Saffron is the stigma of Crocus sativus, a flowering plant in the crocus family native to the Mediterranean.

Saffron is the world's most expensive spice because more than 225,000 stigmas must be hand picked to produce one pound. In its pure form, saffron is a mass of compressed, threadlike, dark orange strands.

Saffron is cultivated primarily in Spain and is used in French bouillabaisse, Spanish paella, Milanese risotto, and many Middle Eastern dishes.

Saffron has a spicy, pungent, and bitter flavor with a sharp and penetrating odor.

Store in a dark, cool, dry place.