Saffron, love it, but soo expensive

[KarenH]

I planted a patch of saffron crocuses one year, hoping to grow my own.  They grew and flowered the most beautiful purple flowers, and I managed to get about 5 "threads" of saffron out of them before they died  

Now I know why it is so expensive

[fundj&e]

a beautiful looking plant karen

[mcmich]

I planted a patch of saffron crocuses one year, hoping to grow my own.  They grew and flowered the most beautiful purple flowers, and I managed to get about 5 "threads" of saffron out of them before they died  

Now I know why it is so expensive

They have a gorgeous flower Karen, are they hard to grow?

[EmeraldSue]

I too have some saffron in my spice cupboard that was given to me by some Iranian friends. I should do something with it, rather than let it sit in the cupboard

[Halex]

Wow that saffron flowers looks beautiful, hard to grow thats why its so expensive.

If no-one wants their saffron, I am only too happy to empty your saffron pantry LOL

H

[KarenH]

It wasn't hard to grow, just put the bulbs in the ground and let them come up and flower as usual - it just died really, really quickly after flowering, and I missed the opportunity to harvest the saffron threads.  If I did it again, I might be more alert, and get more of them in time.  The bulbs cost $25,which makes the 5 threads of saffron I managed to harvest SUPER expensive  

[deedub]

Marina, have you tried the Cauliflower & almond soup? It uses saffron and very nice.

[Cuilidh]

Thanks Debbie, I'll give this a go.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to find a vegetarian paella, so this looks like a good alternative.  I'm not sure if I can tackle a risotto without cheese, I'm still working on that alternative.

[goldfish]

I planted a patch of saffron crocuses one year, hoping to grow my own.  They grew and flowered the most beautiful purple flowers, and I managed to get about 5 "threads" of saffron out of them before they died  

Now I know why it is so expensive

That's a really impressive effort, KarenH - do you know if the plants come up again like other bulbs? 

[judydawn]

What a beautiful flower Karen - so you just pick the red threads and dry them out somehow?  Sounds easy but as you say, you would need a whole heap of them to end up with one of those tiny containers we buy.

[cookie1]

The flower is beautiful Karen. I believe they grow saffron in Tassie.
I have used it but not a lot. I must admit I haven't noticed a specific taste from it.

[achookwoman]

I was able to buy bulk saffron in Asia several years ago.  Much cheaper,

[pumpkin pie]

Karen, I guess the stamens from all crocus can't be used?. I didn't realise there was a specific saffron crocus.

[Cuilidh]

I think they are only on one specific crocus, Pumpkin Pie.  Diggers have them for sale from time to time if you want to give them a try.  Even if you miss the stamen harvest, it is still a beautiful flower!

[KarenH]

I got my saffron crocus from Diggers too.  I dont think you can use the stamens from any crocus, but I am not sure what makes the saffrom crocus different or special.  After my first year of flowers, the bulbs didnt come up again.  Maybe they were in the wrong spot or something.