Saffron - Crocus sativus

The crocus is a tuberous plant in the iris family (Iridaceae). Crocuses grow in mountainous regions around the Mediterranean, including the Balkans, and also in the Alps. Saffron is extracted from a specific crocus species, Crocus sativus, a species that does not occur in the wild and is called the saffron crocus.

Because saffron is expensive, and there's high demand for cheap saffron, the market is flooded with fake saffron, in the form of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) or—in ground form—finely chopped plant fibers colored with turmeric (Curcuma longa). But even when a saffron is genuine and demonstrably from the saffron crocus, you should be wary. In any case, verify the test results (for example, crochin content). The golden rule is to recognize good saffron by its botanical name and the information according to ISO standards.