Nonna's Pantry presents Aromatica Aquilana Saffron
"L'Aquila Saffron": this is the name given for more than 600 years to the spice obtained by harvesting and drying the stigmas of the "Crocus Sativus" flower in the Abruzzo region of L'Aquila and in particular in the Navelli plain, where saffron has found its ideal home. In August, bulbs are planted in flowerbeds prepared in the fields. In mid-October begins flowering which lasts about twenty days. The flowers are harvested early in the morning, before the sun opens them. The stigmas are then brushed off and dried by roasting. When roasted, the stigmas lose 5/6 of their weight: with 600 grams of fresh stigmas, you get just 100 grams of dry stigmas. In the one gram jar, therefore, there is the product of the harvest of 200 flowers. There is a lot of work, before, after and during the harvest, but it's really worth it because it's an exceptional quality, unique scents and flavors. The saffron strings are to be found in a little lukewarm water or broth before they are used in the kitchen, for traditional risotto or for the typical Abruzzo recipes: first courses with lamb or crayfish; with sheep meat or courtyard meat; in sweets or to embellish cheese and dairy products.