Zafferano, Zafferanone

Saffron has enjoyed a reputation as the king of spices since Egyptian times and was used as currency for trading by the Doges of Venice. Its high price is due to the fact that it has to be picked by hand and that it takes the stigmas of half a million Crocus sativus (which only flowers for two weeks) to make a kilo of saffron. Once picked, the stigmas are dried over a low heat, and this reduces their overall weight by eighty per cent. This, combined with the fact that it is widely used in medicine and as a dye makes it extremely rare and very valuable.