Saffron

This passage is about the spice called saffron.

Lexile Level: 880L

Categories: Animals & Nature

Saffron is a spice that comes from crocus flowers, which bloom for only about a week each year. Saffron comes from the part of the flower called the stigma. It takes almost an acre of crocus, or 400,000 stigmas, to produce just one pound of saffron. No wonder saffron is the most expensive spice in the world! Saffron has been used since at least 2600 B.C. The best saffron comes from Iran, Spain, and Greece. Saffron is dark red and looks like strands of hair. When it is cooked, saffron turns food bright yellow. Saffron is also used to make a yellow-gold dye. Buddhist monks use this dye for their robes, and some women in India use it to dye their wedding gowns. Saffron can be used as a perfume, too. Ancient Greeks gave saffron as a wedding gift. They believed the spice would keep the bride and groom young and healthy.