Random Musings

Saffron, also referred to as ‘red gold’ or ‘golden spice’ gets these names because of the price tag attached to it. Due to the labor intensive and tedious process that goes behind harvesting saffron, it is almost worth its weight in gold. But, saffron is so much more than just being the costliest spice in the world. There are numerous stories that surround this majestic spice that grows beautifully in the state of Kashmir in India. You can indulge in the splendor of this spice by buying saffron online.

Kesar or Zafran in Indian languages, Safran in French and German, Zafora in Greek and Azafran in Spanish, saffron is known by different names in different languages of the world. The word is believed to have evolved from the Arabic word Az-za’fran.

For over 3,000 years, saffron hasn’t just been used in various delicacies but also in traditional medicines, fabric dyes, fragrances and numerous rituals. Indian delicacies, especially those made during celebrations are truly incomplete without a touch of saffron.

The Story of Origin of Saffron in Kashmir:

It is believed that it was the Persians who brought the spice to India. While another legendary story suggests that it was actually two Sufi saints named Sheikh Sahrif-u-din Wali and Khwaja Masood Wali who brought saffron to Kashmir. It is believed that these two saints were cured from an illness by a local chieftain. The saints, thoroughly impressed and pleased with him, gifted him a saffron crocus bulb. This interesting story suggests that this led to saffron production in Kashmir. No matter what its story of origin, today, the Kashmiri saffron is considered to be the best and highest quality of saffron. It is also the most expensive among all the saffron found in the world.

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Saffron Harvesting: The Process

Pampore, a town just a few kilometers away from Srinagar is known to be the saffron town of Kashmir. At the onset of autumn, the saffron fields in Pampore are a sight to behold. Laden with beautiful purple flowers in full bloom, the fields attract a large number of tourists. 

When it is time to finally harvest, hundreds of locals gather together to cultivate this spice. Lakhs of people in Kashmir are directly or indirectly associated with the trade of saffron. 

The saffron flowers, known as the ‘crocus sativus’ are first plucked very carefully. The flowers are dried out and then the saffron is carefully plucked out of it. Each saffron flower contains three stigmas, saffron is nothing but these stigmas. There are also two stamens in every flower.

Kashmiri saffron comes in three varieties- Mongra saffron, Lacha saffron and Zarda saffron. Mongra saffron is the highest quality saffron i.e. the red stigma. The next high quality saffron is the Lacha i.e. the red stigma of the flower with its yellow part. Zarda saffron is the lowest quality of saffron, made from the yellow tail of the red stigma of the flower.

Conclusion

Saffron is beautifully intertwined with Kashmir’s rich culture and heritage making it an integral part of the lives of the Kashmiris. Thus, it is saddening to see fake, adulterated saffron being sold in markets in the name of real saffron. To buy authentic saffron right from the fields of Kashmir, you can buy saffron online from Kashmirica.

You can check out and buy dry fruits from Kashmirica

Also read:

Top 5 Benefits of using Saffron

A kurta is a long loose collarless shirt originating in the Indian subcontinent and is worn in many parts of South Asia. It is, an upper body garment which is particularly worn by men in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The kind of Kurta worn in Pakistan, Afghanistan and some parts of India resembles a western shirt, giving a very elegant look. Pathani is a kind of kurta that has grace added to it. Resting either just above or somewhere below the knees, it has two slits on sides and is worn by both men and women; it is traditionally collarless, but some kurtas have a collar and can be worn over ordinary pajamas, shalwars etc. Kurtas are worn both as casual everyday wear and as formal attire.

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A Pathani kurta has a standing collar, and pockets and is worn with a salwar. Black pathani kurta is the most versatile pathani kurta because of its color. It can be worn on a variety of occasions without looking underdressed.

PATHANI KURTA DESIGNS

Pathani kurta can have a heavy embroidy.These kurtas can be used for a party or an occasion. The designs can vary greatly depending on the designer or the brand that is manufacturing the garment.

CONCLUSION

Pathani kurtas look awesome on men especially if they are from Kashmir. So the next time you decide to buy a pathani kurta, make sure to find one from Kashmir. By the way, Kashmir is not only a handful of more popular items, it has much more to offer. So, don’t just look at trying to buy saffron online from Kashmir but also look for other items. A suggestion from me is to opt for attar perfume from kashmir.

Saffron comes from only one species of flower called the crocus sativus. Only three threads of saffron can be found in each flower and they need to be picked out by hand. Thus, the process of harvesting saffron is quite labour-some and all these factors make saffron the costliest spice in the world. When buying saffron, you must be cautious as many vendors tend to sell fake saffron. However, nowadays, you can easily buy saffron online which is the most authentic. Always opt for organic Mongra Saffron!

This costliest spice in the world has many uses as well as many benefits too. In this article, we will take a look at what the benefits of using saffron are.

Benefits of using saffron:

Saffron is said to have many benefits ranging from skin to health benefits. Let’s take a look at some of them:

1. Rich in Antioxidants: Antioxidants help in fighting the free radicals in our body. They also act as great anti-ageing agents. And saffron is believed to be rich in this substance.
2. Promotes better memory and learning: Saffron is also known to promote better learning as well as memory. This is due to the presence of the substance crocin which is believed to help improve memory. Thus, saffron is good for those suffering from memory-related diseases.
3. Can also fight inflammation: It is believed that saffron may also aid in fighting inflammation. The crocetin substance that is present in saffron is said to be anti-inflammatory. Hence, saffron can be beneficial from people suffering from inflammation related issues.
4. Can curb appetite and promote weight loss: Some studies also suggest that consumption of saffron can help in reducing appetite which, in turn, can help with weight loss. This study suggested that women who took saffron supplements felt fuller and did not find the need to snack frequently.
5. May reduce risk of cancer: Another significant benefit of saffron is that it may reduce the risk of cancer. Evidence suggests that crocin and crocetin that are present in saffron may be helpful in preventing and fighting cancer.

Other benefits may include- protecting skin from UV rays, improved complexion, improved eyesight, better heart health etc. These are some of the many benefits of using saffron. In order to reap its benefits, you can either buy saffron online or purchase it from a verified vendor.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.