Saffron powder

Karma Queen · Sep 17th, 2004, 19:31

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

bongdongs · Sep 17th, 2004, 19:57

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

)

Karma Queen · Sep 17th, 2004, 20:09

isn't saffron from the inside of a flower?

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

bongdongs · Sep 17th, 2004, 20:16

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

http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katz...roc_sat.ht ml

guerik · Sep 18th, 2004, 15:47

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

AvidTrekker · Sep 18th, 2004, 23:09

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.

Wanderer22 · Sep 19th, 2004, 01:30

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 I bought some saffron from them, but can't remember the price which would be outdated anyway.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

Wanderer22 · Sep 19th, 2004, 01:34

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

W22

SHIMLA · Sep 19th, 2004, 11:37

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.

volga_volga · Sep 19th, 2004, 22:46

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)

beach · Sep 20th, 2004, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karma Queen

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

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

The Gallifreyan · Oct 13th, 2004, 20:48

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?

skell · Oct 13th, 2004, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gallifreyan

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!

Nick-H · Oct 13th, 2004, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by guerik

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

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

LuAnnandJawahar · Oct 15th, 2004, 05:48

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

Sep 17th, 2004, 19:31	#1
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	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

Sep 18th, 2004, 23:09	#6
AvidTrekker Veda Chanting & Mantra Yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,784	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. __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Sep 19th, 2004, 01:30	#7
Wanderer22 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 465	Saffron .... 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

Sep 19th, 2004, 01:34	#8
Wanderer22 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 465	More saffron Whoops! Forgot to put this link into the above message. Saffron W22

Sep 19th, 2004, 11:37	#9
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	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. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop ! Last edited by SHIMLA : Sep 19th, 2004 at 11:41. Reason: Typo

Sep 17th, 2004, 19:57	#2
bongdongs ami ek zazabor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 212	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 )

Sep 17th, 2004, 20:09	#3
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	isn't saffron from the inside of a flower? yeah it seems obvious that we were duped now - we were just being divvy foreigners!

Sep 17th, 2004, 20:16	#4
bongdongs ami ek zazabor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 212	yup, you are right, they are the stigmata of the flowers: http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katz...roc_sat.ht ml

Sep 18th, 2004, 15:47	#5
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	stamen - stigmata's when you get jesus-style wounds I think :P

Sep 19th, 2004, 22:46	#10
volga_volga Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,459	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) __________________ Tibetan Orphanage School in China My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum

Oct 13th, 2004, 20:48	#12
The Gallifreyan Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: S.Yorks. UK Posts: 14	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?

Oct 15th, 2004, 05:48	#15
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 664	...but..."stigmata of the flowers" is sooooo evocative............... __________________ Reject violence.

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