Why is saffron such an expensive spice?!
Answers: With 3 stigmas per flower it takes 75,000 flowers (225,000 stigmas) to make one pound of saffron. This is why it is so expensive.
About Saffron
he most precious and most expensive spice in the world: Saffron.
The Saffron filaments, or threads, are actually the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, "Crocus Sativus Linneaus". Each flower contains only three stigmas. These threads must be picked from each flower by hand, and more than 75,000 of these flowers are needed to produce just one pound of Saffron filaments, making it the world?s most precious spice.
But, because of saffron's strong coloring power and intense flavor, it can be used sparingly. Saffron is used both for its bright orange-yellow color and for its strong, intense flavor and aroma.
Expensive saffron have the best stigmas and theres very little 'best' stigmas. cheap saffron just have any stigmas. Stigmas is the flowers little stems/.