Here's the Real Difference Between Saffron and Turmeric

Sorry, folks, but saffron and turmeric are definitely not the same! Don't let the yellow color fool you.

It is true that turmeric is often used in place of saffron when cooks don't have that magical spice on hand and they are are trying to replicate that yellow hue that saffron is famous for.

We can’t really blame people for sometimes using it as a replacement, we understand saffron can be an expensive spice (for very good reasons, trust me!). But you aren’t going to get the same taste or potential health benefits.

Turmeric is part of the ginger family. It is a golden color. Turmeric is a root plant which grows beneath the ground. It is harvested and then crushed down.

It is much more readily available and cheaper than saffron, but the two certainly have a different makeup and taste.

Saffron, on the other hand, is hand picked and highly labor intensive (which is why the price tends to be high).

It comes from a flower with three stigmas. At a very special time of the year (and the day!), the stigmas are harvested from the unique flowers and become those gorgeous red threads you see today after they are dried out and bottled up.

At the end of the day, turmeric is a fine spice, but there really is no substitute for saffron. You buy saffron online easily right here at Zaffrus.