You must not worry when buying the products of THE SPICE CHANGE!
Saffron is a one of the most expensive spices. Unfortunately, often counterfeited because of its value and high price. Therefore, it is essential to recognise the original saffron from fake saffron. However, there are some tips that help you to recognize the original saffron. How do some manage to cheat in selling saffron and how do you distinguish between fresh and pure saffron and mixed saffron?
Common cheatings are;
Fake saffron is offered as natural saffron
Artificial saffron is mixed with real saffron to increase the weight of saffron
Imitation of saffron is a possible way; many similar plants exist in nature, they add colour to those threads and sell them as saffron in market. Corn threads and safflower could be a very common instance.
Colouring the other part of saffron; saffron has different parts. Roots and stems of saffron can become high quality saffron only by adding a little colour to it. This is another common scam trader may apply.
Adding oil to saffron; this cheating is used to increase the weight of saffron. Spraying a little of oil on to a dried saffron thread can increase enough weight to benefit the traders.
Sometimes, small particles or salt and sugars powders are added to the saffron powder to increase the weight of saffron.
Experience the Satisfaction by testing the saffron!
How can you tell if it is real saffron?
The actual saffron price is high. If the price is too low, you can already conclude that it’s not a quality that you are looking for or expecting to benefit from. However, there are some methods you can use to easily identify pure saffron.
Look closely at the appearance of saffron threads. Do they look nice as natural saffron stigmas shape of saffron as show in the picture (take a picture of saffron thread), are they crunchy and dark red colour.
You can test the saffron threads in cold water; take a pinch of saffron and put it into a glass of cold water. Saffron will leave the colour into water. What you have to notice is if the saffron released its colour to the quickly it means it’s not natural where original saffron will colour the glass of cold water from 10 – 15 minutes. It will give a golden hue to the glass of water.
If it produced deep red colour, it means it is not an acceptable sign for good saffron. Don’t purchase that product again. It’s more likely to have unsafe dye ingredients.
The threads must not lose its colour counterfeit saffron will turn grey after a while in water.
Put a pinch of saffron into a glass of hot boiling water and look for the colour of the threads after 5 minutes. If it turns grey, it is proof that it’s not an original saffron. If it preserved its reddish colour, it would mean it’s the good quality saffron.
When you rub your fingers on the soaked saffron thread few times, the Fresh and Pure saffron will not fall apart.
Tongue test: put a thread of saffron on your tongue, if it tastes sweet it means you have the poor quality.
Heat the saffron thread the original saffron won’t change its colour into yellow.
Of course, Laboratory is the best way to test and identify the natural saffron with its quality grades.