Saffron powder

Being silly foreigners we bought 'saffron powder' from Mumbai market (I think it was was Crawford?). Whe we got home we realised it was actually turmeric!

O well, live and learn

real saffron is not sold as powder, but as little strips (I think they are the bark of the tree).

actually, I think Spanish saffron is pretty good and I feel it is just as good a the Kashmiri one. (Or maybe I could never afford the real good stuff in India )

isn't saffron from the inside of a flower?

yeah it seems obvious that we were duped now - we were just being divvy foreigners!

yup, you are right, they are the stigmata of the flowers:

http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katz...?Croc_sat.html

stamen - stigmata's when you get jesus-style wounds I think :P

How much did you pay for how many grams of turmeric powder? Good quality Saffron costs Rs 400 for five grams. Duplicate quality (maize-beard-strands coloured orange) charges are Rs 100 for five grams.

Hi Avid, Not long ago bought 5g of good quality Spanish saffron here in Canada for $20 (700rp). A good friend bought me another 5g while she was visiting Spain. Guess I better start cooking more saffron rice. This does not seem like a great saving for something that could be a scam. Many years ago I visited a Kolkata shop called the "Grand Musk Depot". At the time was trying to locate some musk for a friend back home. Jezz.. the stuff you promise to do for people when they hear you're headed to India. Finally found the place and went up the stairs to their office warehouse. Besides musk they also sold saffron. Upon opening the door I experienced one of those olfactory moments that India sometimes springs. Wheeee... You had to part the scent like bead curtains as you entered. Not unpleasant... More akin to good music played LOUD! Wonder if the place is still around? I bought some saffron from them, but can't remember the price which would be outdated anyway. The quality seemed good.

W22

Whoops! Forgot to put this link into the above message. Saffron

W22

While on the subject of Saffron, it would not be out of place to mention here that yet another of Shimla's many plusses is the availability of very good quality saffron. The saffron is originally from Kishtwar, Kashmir. Price in the range of RS.60-70 per gm. I've used it many times and highly recommend it for those interested.

i bought saffron in Kashmir at a "foreign tourist" price of Rs 100 per 1 gr here

in Delhi the same was on offer for Rs 200 (before bargaining)

What was the colour of the 'saffron' powder you've bought?

I bought a little box of "saffron" last year, can't remember how much it was, but it was less than the price of a beer.
Of course, when I got home & tried to cook some rice with it, I found that you need to use quite a lot to colour the rice.
Apparently, saffron & nutmeg in milk is supposed to put lead in your pencil.
Does saffron have any other uses?

Just make sure your pencil has a rubber!

Giggle

Some confusion and googling later...

Stamen is the male part of the plant that produces pollen

Stigma is the female part of the plant and it is this part of a particular crocus from which saffron comes

...but..."stigmata of the flowers" is sooooo evocative...............