Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, is a spice originally from the eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, obtained from the stigmas of the crocus sativus flower, also known as true saffron, a plant of the iridaceae family.
Also if very expensive (price for bio quality usually is between 30-60 USD for gram), this "red gold" is very used in europe / eurasia for tasty recipes, sweet and savory or also for tea. In addition to the classic risotto, try it as a condiment for pasta, perhaps added to a sauce prepared with a good vegetable cooking cream. You can think of using this spice to flavor the dough of bread, pizza and focaccia, as well indicated for flavoring biscuits, muffins and donuts.
The famous Persian doctor Avicenna (980-1037 A.D.), considered the father of modern medicine, describes saffron's therapeutic properties as antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, bronchodilator and aphrodisiac.
What to say more? I await your comments and your recipes based on this wonderful spice.
On photo you can see all the flower of saffron after had dehydration treatment, after that usually only the yellow/red part (stigmas) is used for cook, i use also the purple part (blossom) for tea, pure or mixed with a little quantity of black tea leafs.