1 Pound from la Mancha Region
(460 g.) is not the same as 1 Pound in the
Aragón Region (355 g.)
In the Aragón Region there are two different
kinds of Pounds, Long Pound (367 gr.) and Short
Pound (355 g)
1 Spanish Ounce (28.75 g.) is not the same as 1
American Ounce (28.35 g.)
From 80 pounds of saffron flowers, you get 80
ounces of natural saffron, and once toasted
turns into 16 Ounces of saffron ready to
consume.
Curiosities
Since 1963 every October,
during harvest time, the Festival of the Rose of
the Saffron is celebrated in Consuegra (Toledo).
This Festival has been given the status of
national tourist interest.
More than 250.000 flowers are needed to obtain 1
kilogram of saffron.
Cultivation surfaces are generally small family
plantations. No more than two people are needed
for picking at harvest time.
“La monda” of saffron (process where the stigmas
are removed from the rest of the flower) is
carried out in private houses where all the
members of the family and their neighbours get
together and spend the whole day telling old
stories and anecdotes. Generally, this process
is carried out by women who have more dexterity
in their hands and fingers than men.
Not so long ago, every single family used to
have a small surface planted of saffron. The
profits obtained were spent on outstanding
expenses such as weddings or even buying a flat.
In countries in the Persian Gulf, people usually
offer their guests a cup of tea with saffron and
cardamom as a gesture of welcome.
Women in India, receive a touch of saffron on
their brow before going into the temples.
In Sweden, on Saint Lucy’s day (December the
13th), children offer their families and friends
a cake called “Saffron Cake”, made from raisins
and saffron.
