Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus, a
species of crocus in the family Iridaceae. The flower's three stigmas
(the distal ends of the plant's carpels) and parts of its style (a
stalk connecting the stigmas to the rest of the plant) are often dried
and used in cooking as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, which
has for decades been the world's most expensive spice by weight, was
first cultivated in the vicinity of Greece. Saffron is characterised
by a bitter taste and an iodoform- or hay-like fragrance; these are
caused by the chemicals picrocrocin and safranal. It also contains a
carotenoid dye, crocin, that gives food a rich golden-yellow hue.
These qualities make saffron a much sought-after ingredient in many
foods worldwide. Saffron also has medicinal applications. The word
saffron originated from the 12th century Old French term safran, which
derives from the Latin word safranum.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffron
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1854:
Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy signed the Treaty of
Kanagawa, forcing the opening of Japanese ports to American trade.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Perry_%28naval_officer%29)
1889:
The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated in Paris.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiffel_Tower)
1903:
New Zealand inventor Richard Pearse reportedly flew in one of the
first flying machines.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pearse)
1917:
The Danish West Indies became the U.S. Virgin Islands after the United
States paid Denmark US$25 million for the Caribbean islands.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Virgin_Islands)
1930:
Hollywood movie studios instituted the Production Code to avoid
government censorship.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_Code)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit that our lives
are all that really belong to us. So, it is how we use our lives that
determines what kind of men we are. It is my deepest belief that only
by giving our lives do we find life." -- Cesar Chavez
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez)