Saffron spice is made by collecting the stigmas, also called threads, of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), drying them, then grinding them into a powder. There are three stigmas in each flower ...

So just what makes this spice so expensive? Saffron is the red stigma of the Crocus sativus. Each crocus has three small stigmas that have to be picked carefully by hand. This minuscule harvest ...