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CULTURAL AND WILD PLANTS
Saffron (crocus). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application
Directory / Cultivated and wild plants Content
Saffron (crocus), Crocus. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism Sort by: Saffron (Crocus) Family: Crocus (Iridaceae) Origin: Saffron originates from the Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Area: Saffron grows in various climatic zones, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia and Iran. Chemical composition: Saffron contains carotenoids, sugars, albumins, tryptophan, essential oils and other biologically active compounds. The main biologically active component of saffron is croquetin. Economic value: Saffron is widely used in cooking, medicine, cosmetics and perfumery. In cooking, it is used to add flavor and flavor to dishes, drinks, and desserts. In medicine, saffron is prescribed as an antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, as well as for the treatment of depression, insomnia and other neurological disorders. In cosmetics, saffron is used to add color and fragrance to cosmetics, as well as to improve skin condition. In perfumery, saffron has been used to add flavor to various products. In addition, saffron is popular in landscape design as an ornamental plant. Legends, myths, symbolism: In ancient Greek mythology, the crocus is associated with the myth of Crocus and Smyrna. According to legend, the god Zeus turned Crocus, who was a beautiful young man, into a crocus flower. This happened after Crocus joked with the god and stated that an ugly god should be described as "blonde". Myrrh, in turn, was turned into myrrh, a tree from which fragrant oil was extracted. In Iranian culture, saffron has been widely used in cooking, medicine, and religion for thousands of years. Saffron is used in the Muslim religion as a symbol of purity and holiness. In medieval Europe, the crocus was a symbol of resurrection and new life. It has been used medicinally to treat depression and other mental disorders. Saffron has also been a valuable trade commodity throughout history, thanks to its use as a dye and spice. Today, it continues to be one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Saffron (crocus), Crocus. Description, illustrations of the plant Saffron (crocus). Legends, myths, history
The birthplace of saffron is Asia Minor, the Middle East, and India. This plant began to be grown in the East long before our era. It is still common in Syria, Palestine, Persia. They also knew him in ancient Egypt. Mention of him is found in the writings of Solomon, Homer and Hippocrates. There is also not only in the writings of the Sumerian civilization, but also preserved paintings on the walls of the Knossos Palace in Crete, dating back to 1500 BC. e., which depicts people collecting saffron. Industrial cultivation of saffron has been going on for more than 3500 years, and throughout this time, the spice extracted from the dried stigmas of the flower remains the most expensive in the world. Due to its unusually rich composition, saffron is used for flavoring and coloring in the food, perfumery, cosmetic and medical industries. On the basis of saffron pigments, the ancient Persians were able to make paints, as evidenced by the images of animals found in Iraq on the walls of the cave, which are 50000 years old. In prehistoric times, the active trade in saffron reached its highest peak in the 2nd millennium BC on the island of Crete. And the ancient Persians were engaged in the cultivation of this plant in the X century BC. Dried saffron was woven into carpets, a brilliant yellow dye extracted from anthers was used to dye the robes of Persian aristocrats and funeral cloths, they dyed wedding covers intended for the wedding night, saffron was used as a sacrificial ritual offering to their gods, used as a spice and medicinal means. To treat melancholy and depression, the ancient Persians covered their beds with saffron flowers, prepared baths from the flowers and arranged real spa treatments, added spice to tea and Persian cuisine recipes. Having sent an army on a campaign of conquest in Kashmir, Alexander the Great set up his camp in the middle of a plain completely covered with buds of purple flowers. During the night, the crocus flowers opened, and in the morning the warriors found that all their clothes had become golden yellow, despite the fact that they slept in tents. The commander first decided that his army was affected by the witchcraft of the Persian Sumerians, and ordered to retreat without a fight. Subsequently, having heard about the deep faith of the Persians in the power of saffron, Alexander the Great suspected that the plant had narcotic properties, so during Asian campaigns he forced soldiers to drink saffron tea and eat rice with saffron. He himself took baths from the tinctures of the plant and with each procedure he was deeply convinced that the magical aphrodisiac plant helps in healing numerous wounds, restores his strength and vigor. In ancient Greek culture, saffron was popular in the XNUMXth-XNUMXrd centuries BC. e., during the excavations of ancient civilizations, frescoes dating back even to the XNUMXth century BC were found. e., which depicted goddesses collecting stigmas of saffron. According to scientists, the ancient Greeks also depicted on frescoes dating