The spice saffron is made from the dried stigmas of which flower?
Saffron Saffron Saffron (pronounced or ) is a spice derived from the flower of "Crocus sativus", commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigmas and styles, called threads, are collected and dried to be used mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent in food. Saffron, long among the world's most costly spices by weight, was probably first cultivated in or near Greece. "C. sativus" is probably a form of "C. cartwrightianus", that emerged by human cultivators selectively breeding plants for unusually long stigmas in late Bronze Age Crete. It slowly propagated throughout much of Eurasia and was later brought
Trade and use of saffron stigmas over screens of fine mesh, which are then baked over hot coals or wood or in oven-heated rooms where temperatures reach for 10–12 hours. Afterwards the dried spice is preferably sealed in airtight glass containers. Bulk quantities of lower-grade saffron can reach upwards of 500 per pound; retail costs for small amounts may exceed ten times that rate. In Western countries the average retail price is approximately US$1,000 per pound. Prices vary widely elsewhere, but on average tend to be lower. The high price is somewhat offset by the small quantities needed in kitchens: a few grams at most