Safflower (Petals)

- Livré en sachet refermable - 

Récolte manuelle - séchage à l'air libre - Sans OGM - Sans ionisation - 

Uses in Cooking:
Safflower is a flower that resembles a thistle, though the color is quite different! It forms a pompom-like bloom with very fine petals.

Here are several ways to use safflower petals:

• As a garnish for cooked dishes, particularly in fish dishes flavored with real saffron, to give the illusion of saffron threads! Safflower also works well as a decorative touch in fish or seafood salads.

• For coloring dishes, as an affordable alternative to saffron, which is far more expensive. However, keep in mind that safflower does not replicate saffron’s flavor, as its taste is quite neutral! You can color a dish with safflower, but if you want the taste of saffron, you’ll need to add actual saffron to avoid disappointment.

This close resemblance to saffron stigmas has not gone unnoticed! In many North African tourist destinations, safflower is often sold in small, tightly closed sachets (masking the lack of fragrance) labeled as saffron—and at nearly saffron’s price! This trick deceives thousands of tourists each year who are not familiar with the true look and scent of saffron.

• In potpourris, safflower petals add a beautiful red hue that is highly resistant to light.

• For dyeing natural fabrics like cotton, yielding colors from pink to red, light orange, and yellow, depending on the quantity of safflower used.

• From the plant’s seeds, a culinary oil with various health benefits is also produced.

Who am I?
Origin: Iran

Common names: Dyer’s saffron, False saffron, Mexican saffron, Parrot seed

Scientific name: Carthamus tinctorius

The botanical genus Carthamus includes plants mostly from the Mediterranean, belonging to the Asteraceae (or Compositae) family, closely related to thistles. Safflower is an annual, woody plant with dark green, spiny leaves. Its bright yellow-orange flowers bloom from July to September.

This plant grows wild in Iran, China, Japan, Australia, and Central and South America. In France, it was once cultivated in regions like the Midi, Alsace, and Lyon for its dye properties. The flowers contain colorants (yellow carthamine and red carthamon), historically used to dye Chinese silk and clothing such as the robes of Buddhist monks. Today, few safflower crops remain, though wild safflower can occasionally be found on fallow lands and embankments.

The seeds are harvested in October. They resemble large barley grains, white or brownish with gray, brown, or black stripes. These seeds are used to produce culinary or massage oils, sometimes incorporated into hair care products. They also serve in the chemical industry for making varnishes and paints. Finally, they are used as bird feed, especially for parrots, who enjoy their bitter taste, giving the plant its nickname "parrot seed."

A Little History:
The name Carthamus is borrowed from Arabic, rooted in a Semitic term meaning "to dye." This term naturally relates to the flower's dye properties, which are somewhat similar to those of saffron.

This low-growing plant, reaching 60 cm, originates from Egypt, where it has been known since ancient times. The Egyptians used it as a dye, ranging from yellow to red, for the wrappings of mummies, as it was believed to protect against mold.