from different eras, the use of saffron in the process of stopping bleeding. Together with the works of Ovid, an ancient Greek legend about saffron has come down to us, which speaks of the tragic love of a handsome young man named Crocus for the nymph Smilax. The nymph was flattered by the attention of the handsome man and for a long time she enjoyed the idyllic attitude of the young man. But Smilax soon got tired of his courtship, and one day, when Crocus pursued her in the forest near Athens, the nymph led him to the gods, who turned the ardent young man into a beautiful purple flower with bright orange anthers, symbolizing his fiery passion for Smilax. Another legend about the crocus tells how the Greek god Hermes fell in love with a young man whom he killed by mistake. When the blood of Crocus spilled on the ground, he turned it into saffron flowers. The ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra used saffron in her baths before meeting her lovers, believing that saffron would bring her greater satisfaction. Saffron is also valued in India, where its unique shade is the epitome of beauty and the official color of Buddhist clothing. In ancient Greek mythology, there are many legends about saffron. Argonaut Jason, about to plow in Colchis with bulls throwing flames, threw off the yellow-saffron clothes in which he was dressed. The eastern god Bacchus wore a saffron-colored dress and exactly the same dresses were worn by participants in feasts dedicated to him. During the ongoing marriage of Zeus with Hera on Mount Ida, saffron grew on the ground, just as the lotus and hyacinth grew. Homer's Iliad says: And Zeus embraces his wife with strong arms. Quickly beneath them, the ground grew flowering herbs. Dewy lotus, saffron and hyacinth flowers are thick. Flexible, which raised the gods from the earth.
The goddess of the dawn, Eos (Aurora of the Romans), was dressed in a golden yellow robe dyed with saffron. There are many other similar legends regarding saffron. Publius Ovid Nason mentions saffron many times in his poetry. Due to its high price, saffron served as an indicator of the insane extravagance of the Roman emperors. So, Galiobal bathed in ponds, the water of which was perfumed with saffron. During feasts, he and his guests reclined on cushions stuffed with saffron. In the halls where these feasts took place, the floors were also sprinkled with saffron. During the procession of Petronius to the feast, the slaves strewed his path with saffron. Saffron is also mentioned in the legend of Valentine. They say that in fact there were two Saint Valentines who died in Ancient Rome in 269 (according to other sources in 270) and were revered on the same day. Their deeds have long become a legend, and now no one remembers exactly which of them the holiday was dedicated to. It is only known that one of them, the younger one, was a preacher and doctor in Rome. During the persecution of Christians by Emperor Claudius, he was executed. Another Valentine, Bishop of Terni, lived not far from Rome and died a martyr at the hands of pagans in the same year 269 (270). In ancient Rome, there was once a doctor named Valentine. He was called the "gastronomic doctor" because he was always concerned that the medicines he prescribed to the sick should taste good. To give a delicious taste to medicines, he mixed bitter mixtures with wine, milk or honey. He washed wounds with wine and used herbs to relieve pain. Saint Valentine was also a preacher. And although in those days Christians in Rome were persecuted, he became a priest. Valentine lived during the time of Claudius II, who was famous for his many aggressive warriors. When Claudius had trouble recruiting new soldiers for the army, he decided that the reason was the soldiers' attachment to their wives and families. And canceled weddings and engagements. And Valentine began not only to pray for the health of his patients, but also to secretly marry couples in love. One day the jailer of the Roman emperor knocked on Valentine's door. He held his blind daughter by the hand. He learned about the miraculous healing of Valentine, and begged Valentine to cure his daughter of blindness. Valentine knew that the girl's illness was practically incurable, but he promised that he would do everything possible to cure her. He prescribed eye ointment for the girl and told her to come back in a while. Several weeks passed, but the sight of the girl did not return. However, the jailer and his daughter did not doubt their faith in Dr. Valentine and continued to take the prescribed herbs and infusions. Meanwhile, rumors reached the emperor about secret weddings held by Valentine. And one day, Roman soldiers broke into Valentine's dwelling, destroyed the medicines and took him under arrest. When the sick girl's father found out about Valentine's arrest, he wanted to intervene, but was unable to help. Valentine knew that he would soon be executed. He asked the jailer for paper, pen and ink and quickly wrote a farewell love letter to the girl. Valentin was executed on the same day, 14 February. When the jailer returned home, his daughter met him. The girl opened the note and found yellow saffron (crocus) inside it. The note read "From your Valentine." The girl took the saffron in her palm, and its sparkling colors lit up her face. A miracle happened: the girl's vision was restored. Author: Martyanova L.M.
