How to identify real or fake Saffron and a few notes to avoid buying fakes
Quynh Le's post
Recently, a lot of people have posted many articles and businesses about saffron , also known as saffron pistil . I was also fascinated by the articles and uses of this herb, so I bought saffron to use. Not only that, I also buy from many different sources, to check what is real, and also to study how to identify real or fake saffron .
Hope the article from my own experience, I can help you have more methods to verify saffron before using. Saffron is the pistil of the autumn crocus flower, the flower is purple, the stigma is red. Each crocus tuber produces only one flower and each flower produces only 3 stigmas. Therefore, this spice is difficult to harvest and quite expensive, and also brings enormous economic benefits.
Therefore, the item labeled saffron could be completely fake, or it could be real saffron but with other impurities. Saffron or fake saffron can be corn silk, safflower (or another plant of the same family), coconut fiber or even dyed horsehair, or processed waste paper. The dye used to color fake saffron will quickly peel off, a fact that can be seen if you try it with water. Real saffron can also be adulterated – mixed with fake ingredients, fillers or even water sprayed to make it heavier and more expensive by weight.
6 methods to identify fake saffron
The scent of saffron
Many researchers have described the smell of saffron as very sweet. I would say it reminds me of paella rice - a particularly mildly sweet smell that isn't quite as sweet. To be able to explain better, paella is a fragrant, golden mixed fried rice dish, made from saffron, rice and seafood or meat.
One producer describes the aroma of saffron as "a blend of earth, tobacco, vanilla, honey and salty sweetness".
Saffron shape
The saffron threads are shaped like a trumpet. If the saffron thread does not swell at one end, it is a fake. If you rub real saffron between your fingers, your skin will turn yellow or orange.
When you try rubbing it but it turns out a different color, there is a high chance that your saffron is a fake.
Taste of Saffron
While saffron has a sweet smell, it has a slightly bitter taste. You can taste a little to identify the real and fake.
Use water to find real saffron
Based on water color to distinguish real saffron from fake.
Put a pinch of saffron in a bowl of warm water and wait for at least 15 minutes. Real saffron will slowly turn watery yellow. Color change can take up to an hour. During this process, the saffron threads themselves retain their red color.
If the water changes color immediately or turns red or does not change color, or if some strands of saffron lose color, it is not genuine. In addition, after soaking, the fibers of real saffron will remain intact and continue to turn orange if you rub them between your fingers. Counterfeit goods, on the other hand, tend to crumble or crumble when you rub them lightly after dipping them in water.
Use baking soda to distinguish real saffron from fake
Some experts point out that when you mix saffron and baking soda in a small bowl, then pour water over the mixture. If the water turns yellow, the saffron is real. Otherwise, your saffron is fake or has been adulterated.
In addition, if on the market some places sell saffron cheaply with super bargain deals, be wary, because the price of saffron can't really be cheap!
Tips to buy saffron saffron properly
You should not buy ready-made saffron powder. Because once saffron has been ground, it is almost impossible to distinguish real from fake or adulterated. Additionally, ground saffron (safflower powder) , even when real, may contain fillers such as dyed rice flour, starch, or other spices such as turmeric or paprika.
One way that never goes wrong, is to buy products from a reputable, certified and branded source, to make sure you're a savvy consumer when buying saffron.
Instructions for storing saffron properly
- Store saffron threads in a glass jar/container in a dark, low light and cool place.
- Do not store saffron in a box or plastic bag that is too tight.
- Use clean utensils to remove the saffron from the jar or box.
- Do not store saffron in the refrigerator because it will lose the inherent nutrients of this herb.
If you need more information and how to distinguish to choose the best Saffron, please contact Hotline 0865668388
There are already fake fanpages and websites of Pham Gia and Saffron Palace on the market. To avoid buying fake Saffron Palace products, poor quality on the market, customers can transact with Saffron Palace at official channels. In addition, when you buy saffron products on e-commerce platforms, you should research carefully to avoid buying fake and poor quality goods.
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