History of saffron

The history of saffron comes from afar. The oldest saffron crops date back 3000 years and were present in different cultures, continents and civilisations. Saffron is native to Southwest Asia, but the first crops were grown in Greece. It was first documented in the 7th century B.C. by Assyrian botanists.

Saffron has been present in numerous civilisations such as Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. However, it was the Persian civilisation that began to use it as a condiment. It was then later extended to China and India.

In Spain, saffron was introduced by the Arabs between the 8th and 10th centuries, and later to France, Germany and then England.

What is saffron used for?

Saffron is a highly valued spice (even being called “red gold”), since it takes approximately 100,000 flowers to get a kilo of saffron. This is due to the fact that only the dry stigma is used from the flower.

Saffron has lots of properties. There are studies that indicate that saffron has expectorant, sedative, aphrodisiac and even antidepressant properties. However, it was initially used for medicinal purposes.
Nowadays, its main use is in the kitchen, where it is used as a colouring and to flavour dishes. In Spain, it is mainly used in rice dishes, with paella being the main dish in which it is used.

Our superior quality saffron is designed to flavour your dishes and give them that incredible touch that will make them irresistible.

Growing saffron

At Azafranes Alberola we take care of every single detail when selecting saffron. Our suppliers plant the crocus sativus bulbs from mid-August to the end of September in order to obtain optimal results in cultivation.

The soil for cultivation is calcareous, rich in humus and well drained, with a pH between 6 and 8 to ensure optimal growth. In addition, no plant other than saffron has been planted in it in order to avoid diseases from other bulbs.
The traditional way of planting is followed, in other words, in rows. This ensures high productivity and excellent crop control.

All saffron plantations from our suppliers are supervised by professional teams with years of experience in the sector.

Where can you buy saffron?

Saffron can be found in supermarkets, but it is not always of the best possible quality. Cultivation and harvesting is not always optimal, so saffron can lose many of its qualities.

Spanish Delight Brand has been growing and harvesting saffron for 160 years, which is why we are experts in this field.

If you want unique saffron, do not hesitate to take a look at our products

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