Common saffron, Crocus sativus L. Botanical description, history of origin, nutritional value, cultivation, use in cooking, medicine, industry
Perennial herbaceous plant 10-30 cm high, with a spherical underground tuber. The stem is shortened, ending in a beautiful light purple flower. The leaves are basal, very narrow, linear, wrapped in membranous sheaths from below. The flower is large; the style inside the flower is long and ends with three bright orange-red stigmas. Blooms in September-November. The birthplace of saffron is considered to be Asia Minor and Asia Minor and India. He was known in ancient Egypt and Assyria several millennia BC. In Syria and Palestine, saffron was used as a seasoning for various dishes and for dyeing fabrics. Saffron was highly valued in ancient Rome as a flavoring plant. In China, Persia, Babylonia, royal clothes were dyed bright yellow with it. In China, under the threat of death, no one had the right to use saffron paint, except for the emperor. Saffron is not known in the wild. Currently, it is cultivated in Asia Minor, India, Iran, in some countries of Western Europe, in America. On the world market, saffron is one of the most expensive plant products. Saffron is grown for its orange-red stigmas. They are collected in the morning and immediately dried over low heat, after which they are packed in sealed tins. In order to collect 1 kg of stigmas, it is necessary to examine 200 thousand flowers.
Saffron prefers neutral soils, the climate is moderately humid, hot summers and mild winters. When sown with seeds, it blooms only in the second or third year, so it is usually propagated by corms. They are planted in spring or autumn. A good harvest gives saffron three to four years, after which it is transplanted to a new place. Saffron stigmas contain glycoside cyclocrocin, essential oil, flavonoids, vitamins B1, B2, carotene, resinous and coloring substances, among which the main pigment is crocin. This is a wonderful natural dye; even in small concentrations, it gives an intense yellow color. Since ancient times, saffron has been used in medicine in different countries. In small quantities, it improves digestion, has an astringent effect. An aqueous infusion of stigmas is used as a diuretic, diaphoretic, analgesic and sedative. It gives a good therapeutic effect for various nervous diseases, convulsive cough. Possessing a peculiar aroma and bitter taste, saffron stigmas are used in eastern national cuisines as a spicy seasoning for soups and meat. In the food industry, saffron is used for yellowing various products: butter, cheese, bakery and confectionery products, creams, sweets, marshmallows, drinks, etc. Authors: Kretsu L.G., Domashenko L.G., Sokolov M.D.
