Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. When you pay such a hefty price for saffron, you don’t want it to be fake saffron. That’s why it is important to know how to distinguish Pure Saffron threads from fake saffron threads. Here are some easy ways to find out if the saffron is pure or not.

 Hot Water Test

Take a few Pinch Saffron Threads and soak them in hot water. It should not be boiling water. Keeps it standing for 10 to 20 minutes? The color of real saffron will remain intact even in hot water. The water may turn uniformly yellowish. Many times, adulterated saffron is made using artificial red dye. When you soak such threads in water, their color turns off, and the water turns red. Also, this color may not mix uniformly in water.

Cold Water Test

Take a few Pinch Saffron Threads and put them in a glass full of cold water. You will notice that both pure and fake saffron will release some of their colors in water. But pure saffron will not release a lot of colors immediately. Pure Saffron will slowly release a golden hue that can take around 10–15 minutes for the cup of water to turn completely yellow. Also, the color will be spread unobtrusively.

Taste Test

One of the common ways to identify saffron purity is by understanding its taste. Fake saffron lacks the true flavor of saffron. Fake saffron may have a bitter or metallic taste. On the other hand, pure saffron has a floral and sweet taste with a pinch of honey-like flavor.

Smell Test

Saffron usually has sweet and floral aroma, similar to the honey and hay mixture. However, adulterated smell will have a pungent smell often due to usage of chemicals in it.

Baking Soda Test

Mix two tablespoon of baking soda in one cup of water and mix it gentlyuntil the mixture looks uniform. Add some saffron threads and stir it for a few seconds. If the mixture gradually turns yellow, it indicates that the saffron is pure.

Rub Saffron with Your Fingers

It is also one of the most common ways to test saffron. Take a few saffron strands and rub them with your fingers after placing them in cold water. Adulterated saffron will break apart, and it will turn into dust as soon as you rub it. Also, you can easily rub saffron between your fingers. If it leaves an orange or yellowish color, it will indicate that your product is pure.

Paper Test

Sometimes people add oil to increase the overall weight of the saffron and make it look shinier than it usually is. In order to find out if saffron is oil-free, you can rub a few saffron threads between some papers. If the saffron is adulterated with oil, it will leave some oil on the paper.

Shape Test

Pure saffron threads are trumpet-shaped. If a saffron thread does not bulge at one end, it is adulterated.

As saffron is expensive spice and you want to reap its benefit, it is advisable to always buy Saffron in Australia from reputed store offering certified and high quality saffron.