BajaNomad

Can Azafran be something other than Saffron?

CP - 2-26-2010 at 12:42 PM

I know it translates to saffron but what I bought with this name on it is not saffron; it actually looks like whole allspice (which is what I wanted) and under the thin brown shell is a mushy yellow pulp. Not much of an aroma. Never seen anything like it.
Anyone familiar with this berry?
I got it at CCC under the Guacamaya brand.

irenemm - 2-26-2010 at 03:05 PM

whole allspice is called pimienta inglesa entera
i have bought that but it was threads. it is the by product of saffron. not the really good stuff.

JESSE - 2-26-2010 at 05:10 PM

Azafran is Saffron. Guacamaya's sells some weird non Saffron herbs and they misleading call it Saffron. The price is a red flag.

CP - 2-26-2010 at 06:02 PM

I know its not saffron or even a bad imitation of saffron. But does anyone know what it is that I bought that is obviously mislabeled? I have had over 100 herbs and spices on my shelf and I have never seen anything like this. Looks like allspice, filled with yellow pulp....
I am assuming it is a spice because its in a spice package sold with spices.
I could not find anything (yet) on the internet...

woody with a view - 2-26-2010 at 06:15 PM

Quote:

I am assuming it is a spice because its in a spice package sold with spices.


sounds like a duck... QUACK!!!!!:lol::lol::lol::light:

CP - 2-26-2010 at 06:21 PM

Ya well, I have not yet tasted it - just in case its not a duck!

Udo - 2-26-2010 at 07:59 PM

I don't know what you purchased CP. But I have seen and bought MEXICAN[/] saffron, (azafran). It is very close in flavor to the Spanish saffron. I use it a lot to color and flavor rice.
I normally purchase it at the Mercado Hidalgo in Tijuana. They have several spice shops there, so one has to be fairly familiar with the aromas and colors of what a spice is to look like.
They have great prices on vanilla beans, as well as whole nutmeg, and other seeds, (you won't believe the aroma of fresh ground cumin from seed). Buy the powders only when they have been stored in sealed containers (such as the azafran). The only open spice storage containers that are ok to buy the contents from are onion, garlic, chile con limon, because of the high turnover of the spice.

elizabeth - 2-26-2010 at 08:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CP
I know it translates to saffron but what I bought with this name on it is not saffron; it actually looks like whole allspice (which is what I wanted) and under the thin brown shell is a mushy yellow pulp. Not much of an aroma. Never seen anything like it.
Anyone familiar with this berry?
I got it at CCC under the Guacamaya brand.


Sometimes safflower threads (petals) are sold as saffron, but that doesn't sound like what you got...can you post a photo of the "spice" as well as the package?

durrelllrobert - 2-27-2010 at 11:48 AM

I have bought Azafran several times in Ensenada to use for pallea. Comes in large fancy box with 3 tiny cellophane envelopes inside, each containing minut (10mg?) amount of powder.Colors rice just like saffron but can't say it adds to taste like Spanish Saffron. Not cheap either and once, one of the 3 envelopes was empty.

CP - 2-27-2010 at 02:49 PM

OK, I know we all agree it is not saffron...so what is it?

Mystery Spice.jpg - 26kB

Woooosh - 2-27-2010 at 03:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
I have bought Azafran several times in Ensenada to use for pallea. Comes in large fancy box with 3 tiny cellophane envelopes inside, each containing minut (10mg?) amount of powder.Colors rice just like saffron but can't say it adds to taste like Spanish Saffron. Not cheap either and once, one of the 3 envelopes was empty.


Make sure you let the saffron threads "bloom" in water water 15 minutes or so before adding it to your recipe. Makes a huge difference.

Saffron

Dave - 2-27-2010 at 04:55 PM

The most overrated spice in the world. :rolleyes:

DENNIS - 2-27-2010 at 05:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CP
OK, I know we all agree it is not saffron...so what is it?


That stuff looks like dog food.

bajabound2005 - 2-27-2010 at 05:28 PM

I use the cheap stuff in the cellophane envelope labeled AZAFRAN. Looks like saffron, colors like saffron, acts like saffron. For paella, which gets so many other flavors from other stuff, it's fine for us...and we're picky about foodstuffs.

CP - 2-28-2010 at 06:00 PM

DENNIS,
Here is BusStop Betsy laughing at your comment that it looks like dogfood.

Well shoot, looks like there was nothing enough about the photo to get an answer as to what the heck it is. I'll see if our chickens think its chicken food. Over n out on the subject.

CP - 2-28-2010 at 06:03 PM

OK, here she is now...

DSC05599.jpg - 22kB