On the saffron trail: Explore the spice's rich legacy and significance through this book

With its warm sunset hue and heady aroma saffron mdash a spice as precious as gold mdash has long woven its magic through kitchens cultures and centuries In her new book Saffron A Global History Pan Macmillan journalist and chef Ramin Ganeshram invites readers on a journey tracing the spicersquos rich legacy mdash from ancient trade routes to modernday kitchens mdash unravelling stories of tradition intrigue and the countless hands that have cherished its golden threadsThe Guide dives into cool insights from the bookModern analysis indicates that Mogulera miniatures like this one of 1590 resisted corrosion and fading in part because of the mixing of saffron with various pigmentsSaffronrsquos introduction to IndiaGaneshram describes saffron as something of a soldier of fortune in an ancient world that saw empires rise and fall While Chinese texts from the third century reference Kashmiri saffron offered in Buddhist rituals by the sixth century BCE it is established that the Persian influence had reached Kashmirrsquos fertile valleys where saffron crocuses flourished in the Himalayas The regionrsquos climate proved to be perfect such that in the fields of Pampore purple flowers yielded saffron that was so aromatic and deeply coloured that it soon surpassed its Persian and Grecian counterparts in value Kashmiri saffron threads are noticeably longer and thicker and their deep red colour makes them easy to identify Sold in loose tangles with two varieties mdash one with the yellowishwhite lsquostylersquo attached and the rarer prized pure red strands mdash Kashmiri saffron indeed stands apart and is the worldrsquos most expensive oneBiryani is a layered rice dish featuring saffron that came to India through Iran at the time of the Mogul emperorsAs Persian culinary traditions mingled with Indian flavours dishes like lsquoPolowrsquo mdash saffronlaced rice from Persia mdash inspired what would become one of Indiarsquos most iconic creations under the Mughal rule the biryaniThe Jain Gomateshwara festival is held once every dozen years at Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka Held since the year 981 BCE worshippers pour saffron water or saffron milk onto a 17m 57 ft statue of Gomateshwara a revered figure in the Jain religion from a specially constructed platformIn spiritualitySaffron is the heart of local farmers and a symbol of Kashmirrsquos rich heritage Over time it found a place in perfumes medicines and spiritual rituals For instance in Hindu rituals saffron represents fire and purity its vivid hue adorning altars and priests alike During festivals the spice finds its way into fragrant desserts offered as a sweet tribute to the divineStages of saffron from left to right a saffron crocus petal young shoots with the crocus flower emerging semi mature crocus flower picked immature crocus flower almost mature crocus flower mature flower with almost developed stigmas fully mature flower with developed stigmas picked stigmas with discarded petals finally a pile of picked stigmas ready for dryingBy the third century Chinese scholar Wan Zhen recorded Kashmirrsquos saffron journeying along a southern Silk Route where it was mixed with wine and offered inBuddhist ceremonies as a symbol of purity and devotionSaffron is used extensively in Persian cooking there are some shops in Iran entirely dedicated to selling the spiceBuddhist monks too don robes dyed in its golden essence a mark of renunciation and enlightenment Saffron was believed to have the ability to ward off offensive smells and generally be a purifier for the body against bad chi mdash the lsquovital energyrsquo of any living beingSaffron was adopted as an official colour of the Indian National Flag with the formation of the Indian Republic in 1947 due to its significance in the Hindu Jain and Buddhist religions File picIn Karnataka the Jain community pays a grand tribute to saffron through the Mahamastakabhisheka a sacred ritual held every twelve years at hravanabelagola Devotees gather to anoint the towering 17meter statue of Bahubali with saffroninfused milk poured from massive scaffoldsIn medicineHealers revered its powers mdash Persian physician Ibn Sina praised saffron for treating eye liver and lung ailments while Ibn Nafis Qarshi believed it could calm headaches and lift spirits Even today science explores its potential in treating Alzheimerrsquos disease Parkinsonrsquos and heart conditions From Santorinirsquos ancient Minoan frescoes showing women treating wounds with saffron to Persian baths using it to soothe bruised skin and cleanse with its astringent qualities saffronrsquos magic has endured for over 3600 years mdash a timeless remedy treasured and trueIn art and cultureIn Indian miniature paintings especially during the Mughal era saffron wasnrsquot just prized for its rich orange hue mdash it played a crucial role in preserving art Artists used it as a stabiliser for verdigris a green pigment ensuring the paintings retained their vibrancy over centuriesIn Persian literature saffron found its way into epic poetry Ferdowsirsquos Shacirchnacircmeh paints vivid imagery describing the hero Rustamrsquos horse Rakhsh as having a coat the colour of lsquorose petals scattered upon a saffron groundrsquo mdash a poetic nod to the spicersquos beauty and allure400hours of labour is needed to produce a kilo of saffronSpotting the fakesFrom dyed onion skins to corn silk and even paprika in powdered form imitators have long tried to mimic saffronrsquos fiery hue Drop a few threads into cold water and wait mdash true saffron reveals itself slowly Over 15 minutes the water turns a rich yelloworange while the threads remain vibrant red revealing authenticity Besides the real test lies in its scent and taste Genuine saffron greets the nose with a sweet haylike aroma mdash earthy and warm mdash but its taste is never sweet If it leaves sugary notes on your tongue itrsquos a clever fakeSaffron over the ages Saffron traces have been found in cave art in Mesopotamia dating back at least 50000 years showcasing its ancient connection to artistic expression The saffron crocus is linked to a tragic love story in Greek mythology Crocus a handsome youth fell in love with the nymph Smilax Their passion angered the gods who transformed them into plants mdash Crocus became the saffron flower and Smilax became a greenbrier Alexander the Great adopted Persian customs including saffroninfused baths for muscle relief and wound healing He eventually prescribed these baths to his soldiers as treatment