I found some saffron at Publix for 6 bucks for a 1/2 gram container and figured I’d pick it up to see if it’s real but I’ve never done a test on saffron before so I figured I’d put this out there and get some more educated opinions on whether or not it’s passed the test
by averyuniqueuzername
20 Comments
Hot water or cold?
The price tracks for being real but being sold at Publix, surely they’re not going to carry artificial and sell it as real.
If you already bought it, what’s the big deal? Use it in yer risotto….or whatever and see if it’s good.
I’m not an expert by any means but I’ve read on this sub the fake stuff is oily, which of course separates/ floats across the surface so you’ll see an oily sheen. That doesn’t look like what’s happening in the picture but it’s hard to tell
Thats real saffron. Fake saffron sinks most of the time, also it would lose its color faster/color the water faster. Also the shape is right for real saffron.
You test saffron by the scent, not by color.
Use a small amount warm water or milk to imfuse the saffron in. You seem to have quite a lot in your photo
It looks real, one thread also tried to escape from the water, make sure to catch it.
Real? Yes. High quality? No
What do you mean real? That’s definitely crocus stamen. Do you mean: Spanish, Thai, etc. some have more flavor or color. It looks like real saffron of an unknown variety.
Looks like saffron. Deffinietly not safflower (most common cheap substitute)
OP this might get buried but I sell lettuce leafy greens to Publix. They have an incredibly anal QA department who would love to hear your feedback. Furthermore each product that they put on the shelves especially specialty like saffron has to get presented and approved, sometimes tasted. My guess is that it’s just low quality saffron but in the case that it’s a bait and switch or some low quality product slipped through you should reach it and they’ll fix it
You can grind the saffron for more absorption
It looks like real saffron, but of very low quality. With the saffron from La Mancha that I have here, I don’t need even half of it to make the water so yellow that you can’t see the bottom of the bowl, even in cold water.
If you use an ice cube on the saffron it infuses better. Source: head chef at a farm to table starred restaurant 4 years ago
Should grind it in pestle to powder then bloom it with ice cubes.
It’s definitely saffron, you can tell by the shape. What was sketchy about it?
I’d be surprised if they sold fake saffron.
If that bleed is from cold water I’d say u got some decent shit right there
Just seconding a few comments that yes, from someone who has grown saffron crocus in garden, they sure look like real crocus stamens. Doesn’t mean it’s still great saffron though, I guess. I’m beginning to think that unless you know you’re buying from a great grower/seller, mileage can vary? Beginning to wonder if I’ve “ever” bought “good” real saffron in my life, based on some of the replies here.
And nope it wasn’t a terribly successful gardening experiment… critters love to eat crocus bulbs. I got a few stamens, not enough to tell whether they were really “good” or not.
This looks good but you don’t have to use so much water and waste so much saffron. Next time put a strand on a plate and put 2-3 drops of water on it and rub it. (Source: my great uncle owns a saffron farm)