Common saffron, Crocus sativus L. Botanical description, distribution, chemical composition, features of use
The iris family is Iridaceae. Perennial cormless stemless plant. The leaves are very narrow, dense, 6-15 in a bunch; flower erect, funnel-shaped, corolla purple or white; the stigmas of the pistil are large, orange. In the stigmas there is an essential oil, the content of which is 0,6-0,9% on an absolutely dry weight. The essential oil is in a bound state in the form of picrocrocin glycoside. It is believed that the saffron seed was bred in Crete by the inhabitants of the Minoan civilization. The composition of the essential oil includes pinene and cineole, as well as 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexadiene-4-6-aldehyde. In addition, saffron stigmas contain gum, vitamins thiamine and riboflavin, the yellow coloring matter of kroschga, as well as flavonoids (isoramnetin and kaempferol) and fatty oil (6,8%), sugars, calcium salts, and phosphorus. The petals of the flowers contain anthocyanin pigment; in leaves - up to 0,25% ascorbic acid. Saffron has a strong peculiar aroma, bitter spicy taste. Saffron stigmas are used for coloring and flavoring confectionery, in cooking, as well as in the production of cheese, sausages and liqueurs. As a spice, saffron is used in very small quantities. In the Middle East and Southern Europe, it occupies an important place in the preparation of rice dishes (pilaf, bozbash, piti). Saffron is added as a spice to clear soups when preparing lamb, lamb, fish and cauliflower soups, broths.
In Sweden, saffron is used to color pastry. Gourmets recommend dissolving saffron in a small amount of warm milk or water before use. Saffron, along with spicy properties, also exhibits a preservative effect. Food cooked with saffron is well preserved for several days, while without it it quickly turns sour. Saffron has been used in the past as a spice to increase appetite. Occasionally, stigmas are used as an analgesic, anticonvulsant, cardiac, diuretic, for liver diseases and for eye lotions. In the folk medicine of Azerbaijan, saffron was recommended for whooping cough, hysterical spasms, as a means of stimulating sexual activity. The beautiful saffron (Crocus speciosus Bieb.) grows in open places in Transcaucasia and Crimea. Its stigmas can replace saffron cultivated in Azerbaijan for coloring bread and confectionery products, as well as cheeses, butter, drinks, etc. In the Crimea, in the steppe part, as well as on rocky slopes, along the hills and forest edges, Pallas saffron (C. Pallasii Goldb.) is found. It is a substitute for saffron seed. The stigmas contain the glycoside picrocreocin and the yellow dye crocin. Used in the same way as the previous view. Authors: Dudchenko L.G., Kozyakov A.S., Krivenko V.V.
Saffron, Crocus sativus L. Classification, synonyms, botanical description, nutritional value, cultivation
Names: az. zeferan; arm. krkum; cargo, locked; German Safran-Pflanze; fr. safran, safran dautomne; English saffron; Goal. safraan; Swede, saffran; it. zafferano; Spanish azafran; Polish szafran. Perennial plant with an underground tuber, giving a bunch of lobes and surrounded by membranous membranes; the stem does not develop, and the flowers (one or more), surrounded on the outside by membranous scales, seem to emerge directly from the tuber. The leaves are green, begin to develop after flowering or during the flowering of the plant. Cover at the base. The leaves are elongated, reminiscent of the leaves of cereals. The flowers are purple. Propagated by seeds and stored in bulbs (underground tubers) brown or reddish in color. The stigmas of the flowers contain glucoside picrocin, which splits off the essential oil and decomposes under the influence of acids into crocose and terpene crocin (C44H70O23), which is a coloring agent. Saffron has a pleasant smell and is used in confectionery and liquor industries. Saffron is very good for seasoning fish dishes. The stigmas of cultivated saffron can be replaced by the stigmas of wild C. speciosus M.V., growing in Transcaucasia. Author: Ipatiev A.N.
