Nature has its own scheme and abounds in substances of great therapeutic value!

Saffron is one such substance with a noticeably dark maroon and purple hue which thrives in the beautiful valleys of Kashmir. It happens to be the darkest that is available, with striking qualities of a strong flavor, distinctive aroma and a striking colour.

Available in the form of delicate threads, Saffron is the dried stigma of the Saffron Crocus Flower. Owing to its striking contribution to culinary history and its various health benefits, Saffron which is The Gold of Kashmir is presently one of the most expensive of all the spices available in the world today.

CULINARY USE:

The metallic taste of Saffron leaves a subtle lingering flavour when added to sweets and dishes. Its vivid crimson colour lends a rich golden-yellow hue to food and is mainly used for the purpose of seasoning and coloring while cooking. Saffron adds richness to preparations while participating as the main garnishing ingredient in rice dishes, sweets and savouries.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS:

Rich in a plethora of compounds which benefit human health and well-being, saffron finds its use in a lot of preventive measures towards diseases and maintaining a healthy living.

• Saffron is believed to provide protection against Cancer.
• It aids in developing the immunity system thereby providing protection against cold an fever. It is believed to contribute towards keeping away problems with vision, digestion, arthritis, insomnia, asthma and facilitates the smooth functioning of organs such as the heart and liver.
• Working as an Aphrodisiac, it stimulates the libido and reproductive system and is believed to have positive results (such as maintaining calm and composure) when consumed by pregnant women.
• Its impact on the nervous system in working as an antidepressant, promoting learning and memory retention is a widely accepted fact.
• Its also finds use in reducing inflammation and burns and improving texture of skin cells due to the impact that it has on the epithelial cells.

NOTE: The benefits expressed here are as per the personal views of the author.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: (This serves 4 persons)

• Take 1/4 – 1/2 (which is about 125 – 250 mg) teaspoon of Kasturi Saffron. You can also choose to take a required quantity of Saffron.
• Soak the Kasturi Saffron in 20 ml of warm water or milk. Stir well and leave it to settle for 20 – 30 minutes.
• Add this mixture along with the soaked Kasturi Saffron threads to your favourite recipe.
• Savour your dish once the Saffron threads release aroma, flavour and colour.
• You can also choose to add a pinch of the Kasturi Saffron threads to a glass of milk before consuming it.