The world's most expensive spice is saffron. Made from the stigma of saffron crocus flowers, saffron adds a unique, honey-like fragrance and flavor to dishes of many types and is especially used in Indian, Greek and Italian cuisine. All by itself, saffron seasoning has a bitter taste, but when blended with other ingredients, it enhances their flavor. This makes saffron incredibly useful in the commercial kitchen.

Because of the labor involved in making the spice (each saffron stamen has to be handpicked), as well as the land needed to grow the crocus, it's a spice that's costly for the saffron manufacturer to produce. Even wholesale saffron is surprisingly expensive. But it takes 150 crocus to make only 1 gram of saffron spice, and each crocus has only three stamens. Most saffron is sold in "threads" or in-tact stamens, which are dried. Before using the spice, you must grind it into a powder. Fortunately, unground saffron lasts several years if you keep it in a well-sealed container, and 1 gram of threads should yield enough spice to make at least a dozen dishes. When buying saffron, keep in mind these tips:

1. Saffron threads should be a rich red color; if there are white or yellow sections, the spice isn't of good quality.

2. Saffron threads should be dry and brittle.

3. Saffron should smell fresh and the fragrance should be strong.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy Spanish saffron spice

Spanish saffron is widely considered some of the best in the world, and Spain is a huge saffron producer. Most saffron distributors to the United States sell Spanish saffron; it is easy to buy saffron online in many sizes, from 1/2-gram to 1-ounce portions.

I recommend: Marky's is a saffron supplier, carrying Spanish saffron in several sizes. BulkFoods.com offers Spanish saffron by the pound, the ounce or in a 1-gram shaker.

Purchase Persian saffron spice

Persian (or Iranian) saffron is widely sought after and difficult to find in the United States. There are only a handful of saffron distributors who legally sell Persian saffron to the American market, so choose a reputable company to buy from.

I recommend: Sahar Saffron Company is a saffron distributor offering Persian saffron in 1 ounce, 5 gram and 1 gram jars. Chef Depot sells Persian saffron in 1 ounce and 1/2 ounce containers.

Buy saffron from Greece

Saffron is widely used in Greek cooking, so its no surprise that saffron from Greece is also readily available in the United States. Some saffron threads from Greece are of inferior quality, showing up more yellow than red, so carefully seek out distributors who sell higher quality, red saffron.

I recommend: Greekproducts.com is a saffron supplier carrying Greek saffron in threads or powder form. Parthenon Foods sells Greek saffron in 2 gram containers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although grinding saffron threads with a pestle and mortar is most common, your chefs can also steep saffron threads in hot water. Just add a pinch of the spice per cup. A single cup is good for 1 pound of saffron rice.