Common saffron, Crocus sativus. Description of the plant, area, cultivation, application
Perennial tuber-bulbous stemless plant of the iris family. The leaves are very narrow, dense, 6-15 in a bunch. The flower is erect, funnel-shaped, the corolla is purple or white, the stigmas of the pistil are large, orange. Common saffron is very similar to spring-blooming saffron species - Crocus heuffelianus and Crocus vernus. In contrast, common saffron blooms in autumn at the same time as the very poisonous autumn colchicum (Colchicum autumnale), which resembles it. This should be kept in mind so as not to confuse the plants. In Europe, the first saffron was grown in Spain. He was brought there in the ninth century. Arabs who mortgaged their possessions in the south of the country. Then this plant penetrates into other European states, but now saffron is grown on a large scale only in Spain and southern France. It is also cultivated in the Crimea and the Caucasus. The stigmas of the cultivated saffron flower contain a significant amount of essential oil. There is also a yellow dye crocin, tannins and fatty oil. As a spice, bright orange funnel-shaped stigmas are used, of which there are three in a flower. They, together with part of the column, are cut by hand from freshly blossoming flowers and immediately, quickly and carefully, dried. How painstaking this work is can be judged by the fact that in order to obtain 1 kg of dry spice, approximately 200 thousand flowers need to be processed. Therefore, their price is high. In the Middle Ages, counterfeiting saffron was punishable by being burned at the stake or buried alive. It is enough to add the smallest amount of this spice to the dish so that it acquires a golden color and a wonderful aroma. In European cuisine, with the exception of Spanish, today saffron is added mainly to fish dishes (soups, stewed fish, sauces with snails, etc.). It is successfully used for flavoring confectionery, flour products, in the production of cheese, sausages, etc. Saffron is a very strong dye: two stigmas of its flower are enough for 3 liters of water to acquire a saffron color. At one time, the Babylonian, Median and Persian rulers wore shoes dyed with saffron, and the ladies of the ancient era wore dresses. But already in about 1/3 of all medieval culinary recipes used by wealthy families, it was prescribed to add saffron to food, and the English king Henry VIII loved this spice so much that he even forbade court ladies to use saffron to dye their hair. Authors: Yurchenko L.A., Vasilkevich S.I. Saffron. Legends, the birthplace of the plant, the history of distribution
The Roman emperor Heliogabalus was a big picky eater. Even the clear water of the palace ponds, in which he bathed, seemed to him not refreshing enough. And Heliogabal commanded to "improve" the water. And then one day a miracle happened: by the arrival of the emperor, the ponds began to exude such an aroma, as if a whole barrel of perfume had been poured into them. The miracle was performed by the servants of the emperor with the help of saffron. This plant was held in high esteem by the ancient Romans. When the saffron blossomed, pickers came out into the meadows. But they did not collect beautiful flowers, but only bright yellow thread-like stigmas, which end with a pistil. It is in the stigmas that the fragrant essential oil is contained. The stigmas were dried, pounded, and then water was insisted on them - something like perfume was obtained. How many stigmas had to be collected in order to flavor the emperor's ponds every day! Such an idea cost crazy money and was affordable only for the ruler of the powerful Roman state. Heliogabalus was no exception. When another emperor of Ancient Rome - Nero - returned from Greece to his capital, the road along which he was traveling was poured with saffron water throughout. This plant was also highly valued in the countries of the East - in Babylon, Persia, China. But there it was used for a completely different purpose - they dyed clothes with saffron in a bright yellow color. And here's what is curious: the coloring matter was extracted from the same stigmas. The saffron dye was excellent, but contained in such small quantities that it was prohibitively expensive. She was beyond her means to mere mortals - only royal clothes were dyed with her. In China, there was even a severe law: under the threat of death, no one except the emperor dares to use saffron paint! But all this was a very long time ago. Now saffron has become so common that we meet with it every day at breakfast. After all, butter, cheese, sausage, buns, many varieties of sweets and drinks seem more appetizing to us because they are tinted with saffron. And they collect it no longer in the meadows, as before, but in special fields. Author: Osipov N.F.
