Friday, September 11, 2009

World's Most Expensive Spices

What Are The Two Most Expensive Spices’ In The World?

Saffron Botanical name crocus sativus, is the most expensive spice in the world. Derived from the dried stigmas of the purple saffron crocus, it takes anything from 70,000 to 250,000 flowers to make one pound of saffron. Moreover, the flowers have to be individually hand-picked in the autumn when fully open. Fortunately, only a little needs to be added to a dish to lend it color and aroma; too much makes the food bitter and possibilities that  large quantities of it can be toxic.
Records detailing the use of saffron go back to ancient Egypt and Rome where it was used as a dye, in perfumes, and as a drug, as well as for culinary purposes. It reached China in the 7th. century and spread through Europe in the Middle Ages. The town of Saffron Walden, where it was once grown commercially, takes its name from the plant. Now, however, most saffron is imported from Iran and Spain which is recognized as producing the best quality, but it can also be found in Egypt, Kashmir, Morocco and Turkey.

Pure Vanilla The second most expensive spice in the world derived from the pods of the only edible Orchid. Pure vanilla, with its wonderful aromatic flavor, is the most widely used flavoring in pastries, confections, and other desserts. It is the second most expensive spice in the world, next to saffron, cheaper synthetic vanillas on the market today do not come close to competing with pure vanilla.
 

Cardamom The third most expensive spice used frequently in East Indian, Scandinavian, Arabic and Central African cuisines. It is an essential ingredient in Arabic coffee and the scent is most enticing.

How much do they cost? It's best to search the Internet for the best buy.

See Spices Here  Spices and Use (source: Recipehut)

6 comments:

EngrMoks said...

hindi ko kilala yang mga yan..sili at paminta lang spices na kilala ko...salamat at naipakilala mo kami sa isa't isa..ang anghang...mahilig ako tol sa mga spices..experiment lang sa mga lulutuin ko...meron ba nyan mabibili dito sa pinas?

Dil said...

hehe... moks di ko lang sure kung merong tindang ganyan dito. Pero siguro naman merong ganyan sa mga px shop or sa rustan's supermarket.

I heard it a lot pero di ko pa nakikita yang saffron.

Thanks! =)

Diving Equipment said...

The stigma is used (a part of the female organ of a flower, essentially the terminal part of a pistil). It is very tiny and needs to be hand picked out of each flower. Saffron's price is tied to how much saffron is harvested in a particular country and how many middlemen handle it before it reaches you.

Diving Equipment said...

You could use oregano, onion powder, garlic powder. There are so many spices you could add but I think those might be the basics.

Diving Equipment said...

Great list of expensive products. Sevruga caviar is also becoming more and more expensive with sturgeon fish slowly dying out

Web Design India said...

I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.