SAFFRON – THE SPICE BEYOND PRICE
The story goes that the saffron plant, originated in Greece, is the fruit of Crocus’ love for the nymph Smilax. As the gods were opposed to this love affair they transformed Crocus into a saffron plant and Smilax into a bindweed … Hermes, lovers’ adviser, used the plant as an aphrodisiac spice …
The plant has arrived in Italy thanks to the Dominican priest Santucci. Today Sardinia and more precisely the villages of Villanovafranca, Turri and San Gavino produce yearly about 300 kg of high quality saffron with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) recognition.
Why not not join the yearly Saffron Festival in San Gavino Monreale which takes place around mid of November? A very good way indeed for learning about and tasting this mystic spice!
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