Why does nobody talk about how 20 dollars on saffron can ruin a whole paella

I bought a tiny jar of saffron threads for 20 bucks, used half like the recipe said, and the whole dish came out tasting like bitter medicine and nothing like the restaurant version, has anyone else found saffron to be a total scam or did I just get a bad batch?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscarc5321d ago

Read a food science blog that said saffron loses flavor fast if it's not stored right, and cheaper brands sometimes mix in safflower or turmeric as filler. Could be you got old stuff or a fake batch if it tasted bitter, real saffron should be floral and kind of honey-like. I've also heard you shouldn't use too much or it gets medicinal, so maybe half the jar was overkill. I tried a pinch from a little glass vial at a specialty shop once and it was way milder. Saffron is definitely not a scam but it's tricky. Maybe try buying from a reputable spice company and only using a few threads.

the_susan21d ago

Exactly, I had a batch once that tasted like dirt and it turned out to be three years old.

scott.jana12d ago

Yeah real saffron should be subtle, not punching you in the face. Half a jar sounds like a lot, maybe that was the problem.