' no bacteria or fungi.

Nini and IM Donehere, great tips. Thank you. I did not know it came also in the powder form.

The one I bought in the States and in Prague was pale orange. Wish I could grow it. Ha.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 12:27 PM
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The powders sold in Italy are mixed with tumeric; I suspect the same is true in Spain. I would be suspicious of any powder. If the prices are low, and the color rather yellow, one realizes it couldn't be real saffron.

You probably can grow it. I've seen saffron crocus bulbs for sale here in Europe, and I'm sure it could be grown in any temperate zone. A young guy here in the town in Italy where I live has started growing saffron commercially, and has had considerable success. His parents are friends of ours, and they are recruited each year for the tedious task of removing the filaments from the pistils.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 12:43 PM
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bvlenci,

Unfortunately, I live in subtropics (South Florida)and crocus needs cool temperatures which we do not have. What are the temperatures in the town where the guy grows it?
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Old May 26th, 2015, 12:54 PM
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I'll be in Spain in Sept. and was thinking the same thing - problem is, I live in an area with many Persians and I can get high-quality saffron right here. When I asked an Iranian storekeeper which was saffron was superior - Spanish or Persian - he looked at me like I had two heads! So I guess I'll have to do a taste test.

We stayed at an agriturismo in Umbria that grew saffron - the owner had been a chef in London and he made us a dinner that used the spice in every dish. Heaven!
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Old May 26th, 2015, 01:16 PM
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Yes, it can be imported to the US - no problem. The powered stuff is usually adulterated with turmeric.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 01:47 PM
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I can imagine that buying powdered saffron is as tricky as buying vanilla extract.

Immimi,
do you happen to know what the price is for Persian saffron? Not that it matters, am just curious.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 05:28 PM
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A box of La Rosera La Mancha saffron threads is about 5 euro per .5 gr box at El Cortes Ingles.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 07:20 PM
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Grow your own?

Over 150 plants plus a lot of work is needed for one gram of saffron.

The last batch we bought was in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The shopkeeper put the tiniest amount in hot water and we chose a Persian variety. But once home, I still prefer Spain. I guess I am just prejudice.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 09:30 PM
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To answer the question Yes any supermarket will sell Saffron. No need to go to specialist shops or somewhere like El Corte Inglés both of which charge higher prices then the average shop.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 09:38 PM
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Many people use water and I guess you can use vegetable stock.

Paella is really a family dish made outdoors to serve a lot of people. It is moved to restaurants due to demand. Rarely do the Spanish eat paella in a restaurant.

I am not a veggie person but you can use peas, red peppers, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 01:00 PM
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Stephany - I tranferred the saffron to another container so don't quote me but around 26. /l.5 gr. Best quality.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 01:42 PM
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1 gram of saffron really goes a long way, though.

The climate here is Mediterranean. Winters are cool and damp, but the ground rarely freezes, although we see frost on the meadows more than a few times in a year. Summers can get fairly hot, up to 34 C sometimes.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 02:43 PM
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Immimi,

Amazon.com advertises Spanish and Persian Saffron.. please tell what you think. (Not sure if this link is going to work)

http://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&nod...l_356l9n5g4i_e


Bvlenci

The winters here are warm and only a few days in January night temperatures go below 10C which my orchids do not like. I'd have to dig up the bulbs and put them into the fridge. Don't know of anyone growing saffron commercially in the US. It kinds of puzzles me. But again, not many Americans use saffron so perhaps there is no market for it here. I know a lot of people have never heard of it and I have not been to any restaurant that uses it, unfortunately. Wonder how saffron hamburger would taste like? JUST kidding. But I have used saffron in Easter bread and it was lovely.
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Old May 28th, 2015, 09:04 AM
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YOu can buy saffron in plenty of stores where I live in Washington DC, not to mention some of the small ethnic grocers, like Indian. Major chains sell it (like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc.). We have some specialty grocers that sell it also (not sure what you call them, really just grocery stores, like Wegmans or Dean & Deluca, Balducci's). And I'm not talking just the powder, either, but saffron threads. Heck, they even sell it in Costco. TJs and Costco is cheapest, of course, so not the highest quality.

Here's a place in Florida that sells it http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/span...5g-p-3193.html
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Old May 28th, 2015, 09:58 AM
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Christina,

I bough it in Whole Foods. Still it was not as nice as a friend brought me years ago from France. Yes,DC has a bunch of great ethnic stores. Thank you for the web page
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