History Of Saffron

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Saffron Saffron has been used over the last 3,000 years in a multitude of fashions. It has been used as treatment to over 90 different diseases with positive results. Saffron has become a world-used spice in many different cultures, each putting its unique spin on plates that become native to their culture. Saffron was first seen in the 7th century BC in the Assyrian culture, under the name Ashurbanipal. The plant was used in the treatment of sores and various battle wounds. The next time the spice appeared, was in the ancient Sumerian culture. In their culture, saffron was used to thicken the blood of injured soldiers. It was also used in various potions. Once more uses for saffron were discovered, it became worth its weight in gold, so to speak. Saffron became an item of trade, and then became used in the Persian culture as a form of money. The Persian culture developed the most uses for saffron. The “threads were woven into textiles, ritually offered to divinities, and used in dyes, perfumes, medicines, and body washes. Thus, saffron threads would be scattered across beds and mixed into hot teas as a curative for bouts of melancholy” (Willard 17-18). Because of its latter explained uses, saffron became known as a more sensual spice, and became frowned upon by those outside the Persian culture. Cleopatra used saffron in baths in order to infuse her skin with a rich scent, as well as make the skin more sensitive for various activities. The spice first began to travel when Alexander the Great first sampled the spice. During his Asian campaigns, he mixed the spice into his rice, as well as using it in baths as a curative for battle wounds. Once he discovered that saffron had many uses, he bought large amounts of the spice to be used among his troops after successful battles. The people of Greece quickly picked up on the practice, and added saffron to the
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