Saffron Nation

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Saffron Nation
by Layla Kamm
17-Feb-2011
 

This morning I cordially received an e-mail from Amazon.com to buy 5 grams of Saffron Loose Tea for $42.
Thanks, but no thanks.
I got my own authentic saffron from Mashhad, Iran, perfectly ground with sugar cubes as my mother taught me, which I use once or twice a week in my morning tea. This brings me to the topic that I have been meaning to write about for some time: the most expensive tea in the world—Saffron Tea.
Now I, like most Iranians, grew up in a culture where saffron is a common household name and spice. Perhaps this exquisite expensive spice, with its utmost delightful aroma is used every day in Persian cooking. So we are so used to using this spice, we take it for granted and never bother to ask the fundamental question of ‘what are the benefits of saffron anyway’?
Although I had been very familiar with using saffron in culinary practices, it wasn’t until recently that I was introduced to Saffron Tea. A friend showed me a tea bag that contained saffron, brought from Iran by a relative. It tasted great. So of course, given that I am into teas these days, I went on the internet and researched the benefits of this wonderful spice. Here is what I found:
Basically, saffron works like Prozac, a remedy for the blues. And it is more expensive than Prozac in some cases. In one study, one group was given saffron and the second group Prozac. They both improved equally in their depressive symptoms with the saffron group not having any side effects. (I heard once that saffron makes you laugh and there have been anecdotal accounts of people overdosing on the spice which actually caused their demise. So don’t overdo it!)
If you are Iranian and grew up in a household where saffron was used frequently—and you had a happier childhood than your non-Iranian comrades, now you know why. Of course, I am being sarcastic and over exaggerating the benefits of my new discovery, but I do recommend using saffron in your tea every once in a while whether or not you are feeling blue.
Today’s Healthy Living Tip: Instead of putting saffron in your regular black tea, you can try this recipe I learned recently while in Iran: boil some water and mix in a pinch of saffron, ground cardamon and sugar. Then let it cool in the fridge. Now you have a cold tasty saffron drink. Enjoy and say good-bye to the blues!

 //teahousediaries.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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more from Layla Kamm
 
Monda

Saffron tea cheers

by Monda on Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:47 PM PST

I also happen to be a big fan of ginger tea (especially with honey and lemon) in cold weather. Thank you for writing this.

I enjoyed JD's comment and links as well : )


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Layla Kamm

Glad to have you back.  I

by Layla Kamm on Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:11 AM PST

Glad to have you back.  I was expecting a class action lawsuit filed against me this morning.


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Esfand Aashena

I was Saffroned out of my mind last night but made it alive!

by Esfand Aashena on Fri Feb 18, 2011 04:59 AM PST

Everything is sacred


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Layla Kamm

thanks

by Layla Kamm on Thu Feb 17, 2011 08:48 PM PST

Thank you for your sense of humor!


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Jeesh Daram

...and saffron is mad about me

by Jeesh Daram on Thu Feb 17, 2011 06:52 PM PST

Nice blog.

 

Saffron: Crocus sativus from family Iridacea

Here is a video for those who would like to know more about Saffron:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia3PUtzZYNk&feature...

 

Iranian Saffron goes to Spain and then gets re-exported as Spanish Saffron to USA!

 

In another scientific study they put two groups of young hungry Iranians on two sides of a table and gave one group tah-dig with safffron and the other group tah-dig with no trace of saffron. Repeated study proved that depriving the second group from saffron, induced anxiety, criminal thoughts and tendency to start a fight. So, always use saffron in your tah-dig.   :)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCCjv2OiTxE

and remember one pound of saffron requires a field of crocus  as large as a football field!

 

 


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Arthimis

Thanks for your great

by Arthimis on Thu Feb 17, 2011 05:47 PM PST

Thanks for your great blog... I love saffron and use it in my diet (mainly food) at least twice a week and it works perfect for me... :-))


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Raoul1955

Dirty Angel:

by Raoul1955 on Thu Feb 17, 2011 04:13 PM PST

Thanks for the advice.  I had read about this saffron while looking up Middle Eastern cuisine. It is actually the stigmas of a crocus and you can grow crocus even in pots.  It is expensive because it is labor intensive to harvest the stigmas off each bulb.


