saffron

Everyday

1. Saffron is a spice made from the dried red-orange threads (stigmas) of a crocus flower; it gives food a golden colour and a special taste. tree →
2. Saffron is also a deep orange-yellow colour. tree →

In the lessons

In food and geography lessons, saffron is famous as the most expensive spice in the world by weight, because each flower gives only three tiny threads that are picked by hand; it is used in paella, risotto, Indian and Persian rice dishes and Cornish saffron buns. In religion lessons, saffron robes are worn by many Buddhist monks.

Examples

• A pinch of saffron turned the rice golden yellow. tree →
• Saffron comes from the crocus flower. tree →
• It takes about 150 flowers to make one gram of saffron. tree →
• Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. tree →
• The Buddhist monks wore saffron robes. tree →
• Gran baked saffron buns from Cornwall. tree →
• Spanish paella often has saffron in it. tree →
• She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored kerchief round her neck, and then the gown looks whiter. tree →

Note

Uncountable: "some saffron", "a pinch of saffron". Saffron is not the same as turmeric, a cheaper yellow spice. Spelling: double f.

In Jewish tradition

In the Song of Songs it is one of the rare spices of the beloved's "garden."

Interpretation. Tradition reads the garden of the Song as Israel, with each spice as a good quality of the people.

Examples

• Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. (Writings SNG.4.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: "some saffron", "a pinch of saffron". Saffron is not the same as turmeric, a cheaper yellow spice. Spelling: double f.