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| Fields of saffron flowers |
This is the time of year when the purple crocus flowers make their appearance, to the delight of saffron growers. But thousands (in the fields of the growers) appear at once, so must be picked as soon as possible. As it is the yellow/orange pistils which are used to make the spice picking the flowers early in the day when they are still closed is an advantage. As the sun rises and the flowers open it becomes a more delicate operation.
Mireille Boussac in the Herault reckons to pick a whole crop in one day, at 1000 flowers per hour.
Then all the pistils are removed, dried and packaged for sale at 30 euros a gramme. Saffron is reckoned to be the most expensive spice in the world because none of the work is mechanised.
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