How is saffron considered spoiled?

Saffron, also called crocus, has a wide range of uses. In some countries, it is an indispensable food spice. In my country, saffron is an extremely precious medicinal material. Saffron has the effects of nourishing, activating and replenishing blood. But at some point, some fake or inferior saffron entered the market. Let me share with you how to identify the quality of saffron.

How to identify the quality of saffron

Observe the appearance

Let’s first talk about the appearance of saffron. Generally, high-quality saffron is dark red and has a fragrance. . The stamens of saffron are usually picked. There are three pistils in the stamens, which are slender in shape. This part is used as medicine. Because it is picked manually, you can sometimes see that the stamens are not separated in the flowers, and saffron is easier to break after drying. Most bad or fake saffron is usually bright red in color and smells bland. Most of the bad or fake saffron is adulterated with other flowers, and some are even adulterated with radish strips. We should be cautious when purchasing.

Identify quality by soaking in water

There is a difference between good and bad saffron when soaked in water. We can take a small amount of saffron and soak it in water to observe its changes. Generally, after real saffron is soaked in water, an orange-yellow color will appear around the flower, and it will slide down bit by bit in a straight line, gradually dyeing the water yellow. The color will be bright and transparent, and there will be no floating objects on the water. If the water is red or other colors, it is usually because the merchant has mixed other flowers and leaves or dyed it.

Smell the smell to identify the quality

Flowers generally have fragrance, and saffron is no exception. Generally, real saffron has a very special fragrance and smells particularly fresh. Fake saffron or bad saffron is mixed with other flowers and leaves, so when you smell it, you will feel the smell is a bit mixed, and some even cannot smell the fragrance.

Identification of saffron grade

We can judge the grade of saffron based on its stamens, which are generally divided into first grade, second grade, special grade, etc. The stamens of first-grade saffron are all red with yellow roots, and there is a little yellow flower stem under the stamens; the yellow roots of second-grade saffron account for about 2/3; the stamens of top-grade saffron are thicker than ordinary ones, all red, and have no yellow roots. ; The stamens of super-grade saffron are all red, with no yellow root diameter.

Notes

Only high-quality saffron can achieve the desired effect. We must carefully select and identify it when purchasing.