Saffron

Saffron (Hebrew karkom; Arabic za'faran, meaning yellow) is the stigma of the crocus flower (Crocus sativus), used since antiquity as a spice, dye, and perfume. In Scripture it appears only in the Song of Solomon 4:13–14, listed among the precious spices and aromatic plants of the beloved's garden: "Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, nard and saffron." Many species of crocus grow wild in Palestine, and the cultivated form was known across the ancient Near East for its vivid yellow color and distinctive fragrance. The pistils and stigmata of the crocus flowers were pressed into cakes for use as food flavoring, medicinal remedies, and yellow dye. Saffron remains one of the most expensive spices in the world by weight. Its appearance in the poem of the Song of Solomon places it among the most luxurious and exotic of the garden's treasures.