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Dirty Angel

badbakht o ba chareh

by Dirty Angel on Thu Feb 17, 2011 01:24 PM PST

 It depends on your constitution and milligrams and very specific chemical properties of the saffron you use in specific dosage. 

 

Do whatever you want,Esfand.  I find it really quite insane for someone to want to become a  guinea pig, under not controlled circumstances whatsoever,  to prove something anecdotal on an internet forum.

Again, try medical, scientific evidence. Already done on others.

You prefer superstitious "del - garmi" and placebo, even if it might kill some people? Fine.  

I've done my bit of warning people.

 

I'm outtahere.

 

"If they chew you up, they still have to spit you out "

There have been inconclusive studies of saffron and Alzheimer, but at a very specific dosage.... 

Note, the blog said 5mg of loose tea, not the mg of saffron in the tea.  

 

And btw I wouldn't wish criminal  Prozac on anyone....


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Esfand Aashena

I'll make a full pot of 100% pure Saffron "tea" tonight!

by Esfand Aashena on Thu Feb 17, 2011 01:00 PM PST

If I don't show up tomorrow please Halal me y'all! 

Everything is sacred


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Dirty Angel

Esfand Aashena, your deliberate ignorance on your own head

by Dirty Angel on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:58 PM PST

 not mine. 

I prefer scientific fact and medical evidence.

Never mind you, Esfand. But others might be reading this blog and might end up dead.

It is NOT a coincidence and that of rarity and consequent price that saffron is used sparingly in cooking, only to add colour and flavour! 

 

Again, Organic Nutritionist, if you are reading this, please come out and demand medical evidence and state scientific fact, that I bet you know.  

"If they chew you up, they still have to spit you out "

 

Anyone, who doesn't believe me, please consult your doctor.  


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Esfand Aashena

Dirty Angel I'd not listen to you if my life depended on it!

by Esfand Aashena on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:45 PM PST

Everything is sacred


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Dirty Angel

Esfand Aashena, please listen to me

by Dirty Angel on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:43 PM PST

 It is VERY EASY to overdose on saffron, especially for those who immediately feel some form of vertigo. DO NOT TAKE MORE!

Consult a physician! This is not a joking matter.  

 

ADMIN! THIS BLOG SHOULD HAVE COME WITH A VERY SERIOUS HEALTH WARNING! 

DON'T BELIEVE ME? ASK ORGANIC NUTRITIONIST POSTER ON THIS VERY WEBSITE! 


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Layla Kamm

i just put in a tiny bit in

by Layla Kamm on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:32 PM PST

i just put in a tiny bit in my own tea cup and let it sit for two minutes!


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Esfand Aashena

So how do you use loose Saffron in your tea?

by Esfand Aashena on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:25 PM PST

Do you just sprinkle some Saffron in your cup of tea or do you put it in your teapot?  If you put it in the teapot doesn't it steam away and go to waste?

Now that you mention it I have noticed I'm giddier when I have rice with Saffron!  Or when having Saffron Mexican rice in a Mexican restaurant!

I guess now I have to experiment with quadrupling my Saffron intake and see the result!  

Everything is sacred


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Layla Kamm

Ginger

by Layla Kamm on Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:01 PM PST


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Mash Ghasem

Much better than Prozac, with no side effects!

by Mash Ghasem on Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:41 AM PST

It looks like everyone who was  on Prozac finally flipped and did something really bad: O.J. Simpson,..

On the other hand Zafaraan for me, is always associated with color and it's more visual, with rice or Sholoeh zard ( could use some now), I'll probably test it some times, untill then Ginger tea remains the overall number one around here.

That is one lovely flower, great colors, apparently it grows only in Iran and Spain.

 


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Dirty Angel

poison

by Dirty Angel on Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:35 AM PST

 Please, consult a medical practitioner, because it is a fact that death can be caused by saffron overdose.

 

Please, show a link that suggests any "happiness" hormones increase in an independent medical study related to saffron. 

"If they chew you up, they still have to spit you out "


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