If you're preparing paella and go for a bottle of saffron, you may be picking up something quite costly, worth more than $5,000 per pound. Or you may be reaching for a forgery.
A pound of saffron requires around 170,000 blossoms, which lays the setting for unscrupulous persons to pass off less expensive ingredients as the prized spice.
Thankfully, there is a simple technique to guarantee that you are using authentic saffron.
The easiest approach to test your saffron is to soak a few strands in hot water. Fake saffron soon loses its color as red pigment leaches from the material.
Genuine saffron will color the water slowly; it may take up to 20 or even 60 minutes for the water to acquire the golden hue from genuine crocus stigmas.
Real saffron threads will remain intact and preserve their red tint while producing a uniform yellow hue in water.
Maybe much more significant is the distinction in flavor and perfume between authentic and counterfeit saffron.
Real saffron has earthy, fragrant flavors when infused into hot water, whereas imitation saffron may taste harsh or metallic.
Once you've determined the quality of your saffron by soaking the threads in hot water, do not discard the valuable liquid.
You have successfully bloomed your saffron, and the infused liquid is now ready for use in biryani, paella, and risotto.