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Currently Playing: What does Saffron ACTUALLY taste like?

Everybody knows saffron is expensive...but have you ever wondered what it actually tastes like? It turns out saffron is less about one "flavor" and more about three defining qualities: 🟡 Color – Saffron gives dishes their signature golden-yellow color thanks to compounds called crocins. These compounds are water-soluble (but not fat-soluble), which is why most recipes have you steep the threads in warm water before adding them to a dish. 👃 Aroma – Most of saffron's unmistakable smell comes from safranal, along with dozens of other aroma compounds that make it incredibly difficult to replicate. 👅 Taste – If used in high amounts, saffron can contribute a slightly bitter taste (primarily from picrocrocin), but in most dishes its aroma and color are what really stand out. That's why saffron is the signature ingredient behind dishes like paella, biryani, and risotto Milanese.