Organic Greek Red Saffron in Powder
Krokos Kozanis, the gold of Greek land as it is called, is one of the most popular and precious spices of the ancient cultures, on account of its essence, color, pharmaceutical and aphrodisiac qualities. Cleopatra used it in her cosmetics, the ancient Finicians in their offers to goddess Astarte. Homer mentions it in his scripts while it is also found in the Old Testament.
Its history in modern Greece starts when merchants of Kozani carry it from Austria, in the 17th century. For three hundred years Krokos has been cultivated and grown under the sun of Macedonia, in a region that includes many small villages of the Kozani Prefecture.
The inhabitants of the area plant Krokos in the summer and in the autumn remove by the hand the valuable stigmata of the beautiful flower and carefully dry it. It takes about 150.000 flowers to produce 1.000 grammars of red saffron. Krokos Kozanis or saffron or zafora as it is usually called belongs to the best quality of saffron in the world.
The Kozani Saffron Producers Cooperative has gained quality assurance certificate ISO 9001 in 1997 and it has developed certified organic cultivation of saffron.
In addition, the name “KROKOS KOZANIS” is registered as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
The Compulsory Agricultural Cooperative of Krokos Growers was founded in 1971 and in consisted of 1000 members, all of which come from municipalities of Kozani Prefecture. The of the Cooperative is located 5 kilometers south of the city of Kozani, in the Krokos village.
The founding of the Cooperative created a body that has the complete responsibility of collecting, processing, packing and distributing the product in order to ensure its quality and to avoid the adulteration that was done by the traders in the past, resulting in the degradation and negative image of the product.
Greek Organic Red Saffron in powder is actually the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, “Crocus Sativus Linneaus”.
Each flower contains only three stigmas. These threads must be picked from each flower by hand, and more than 75,000 of these flowers are needed to produce just one pound of Saffron filaments, making it the world’s most precious spice.
But, because of saffron strong colorings power and intense flavor, it can be used sparingly. Saffron is used both for its bright orange-yellow color and for its strong, intense flavor and aroma.
Greek Organic Red Saffron, "Crocus" contains crocin, the source of its strong coloring property, bitter-crocin, which offers the distinctive aroma and taste and essential oils which are responsible for its therapeutic properties.
The locals are so dedicated to its production rite that one of the producer’s villages, i.e. Krokos, is named after this spice.
It flowers every year, in autumn from around mid-October to mid-November. This is also the crop period that gives way to a delicate processing phase through which the much-desired product will be obtained. Annual production, depending on weather conditions, ranges from 6 to 12 tons of pure red saffron each year. Much of this production is certified organic. All of it is (PDO) no other region of Greece can produce Greek Red Saffron.
It is also extremely high-quality: Greek Red Saffron, as provided by the Kozani Cooperative, has a guaranteed coloring strength of 230.
It's a fantastic ingredient for risotto, orzo meals, paellas, lemon based pork stew, red sauce beef stew and it's also added on halva, honey and beverages at it delivers combined health benefits and distinct flavors to every-day diets! A small quantity of saffron adds an exquisite flavor, color & aroma in all your dishes such as pasta, rice, soups. poultry, meat & fish.
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