Saffron. Botanical description, plant history, legends and folk traditions, cultivation and use
Anyone who has ever seen flowering fields of saffron will never forget them. From horizon to horizon, the dark purple sea sways and sets fire to the bottomless sky with a purple color. A rider will ride across the field - the horse and rider become dark purple, a bird will fly - and the bird changes color. Even the sun, the bright golden sun, passing over the purple fields of saffron, turns a little purple, and the saffron field at that moment takes on the shade of a fading dawn, and therefore it seems that this is not a field at all, but the evening dawn fell to the earth and illuminated it from horizon to horizon. But now the wings of the sky darkened noticeably, and only the very, very zenith remained blue. The saffron also darkened, covering the purple eyes. In the wild, this plant is found in many coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea, near Athens, on the island of Crete, in Dalmatia and in the Crimea. The word "saffron" comes, apparently, from the Arabic "zaferan", that is, "yellow", and the Spaniards called it - "atzafran". Saffron is mentioned in the Egyptian Papyrus Ebert, in the books of Solomon, Homer and Hippocrates. It is known not only as a fragrant, but as an exquisite seasoning of royal cuisines and as a precious medicine. Saffron was also used as a natural dye. The shoes of the kings of Media, Babylon and Persia, as well as dresses, bedspreads were dyed yellow with saffron. The Greek goddess of the dawn, Eos, also dressed in golden yellow clothes dyed with saffron. The inhabitants of Sidon were also dyed yellow by the Phoenicians, who were famous throughout the Middle East. Clothes made from such fabrics, as well as from fabrics dyed with purple, were considered a sign of wealth and nobility. In ancient China, there was even a law: no one, except the emperor, dared to use saffron paint under the threat of death. According to ancient Greek mythology, the Argonaut Jason, harnessing the flaming bulls for plowing the fields of Colchis, threw off his yellow-saffron clothes so that the saffron color would not irritate the animals. But the god Bacchus always wore a saffron-colored dress and demanded the same from the participants in the feasts dedicated to him. According to mythology, saffron grew on Mount Ida during the marriage of Zeus with Hera. Here is how it is said about this in the Iliad: And in strong embraces Zeus concludes his wife. Quickly under them the earth grew flowering herbs, dewy lotus, thick saffron and hyacinth flowers, flexible, which raised the gods high from the earth. There were times when saffron was worth its weight in gold and often testified to the insane extravagance of Roman emperors. So, the emperor Heliobal, before bathing in the pond, demanded that the pond be scented with saffron; saffron was sprinkled on the floors in the halls where feasts were held, besides, the lord and his entourage loved to lie on pillows stuffed with the petals of this flower. And although the saffron family has eight dozen species, three of which grow in Europe, but only one - the so-called food saffron - provides a precious raw material for the confectionery industry. To gain a kilogram of spices, you need to cut off the stigmas of two hundred thousand flowers. Therefore, saffron is valued more than gold in our time. The Jewish-Hellenistic religious philosopher Philo of Alexandria claimed that in Hebrew saffron was called kachkot. Kachkot was a friend of the god Mercury, the patron saint of travelers, with whom the young man repeatedly competed in discus throwing. One day, Mercury carelessly threw a disk at Kachkot's face. The blow was fatal. In the spring, at the place of the death of the young man, spring grew a charming flower. From "kachkota" then came the Greek name for the flower - crocus. "Croque" - in Greek "thread", the stigma of a flower looks like a thread. On a fine spring day, on a thawed patch, he opens wide his six purple petals with threads in the center. Crocus is not afraid of either morning frosts or spring snow. Its flowers, like the flowers of the snowdrop, boldly pierce the snow crust and open their eyes. In the mountains, in alpine meadows, where more than eighty species of crocuses grow at the same time, they create picturesque carpets of amazing beauty. A variety of bright solid colors - golden, yellow, cream, lilac, blue, lilac, violet, purple, white, two-tone, striped and variegated - allows us to rank crocus among the most valuable ornamental early flowering plants. Particularly interesting among them are spring crocus and golden-flowered crocus, from which many garden varieties later originated. Crocuses have been known to man since ancient times. On the frescoes of the Knossos Palace, built on the island of Crete four thousand years ago, young men are depicted collecting flowers in vases, and these flowers are nothing but crocuses. The ancient Greeks considered them a symbol of happiness, the flower of the dawn of Eos. Author: Krasikov S.
Saffron (crocus), Crocus. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
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Saffron (crocus), Crocus. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing
Saffron (crocus) is a flowering plant that is used to prepare spices, as an additive to cosmetics, and as an ornamental plant. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing saffron (crocus): Cultivation:
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