SAFFRON

Saffron

SAFFRON’S JOURNEY TO MOROCCAN DELICACIES

A rendez-vous with Morocco’s ancient cuisine history covering slow- cooked meat stews in tagine and the bustling Marrakech souks wafting of tantalizing spices, especially Saffron!

Saffron, one of the most precious spices of the world, holds a special place in Moroccan food! The term ‘Saffron’ comes from the Arabic word ‘za’farān’ (Zafran) which means golden leaves. Saffron is an aromatic spice with a deep red-orange colour and has a sweet, floral taste to it.

Pure saffron pistils are sourced from Taliouine, is a town in Taroudant Province, Souss-Massa, in southern part of Morocco. The local berber start harvesting the flower between October through to December and are used in a wide variety of food, Moroccan mint tea, and herbal medicines. This old city of Taliouine is famous for its production of saffron and is one of the main exporters of this spice worldwide.

ARABIC – Za‘farān
OLD FRENCH – Safran

MIDDLE ENGLISH – Saffron

Let’s time travel through the incredible layers of gourmet flavors, texture, and ingredients added to Moroccan cuisine and get acquainted with the health advantages of Saffron spice!

Moroccan Cuisine History

A deep dive into the uniquely delicious Moroccan cuisine reveals how its local produce, geographical location, and historical connections with diverse populations have each played a key role!

The famous earthen pot Tagine with a triangular lid used to slow- cook and serve Moroccan delicacies is about 2000 years old. Introduced by the first residents of Morocco- “Berbers”, this ancient cooking practice & utensil still prevails. Additionally, the staple foods such as chickpeas, couscous, beans, figs, dates, olives, lamb/ poultry stews were also infused into the cuisine by them.

Saffron flower of Crocus sativus

As Arabs entered the Moroccan land, they brought with them food made with grains (bread) and a wide range of spices such as saffron, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, caraway, & paprika (from India, Malaysia, & China).

They also brought in nuts and dried fruits along with Persian sweet & sour style of cooking which is still evident in classic Moroccan chicken pie using saffron spice -“Bastilla”.

It is fascinating how a few strands of saffron add an enchanting fragrance, striking color, and delicate flowery flavor to the dish. Derived from the purple ‘Crocus sativus’ flower, saffron strands are usually maroon or reddish-orange. They release a gorgeous golden hue when soaked in lukewarm water/milk.

The drool-inducing Moroccan recipes most often use saffron! Be it Djaj mqualli (Chicken cooked with preserved lemon & olives) served with saffron rice or the popular couscous. Their authentic

saffron-flavored Semolina & Harira soups are simply delicious. Seafood coriander marinade ‘Chermoula’ contains saffron too.
The Saffron tea is a Moroccan specialty and it’s commonly enjoyed with the honey, saffron & sesame cookie ‘Chebakia’.

Pickled fruits & veggies commonly used in Moroccan recipes were brought by the Jewish folks. While the credit for the appetizing olives goes to the Moors. Finally, the melt-in-the-mouth kebabs that are barbequed tenderly were shared by the Ottoman Empire.

SAFFRON: HEALTH BENEFITS

Enhances Mood & Memory

Saffron intake (about 30mg/day) helps augment our brain’s dopamine levels which helps enhance mood and ward off mild depression.
Moreover, it assists in increasing memory power which supports learning. Saffron’s crocin antioxidant specifically aids in delaying memory loss caused due to aging. It also helps treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

May Safeguard from Cancers

The key antioxidants- crocin, picrocrocin, & safranal present in Saffron protect against cancerous cells. Crocin kills cancer-causing cells and defends against leukemia, colon adenocarcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, & soft tissue sarcoma.

Furthermore, it also increases the body’s immunity level to make more cells to destroy cancerous cells.

PMS and Puberty Solution

Mood swings, stress, and unbearable menstrual cramps can be controlled greatly by consuming a few saffron strands mixed in a cup of warm milk. Interestingly, just smelling saffron for 15-20 minutes is said to reduce stress caused during PMS. (Premenstrual syndrome)

Young girls facing delayed puberty can also consume saffron as a natural remedy.

Increases Libido

Saffron is effective in heightening sex drive in both men & women. In the case of men, it helps solve infertility and erectile dysfunction while in women it increases vaginal lubrication and sexual desire.

Patchy Balding Solution

Alopecia is commonly seen in men where patchy balding can be seen in the head and at times in the beard. This can be cured naturally by mixing saffron with milk/ liquorice and applied on the affected area. Contact One of One travel for the best time to visit!