I heard that saffron is a great medicinal herb with multiple benefits such as boosting immunity and improving beauty. I bought some saffron and tried steeping it in water to drink. However, I noticed that the saffron I steeped seemed to lose its color. Does saffron lose its color when steeped in water?
Does saffron lose its color when steeped in water?
It is possible.
The active ingredient in saffron, crocin, can dye the water yellow when steeped in hot water. As the active ingredient slowly dissolves, the originally red saffron can gradually lose its color. If the saffron has been steeped for a long time and there is no change in color, it is likely that it is fake saffron.
Does saffron turn white when steeped in water?
It is possible.
Usually, after steeping saffron in water for a period of time, the color of the saffron will gradually lighten. If the saffron is steeped for a long time until all the active ingredients are completely dissolved, the saffron may turn white.
Color changes when steeping saffron in water
Saffron color changes
When saffron is steeped in water, there will be no obvious color change at the beginning. After a period of steeping, the color of saffron will gradually lighten and become a light red. If steeped for too long, the saffron can become even lighter and eventually turn white.
Saffron water color changes
The color of saffron water depends on the amount of saffron used and the steeping time. Initially, saffron water will have a light yellow color. If a larger amount of saffron is used, the water can turn into a deeper yellow, often referred to as "imperial yellow." With longer steeping time, saffron water may turn into orange-red color.
Note: If saffron water turns light red or red, it indicates that the saffron may have added coloring or it may be fake saffron.
How to choose high-quality saffron
Saffron is usually classified into several grades: Grade 1, Grade 2, Special Grade, and Premium Grade. The quality of saffron is often determined by the presence of yellow roots.
Grade 1: Grade 1 saffron has fully red stigmas with a small amount of yellow root, which refers to a slight yellow stem beneath the stigmas.
Grade 2: Grade 2 saffron has yellow roots that make up about 2/3 of the entire stigma, indicating a larger proportion of yellow roots.
Special Grade: Special Grade saffron has fully red stigmas without any yellow roots.
Premium Grade: Premium Grade saffron, in addition to lacking yellow roots, has thicker stigmas compared to regular saffron.
How to steep saffron in water
1. Take 5-8 saffron threads and place them in a cup.
2. Add hot water and steep for about 3 minutes.
3. Let it cool down before drinking.
4. You can steep the saffron threads multiple times, and finally consume them together.
