Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice • Hacker News Board

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#101

Post by poulsbohemian » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 1:28 AM UTC

yifanl wrote: post #43

poulsbohemian wrote: post #39

Here's what I don't get... so here in the US, saffron is generally speaking, extremely expensive and rationed carefully by cooks. Meanwhile, I watch these cooking videos on YouTube and people in villages in places like Azerbaijan are casually throwing the equivalent of $10,000 worth of saffron into their tea. Granted, I understand places like Iran (spoiler alert: not the best relationship with the US) are major produ…

I'm not saying I don't believe you, but how credible are these cooking videos? $10000 of saffron could provide enough flavour for easily 6 months worth of tea.

I’m just saying - you watch these people pull out some giant jar that is more saffron than I’ve ever seen in my life and they use it like it’s no big deal. Meanwhile I’m pulling out individual threads with tweezers because the cost is so high

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#102

Post by poulsbohemian » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 1:29 AM UTC

ghastmaster wrote: post #85

poulsbohemian wrote: post #39

Here's what I don't get... so here in the US, saffron is generally speaking, extremely expensive and rationed carefully by cooks. Meanwhile, I watch these cooking videos on YouTube and people in villages in places like Azerbaijan are casually throwing the equivalent of $10,000 worth of saffron into their tea. Granted, I understand places like Iran (spoiler alert: not the best relationship with the US) are major produ…

I have a Greek friend who's family goes into the mountains and picks it. There is no market infrastructure in the villages, similar to how venison is expensive at a restaurant, yet poor rural hunters kill and eat it all the time.

I suspect you are right here - not dissimilar to how I go to the woods after morels and would never pay the $50/pound that you find in some farmer’s markets

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#103

Post by poulsbohemian » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 1:31 AM UTC

CoolestBeans wrote: post #88

poulsbohemian wrote: post #39

Here's what I don't get... so here in the US, saffron is generally speaking, extremely expensive and rationed carefully by cooks. Meanwhile, I watch these cooking videos on YouTube and people in villages in places like Azerbaijan are casually throwing the equivalent of $10,000 worth of saffron into their tea. Granted, I understand places like Iran (spoiler alert: not the best relationship with the US) are major produ…

My parents love watching those videos so I know what you're talking about. There's four factors I think. One, the quality of the saffron makes a big difference in price. Longer deeper red strands are much more expensive than shorter and more yellow strands. I suspect they are not using the most expensive saffron in their teas. Two, there's a lot of markup purchasing saffron from most retailers, especially here in the…

No kidding - last time I saw a video they were using better Shun knives than the ones I use in my kitchen. A big step from what they had in their first videos, and kinda neat to see the upgraded life their worldwide platform has given them

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#104

Post by throwup238 » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 1:44 AM UTC

user_7832 wrote: post #72

aagha wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a near certainty that what you're buying at the Indian store is fake. Check out these two sources and maybe run a test? https://sadafpack.com/blog/how-can-we-distinguish-original-s... https://motherwouldknow.com/how-to-identify-real-saffron-avo...

> https://sadafpack.com/blog/how-can-we-distinguish-original-s... The contents on the website are a bit.. weird? Good 'ol GPT maybe? > 3. Distinguishing fake saffron with gasoline Saffron does not dissolve in gasoline. Therefore, by dissolving saffron in gasoline, you can decide if your saffron is original or fake. This doesn't make sense. > #first stage; Put saffron in water. In some cases it will change the color o…

First archived version on the wayback machine is from November, 2020: https://web.archive.org/web/20201127234815/https://sadafpack...

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#105

Post by pazimzadeh » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 1:55 AM UTC

user_7832 wrote: post #100

pazimzadeh wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you want to buy your saffron from people who don't speak english, trust me

Sure, but I wouldn’t expect such a person to know to use a # for headings either.

[flagged]

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#106

Post by abecode » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 2:07 AM UTC

waynesonfire wrote: post #47

anyone have a saffron chicken recipe they like?

grind saffron in a mortar and pestle, then add it to yogurt with some salt, pepper, and diced onions (maybe some thyme or coriander or other spices if you are feeling fancy). Basically get the yogurt to a nice color and flavor, slightly on the salty side. Then use the yogurt mixture to marinate the chicken, preferably overnight. Cook on a grill or bake and finish with broiling to brown it.

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#107

Post by cwillu » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 2:40 AM UTC

spaceguillotine wrote: post #75

cwillu wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminder that recipes do not enjoy copyright protection.

Expression of a recipe, such as the written instructions, photographs, and other creative elements, may be protected by copyright. Ingredients list and weights fall outside protection as they are considered facts.

The written instructions almost certainly aren't protected. Explanations and descriptions may be.

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#108

Post by morkalork » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 2:48 AM UTC

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #15

I've spoken to many people who have purchased a tiny jar of saffron but have no idea how to use it, so here's what I consider an excellent starter recipe: https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/01/braised-chicken-with-fenn... Reprinted from here ( https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/provencal-braised-chic... ) with permission, and avoids the paywall. This dish also works just as well with fish (it is based on a bouillabai…

I'm surprised after all day nobody mentions paella. Definitely not a starter recipe but still, rather well-known is it not?

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#109

Post by azza2110 » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 2:50 AM UTC

IAmGraydon wrote: post #35

sillywalk wrote: post #11

I used to work in a spice factory. Unlike everything else, they locked the saffron up separately. There were detailed weight logs for when we hand packed (with tweezers) it into jars. We were told it was worth more by weight than cocaine.

Saffron ranges from $2 - $10 per gram for retail amounts in different parts of the world and less at wholesale. It’s expensive, but nowhere near the price of cocaine.

Saffron is 94 USD per gram at major Australian grocery stores.

When I went earlier today, this locally-grown product was the only saffron available. https://i.imgur.com/q8z9MBF.jpeg

Re: Saffron: The Most Expensive Spice

#110

Post by noduerme » Thu, Apr 04, 2024, 2:56 AM UTC

poulsbohemian wrote: post #39

Here's what I don't get... so here in the US, saffron is generally speaking, extremely expensive and rationed carefully by cooks. Meanwhile, I watch these cooking videos on YouTube and people in villages in places like Azerbaijan are casually throwing the equivalent of $10,000 worth of saffron into their tea. Granted, I understand places like Iran (spoiler alert: not the best relationship with the US) are major produ…

If you're talking about the Azerbaijan outdoor chef who digs a pit with a backhoe to barbecue a whole cow, that guy is amazing. My dad's an old pitmaster and became obsessed and sends me the guy's videos religiously.